Old Fashioned Cabbage with Peppers Onion Sausage & Bacon

There’s nothing quite like the smell of a big skillet of sizzling cabbage, onions, peppers, sausage, and bacon filling the kitchen. It’s a dish that feels like home—comforting, hearty, and full of flavor. Cooking cabbage in bacon grease may sound like a little indulgence, but trust me, once you’ve had it this way, you’ll never go back. Add in the richness of sausage, the smokiness of bacon, the sweetness of caramelized onions and peppers, and a touch of butter to bring it all together, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Southern-inspired skillet meal.

This recipe is one of those old-fashioned classics that reminds us of how simple ingredients can create something truly special. It’s a complete meal on its own, but it also makes a fantastic side dish for family gatherings, potlucks, or Sunday suppers. The best part? It’s easy, affordable, and packed with flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

Layers of Flavor – The bacon grease gives the cabbage a smoky, savory base while the sausage adds depth and heartiness. The onions and peppers add sweetness, and the butter rounds everything out with richness.

Perfect Texture – The cabbage cooks down until tender, but still with a little bite, creating a balance of soft and slightly crisp textures.

Budget-Friendly Comfort Food – Cabbage, onions, and peppers are inexpensive staples, yet when combined with sausage and bacon, they transform into a filling and satisfying dish.

Customizable – You can spice it up with Cajun seasoning, add potatoes to stretch the meal, or throw in other vegetables you have on hand.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this old-fashioned dish:

1 head green cabbage, cored and chopped into large pieces

1 large onion, sliced

2 bell peppers (red, green, or yellow for color), sliced

1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into rounds

6–8 strips of bacon, chopped

2–3 tablespoons bacon grease (from frying the bacon)

2 tablespoons butter

½ cup water or chicken broth (to help steam the cabbage)

Seasonings: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and optional red pepper flakes for heat

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Cook the Bacon

Start by frying the bacon in a large skillet or Dutch oven until crispy. Remove the bacon pieces and set them aside, but leave that golden bacon grease in the pan—that’s liquid flavor gold.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Add the sliced sausage to the hot bacon grease. Let it brown for a few minutes on each side. This step adds a smoky, meaty flavor that infuses into the rest of the dish. Remove and set aside with the bacon.

Step 3: Sauté the Onions and Peppers

Add the onions and peppers into the skillet, cooking them until they soften and develop a light caramelization. This step adds sweetness to balance the savory elements.

Step 4: Add the Cabbage

Toss the chopped cabbage into the skillet. Stir it well so it picks up the flavors from the bacon grease and vegetables. Pour in the water or chicken broth, cover, and let the cabbage steam for about 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Season Generously

Sprinkle in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.

Step 6: Add Butter, Bacon & Sausage Back In

Once the cabbage has softened, stir in the butter, sausage, and bacon. Cook for another 5–7 minutes until everything is well combined and heated through.

Step 7: Taste & Adjust

Give it a taste and adjust the seasonings. More salt? More spice? A little vinegar for tang? This is the step to make it perfect.

Tips for Success

Don’t overcook the cabbage – You want it tender but not mushy. Keeping a slight bite to the cabbage gives the dish better texture.

Use a big pan – Cabbage shrinks a lot as it cooks, but it starts off bulky. A large skillet or Dutch oven works best.

Add broth instead of water – Using chicken broth enhances the flavor even more.

Spice it up – A dash of Cajun seasoning, Creole spice mix, or smoked paprika takes this dish to the next level.

Make it a one-pan meal – Toss in some diced potatoes or rice for a complete dinner cooked in just one skillet.

Variations to Try

Cabbage & Potato Skillet – Add diced potatoes and cook them with the onions and peppers before adding the cabbage.

Spicy Cajun Version – Use andouille sausage and Cajun seasoning for a bold, fiery flavor.

Cheesy Cabbage Skillet – Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese on top just before serving.

Low-Carb Option – Skip the potatoes and keep it as-is for a keto-friendly skillet meal.

Vegetarian Twist – Omit the bacon and sausage and add mushrooms for a rich, earthy flavor.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is hearty enough to serve on its own, but here are some ways to enjoy it:

With Cornbread – A slice of golden skillet cornbread on the side makes the perfect companion.

Over Rice – Spoon the cabbage mixture over a bed of fluffy white or brown rice.

With Mashed Potatoes – The creamy potatoes soak up all those smoky, buttery flavors.

As a Side Dish – Serve alongside fried chicken, pork chops, or barbecue ribs.

Meal Prep Friendly – Make a big batch and store leftovers in the fridge—it tastes even better the next day!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This old-fashioned cabbage skillet is comfort food at its finest. It’s smoky, savory, slightly sweet, and endlessly customizable. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel connected to family traditions, Southern kitchens, and simple country cooking. Cooking it in bacon grease with a touch of butter ensures a richness that keeps you going back for seconds (and thirds!).

Final Thoughts

Cooking cabbage with sausage and bacon in bacon grease might not be the lightest dish on the planet, but it sure is one of the most delicious. It’s a humble, hearty, budget-friendly meal that proves you don’t need fancy ingredients to make something extraordinary.

Whether you’re making it for Sunday supper, bringing it to a church potluck, or cooking it on a chilly evening when you need something comforting, this recipe will quickly become a family favorite. The best part? Once you’ve made it once, you’ll find endless ways to adapt it to your taste.

So grab a big head of cabbage, some peppers, onion, sausage, and bacon, and treat yourself to a skillet full of smoky, buttery goodness. You’ll be glad you did!

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