🥬 Fried Cabbage with Shrimp, Sausage & Bacon
This Southern-inspired skillet dish is the ultimate one-pan comfort food! It’s smoky, savory, a little spicy, and packed with protein thanks to the holy trio: shrimp, sausage, and bacon. Fried cabbage never tasted this good.
Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd or just want a satisfying weeknight dinner, this dish delivers big flavor with minimal fuss. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s low-carb, keto-friendly, and totally crave-worthy.
🧄 Ingredients
- 5 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow onions, chopped
- 3 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced
- 10–12 shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails off
- 1 link kielbasa or smoked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp seafood seasoning (like Old Bay)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
🔥 Directions
1. Cook the Bacon
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving a bit of the bacon fat in the pan.
2. Sauté the Sausage & Onions
Add sliced sausage to the pan and brown for 3–4 minutes. Add chopped onions and sauté until translucent, about 2 minutes. Remove and set aside with the bacon.
3. Cook the Shrimp
Add a little olive oil if the pan is dry. Toss in shrimp and cook for 1–2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Sprinkle with a pinch of seafood seasoning. Remove and set aside.
4. Fry the Cabbage
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add sliced cabbage, salt, pepper, paprika, and the rest of the seafood seasoning. Cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but still slightly crisp.
5. Combine and Serve
Return the bacon, sausage, and shrimp to the pan. Stir everything together and cook for 1–2 more minutes to blend the flavors.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped parsley or a drizzle of hot sauce.
🕒 Time & Servings
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
This dish is delicious on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with:
- Warm cornbread or skillet biscuits
- Cauliflower mash (for keto)
- Steamed white rice or dirty rice
- A side of roasted sweet potatoes
💡 Tips & Variations
- 🧈 Extra richness: Add a pat of butter when cooking the cabbage.
- 🌶️ Spice it up: Add crushed red pepper or Cajun seasoning for more heat.
- 🥩 No shrimp? Use more sausage or add chopped leftover chicken.
- 🥬 Cabbage choice: Savoy or Napa cabbage work too, just reduce cooking time.
💬 Final Thoughts
This fried cabbage with shrimp, sausage & bacon is rustic, hearty, and packed with layers of bold, smoky flavor. It’s a perfect one-skillet meal that’ll win over even picky eaters.
If you try it, let me know how it turned out! Tag your plate with #SkilletComfort on Instagram or drop your twist in the comments.
