This slow cooker braised cabbage and bacon is very easy to make and tastes great. I love using this slow cooker recipe as one of my go-to weeknight dinners because it doesn’t take much effort, but produces a tasty meal that everyone wants to eat. The slow cooker does most of the work, turning the cabbage into a fall-apart tender side dish full of great smoky flavor.
It’s also the kind of meal that fills the house with a mouthwatering aroma when you come home. It takes barely any time to put it together before dinner. Just chop everything, put it in the pot, and let it cook.
Why You Will Love This
- Super easy to make: You only need to chop things and put it in the slow cooker.
- Great on a budget: Cabbage and bacon are both affordable ingredients.
- Tastes great: The cabbage is cooked low and slow, making it melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Leftovers: It tastes even better the next day, so you can use it for meal prep.
- Dinner or side dish: Serve it as a side dish or make it into a main.
What You Need
Here are the ingredients you need for this slow cooker recipe. Once everything is chopped, the slow cooker braise comes together quickly.
- Bacon: Use thick-cut bacon so it doesn’t completely crumble apart when it’s cooked. Fry it until it is almost crispy before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Cabbage: I used green cabbage for this, and just 1 head is enough to make a large batch of this dish. When it’s chopped, it looks like a lot, but it will shrink down when it cooks.
- Onion: Diced yellow onion adds sweetness to the dish, which offsets the saltiness of the bacon.
- Garlic: Garlic clove helps to add some extra flavor to the dish.
- Chicken broth: Use low-sodium broth for this. The broth is used to create steam, which will cook the cabbage.
How To Make It
Here is how to make slow cooker braised cabbage and bacon.
Crisp the Bacon
Chop the bacon into small pieces. Then fry it in a skillet over medium heat until the bacon starts to get crispy. Remove it from the pan and drain off most of the fat.
Prep the Cabbage
Remove the outer layers of the cabbage and cut out the core. Then chop it into large chunks, about 2 inches each. Add it to the slow cooker.
Add Aromatics
Add the fried bacon, diced onion, and minced garlic on top of the chopped cabbage. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour and Cook
Pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or until the cabbage is very soft.
Toss and Serve
Toss everything gently together to mix the bacon and juices throughout the cabbage. Taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve warm.
Laura’s Tips
- Don’t panic if the slow cooker looks full at first; the cabbage will shrink down considerably during the cooking process.
- Leave a tablespoon of the bacon grease in with the bacon to give it even more rich, savory flavor.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth so you can have more control over how salty the finished dish is.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings if you want some spice.
- Do not lift the lid during the cooking time, as it will let out all the steam that helps to soften the cabbage.
How to Store
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: This recipe can also be frozen in a sealed container for up to 3 months. The cabbage will be very soft once it is thawed.
- Reheat: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove over medium heat.
How to Serve
- Serve with roasted chicken or pork chops for a classic comfort food meal.
- Enjoy it with a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes.
- Serve it on top of a slice of buttered crusty bread to soak up all the yummy flavors.
- Or just enjoy it on its own for a satisfying, low carb meal.
Slow Cooker Braised Cabbage and Bacon
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 6 slices thick cut bacon chopped
- 1 medium head green cabbage cored and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until mostly crispy. Drain the excess grease, leaving about a spoonful in the pan.
- Put the chopped cabbage in the insert of your 6 quart slow cooker.
- Add the cooked bacon, diced onion and minced garlic to the slow cooker insert on top of the cabbage.
- Season the top with the salt and pepper, then pour in the chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours, or until the cabbage is very soft.
- Stir well before serving, check the seasoning and serve hot.
Leave a Reply