Smoked Sausage Fried Cabbage

Fried cabbage is such a simple dinner. I load this recipe up with smoked sausage for lots of flavorful protein. Low carb, full of flavor, and so quick!

My kids never fail to surprise me at dinner time.

I set out something that I just know will be a big hit with both of them and neither one enjoy it.

Then I make fried cabbage expecting them to turn their nose up at it and both of them inhale half the pan.

First of all, that’s my cabbage, back off.

Second of all, is this Southern fried cabbage magic? Why do my kids like it so much?

I don’t know, but I’m happy about it!

Fried cabbage with bacon is a classic, but I like to mix it up and use smoked sausage instead. I feel like it turns this into more of a lunch than a side dish. The smoked sausage just feels a little more hearty and filling than bacon to me.

What kind of smoked sausage to use? 

Smoked sausage comes in a variety of flavors by many different brands and some of them have a surprising amount of carbs!

I’ve recently found that Hillshire Farm makes a smoked sausage with only 1 carb per 2 ounce serving and that’s what I use. It’s the lowest carb option I’ve seen.

You can use any brand/variety you prefer, but do know that I’ve calculated the nutrition information based on 1 carb per 2 ounces, so you’ll want to make any necessary adjustments if you use a different brand. 

(This post is not sponsored, just sharing what I use and love!)

How to make fried cabbage with sausage:

To start, you’ll want to heat a skillet over medium heat. Add in a couple swirls of olive oil or avocado oil. Both work great here.

Slice your smoked sausage into thin rounds and add it to the hot oil. We like to get our sausage nice and browned on the outside. So much flavor that way!

Add some onions and garlic and let those soften up. Onions and garlic make everything taste better, if you ask me.

Chop the cabbage into bite-sized chunks and add to the pan with the sausage. It’s going to look like a ton of cabbage, but it will cook down quite a bit.

Cook, stirring often, for about 8 minutes or until the cabbage is as tender as you’d like.

That’s it, friends! You’ve made fried cabbage with sausage and you’re ready to eat your lunch!

Enjoy!

More simple recipes you might enjoy: 

Asparagus Stuffed Chicken: This one is so impressive, but it’s really quite simple to throw together on a busy night!

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls: All the flavor of a traditional cabbage roll without the carbs or the work!

German Cucumber Salad: We eat this as a side dish all summer long. So simple and refreshing!

Steak Bites: If you’re a little intimidated by cooking a steak, this is a simple way to get started. Plus that marinade is AMAZING.

5 from 3 votes

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Fried Cabbage with Sausage

This fried cabbage recipe comes together quickly and makes a great lunch! Be sure to brown the sausage nicely for extra flavor.

Per serving: 304 calories, 24g fat, 12g protein, 13g carbs, 5g fiber = 8 net carbs

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 5

Calories 304 kcal

Ingredients

• 12 ounces smoked sausage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 medium head cabbage
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

1. Slice the smoked sausage into thin rounds.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a dutch oven or large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until sausage is browned on both sides, about 4 minutes.

3. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook 3 more minutes to soften onions. 

4. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet along with the cabbage and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

5. Cook the cabbage, stirring constantly, until it becomes tender, about 10 minutes.
6. Serve immediately.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

The lowest carb smoked sausage I've found is Hillshire Farms Naturals, but any variety you love will work. Macros are calculated based on 1 carb per 2 ounces of smoked sausage.