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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.
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
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
Slice the smoked sausage into thin rounds.
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.
Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook 3 more minutes to soften onions.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet along with the cabbage and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cook the cabbage, stirring constantly, until it becomes tender, about 10 minutes.
- 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.
26 comments
What a coincidence! I had planned to fix sausages and fried cabbage for dinner tonight. I like to start mine off with chopped up bacon, and my Dear One likes the sausages served separately. What a great meal it makes.
Cook a couple pieces of bacon, crumble , do NOT drain. Use the grease to start frying your cabbage. Yummy-er!
This Mondays dinner on our table, thanks to you. Yummy!
I used spicy Italian sausage, OMG… soooo delish
Great swap!
Good recipe but Chappelle Hill pork and venison smoked sausage has zero carbs and is so lean you have to add a small amount of oil. Just enough to cover the bottom using a brush.
Cabbage has approximately 40 net carbs per head. It cooks down so much, that it is very easy to eat way more than a regular serving. I just made this and IT WAS SO GOOD! I had 2 small bowls, but when I looked in the pot, it equaled about 1/2 the pot. That is 20 net carbs. WHAT DID I JUST DO? I think cabbage is too high in carbs for me. I will stick with other green vegetables. But let’s get back to how GOOD the cabbage was. I had sausage links that were approx 3/4 lb each. I just cut one and it was more than enough (yes, cut thin slices). I removed the sausage and drizzled olive oil in the pot. I put the cut up cabbage in the pot and stirred it so the olive oil would coat the cabbage. I sprinkled it with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder (I did not cut up a yellow onion). After cooking the cabbage on medium for 5 minutes, I added about 1/4 cup beef broth and threw the sausage back into the pot. I cooked it on medium stirring every 5 minutes until it got to the tenderness I liked. I could honestly eat the whole pot. It is probably the best cabbage I have ever had.
I mean, its cabbage. It’s not chocolate ice cream. Even if you overindulge in cabbage it’s still got lots of nutrients and benefits for your body. Be gentle with yourself and just keep going. You’re doing great!
Holly: I totally LOVE your great attitude & superb advice!!
My taste buds love your recipes,.
I add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little kick. This is a tasty easy meal.
Its says 5 servings. But what is the serving size? 1/2 cup ? 1 cup?
Thank you
Molly
Hi Molly! I just divided it into 5 equal portions, I didn’t weigh or measure.
What a great recipe and so nice to see a blog with no trolls!!! Love the positivity here! Heading to the grocery store to get the fixings!
Delicious!!!! Had to many servings my stomach was bloated after. It was so GOOD!!!!!! I had to cook my cabbage a little longer than 10 minutes for our desired tenderness!!! BEST FRIED CABBAGE AND SAUSAGE RECIPE AND SO QUICK AND EASY!!!!!
Thanks!!!!! Kim
Made this tonight with VERY minor adjustments for our tastes – kielbasa instead of smoked sausage, 1/2 Tbsp butter and 1/2 Tbsp olive oil before adding the cabbage, and a light dusting of red pepper flakes. This is nearly an identical recipe to a staple in our house, only with potatoes, and I’ve never actually cooked cabbage before! This is really, really good and I’m happy to add it to the rotation (I’m the only one eating low carb and hubby even said it was good and he’d happily eat it again). Thank you!!
That’s great!
What is considered a serving.. A cup, half cup, 2 cups? Calories without what a serving portion is for those calories is not helpful. Help!
Hi Gwen. I didn’t measure the serving size by volume, just divided into 5 equal servings.
just enjoy it, the cabbage onion,garlic and lean sausage makes it a great dish how can this really not be good you compared to so many others things we eat and a few buttered noodles give it that complete meal. Enjoy it! This is a 4 for us but my husband said 5 for sure.
Is there something you could suggest as a low carb cabbage substitute?
I don’t know of anything that would replace cabbage in a fried cabbage recipe, unfortunately. You could use something like zucchini, but it’ll definitely be a different recipe.
I chop up a bell pepper with mine and cook it with the onions and Smoked sausage then add cabbage!! YUMMY!
That sounds great!
was this the entire meal or did you have a salad or another side added and what side was it?
We’ve served this alone as a lighter meal or with a roasted veggie on the side.