If you are out of luck in ideas for St. Patrick’s Day side dishes, this Irish cabbage and bacon recipe will save you on prep time. You can literally dump your ingredients into the slow cooker and let it cook for hours without constant supervision.
The chopped cabbage is soaked in chicken broth, bacon fat and white wine vinegar, giving a nice balance of salty and sour.
I always serve slow cooker cabbage for St. Patrick's Day with corned beef brisket, mint grasshopper pie and a hot glass of Irish Coffee.
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Ingredients
- green cabbage - You can use purple cabbage but the color it turns out when it's cooked is not as appetizing.
- bacon - I like to use thick-cut bacon strips but you can use your favorite kind or whatever you have on hand.
- white wine vinegar - You can substitute with apple cider vinegar.
- butter - Butter is optional. It's delicious but leave it out if you don't want the extra calories.
*Check the recipe card for full ingredients and amounts.
How to Cook Cabbage and Bacon
Step 1: Add the cabbage, vinegar, broth, butter, salt and pepper to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, until golden-brown on both sides.
Step 3: Add the bacon and the bacon grease to the slow cooker with the cabbage. Mix well.
Step 4: Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 3-4 hours, or until desired softness.
Chef's Note: I like to give it another mix half way through.
Step 5: Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
Step 6: Serve the Irish cabbage and bacon side dish.
Serving Suggestions
- Since this slow cooker cabbage and bacon is a side dish, it can be paired with many main dishes on St. Patrick’s Day. One of the most popular dishes is the Shepherd’s pie.
- While a shepherd’s pie is delicious, corned beef is also a great meat to have with this recipe and that is what I tend to pair it with because I love corned beef.
- Cabbage can be a great side dish to most chicken, beef, or pork main dishes. You could also combine it with another side, such as mashed potatoes or a potato galette.
- As for drinks, one of the most well-known alcoholic beverages associated with Ireland is the classic Guinness. For a unique touch, turn your Guinness into a cocktail with this Black Fog recipe.
How to Store Leftover Cabbage and Bacon
Store any leftover, slow cooker cabbage and bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
Reheating Instructions
You can reheat the leftovers in a pot on the stove over medium heat or use the microwave. It is actually not recommended to reheat leftovers using the slow cooker.
More St. Patrick's Day Recipes to Consider
If you tried this Irish Slow Cooker Cabbage and Bacon Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Irish Slow Cooker Cabbage & Bacon
Ingredients
- 6 cups green cabbage - cored and chopped into large squares
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter - optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 8 strips raw bacon - chopped into squares
Instructions
- Add the cabbage, vinegar, broth, butter, salt and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, until golden-brown on both sides.
- Add the bacon and the bacon grease to the slow cooker with the cabbage. Mix well.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 3-4 hours, or until desired softness. (I like to give it another mix half way through.) Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
- Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
- You can reheat the leftovers in a pot on the stove over medium heat or use the microwave. It is not recommended to reheat using the slow cooker.
- If you're doubling the recipe, it's going to need more time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Joss says
This is easy and delicious and my whole family enjoys it! It's an excellent side dish option for St. Patrick's Day.