Keto Fried Cabbage – Instant Pot Recipe

Southern fried cabbage with bacon is a classic keto side dish with tons of flavor. Make it in your Instant Pot or just whip it up on the stovetop. Either way, you will want to make this again and again.

Let’s be honest, it is really difficult to make a fried cabbage recipe look pretty in photos. Especially when it’s dark and gloomy out, which is exactly when you want to be enjoying such a basic comfort food dish.

But the lack of visual appeal does not take away from the deliciousness that lies within this hearty side dish. Keto fried cabbage is so good, so easy to make, and so satisfying. It may not look all that pretty on the plate, but it fills the belly and the soul with goodness.

And this fried cabbage recipe is made in an Instant Pot, so it’s easy and clean up is a snap. But not to worry if you don’t have a pressure cooker, because it’s easy to make the stovetop too. I’ve included stovetop directions in the recipe notes.

Is fried cabbage keto friendly?

Almost any fried cabbage recipe is low enough in carbohydrates to be appropriate for a keto diet. But I recommend reducing the onion to about ¼ cup to keep the carbs lower without sacrificing flavor.

For the most part, cabbage is a low carb vegetable and can be prepared in many delicious ways. When it’s fresh, it has more volume so a full cup is only 5g of carbs. Keep in mind that when it’s cooked, the volume shrinks considerably, so about ½ cup is an appropriate serving size.

And adding healthy fats like butter or bacon helps turn cabbage into a more satisfying keto side dish.

How to make fried cabbage in an Instant Pot

There is no real advantage or disadvantage to cooking fried cabbage in the Instant Pot. It really takes just about the same amount of time, when you factor in allowing the pot to come up to pressure. And both the stovetop and the pressure cooker versions are one-pot recipes, so clean up is just as easy either way.

But sometimes using your Instant Pot is just fun, and it saves valuable space on your stovetop if you are making larger meals.

The cooking method is much the same for both methods, with the exception of adding some broth for the Instant Pot. The broth helps create the necessary steam to cook the cabbage in a pressure cooker.

Don’t add too much broth!

In my experience, many Instant Pot recipes suffer from the same common problem… too much liquid.

How many times have you removed the lid of your IP, only to see a soupy mix in the bottom of the pot? It took me a bit to realize that most recipes were simply adding far too much broth or other liquids.

The meats and vegetables in keto instant pot recipes release quite a bit of liquid under the intense pressure. Although you need to add a little liquid to initiate the cooking process, too much can ruin the recipe entirely.

Unless you are actually making soup in your Instant Pot, keep the liquids to a minimum. Often ¼ cup to ½ cup is sufficient.

Instant Pot fried cabbage goes with everything!

I made a big batch of this fried cabbage recipe and happily ate it for days with just about everything. Chicken, sausages, kielbasa, steak – I even ate it for breakfast with a fried egg on top.

The possibilities are endless. Why not try this keto fried cabbage with:

• Air Fryer Pork Chops
• Keto Meatloaf
• Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Chicken
• Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
• Paleo Kalua Chicken
• Oven Baked Wings

Instant Pot Fried Cabbage

Southern fried cabbage with bacon is a classic keto side dish with tons of flavor. Make it in your Instant Pot or just whip it up on the stovetop.

5 from 7 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried cabbage recipe, keto fried cabbage

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 201kcal

Equipment

• Pressure cooker or instant pot

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 6 cups chopped green cabbage (about 1 small or ½ large head)
• ¼ cup chicken broth

Instructions

• Turn the Instant Pot onto the saute function and add the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Add the onions to the bacon grease, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until tender and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook one minute more.
• Add the cabbage and toss to coat in the bacon grease. Add the broth and seal the Instant Pot.
• Set on high to cook for 2 minutes. When cooking is complete, immediately vent to release the pressure.
• Add the bacon pieces back into the cabbage and stir well before serving.

Notes

Stovetop instructions:

Use a large skillet over medium heat to cook the bacon and onions as directed above. Add the cabbage and toss to coat, then sauté until tender, about 7 minutes. Do not use any broth. 

Add the bacon back into the pan and serve. 

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Fried Cabbage

Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ½ cup)

Calories 201 Calories from Fat 141

% Daily Value*

Fat 15.7g24%

Carbohydrates 6.5g2%

Fiber 2.4g10%

Protein 5.7g11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.