This warm red bacon cabbage salad takes only 15 minutes to make and has been a family favorite recipe of ours for over 15 years. I am excited to share it with all of you!
Red Cabbage Salad
There is nothing quite like this warm cabbage salad with bacon. It is so full of incredible flavors and topped with yummies like walnuts, feta and balsamic. My mom has been making for our family for over 15 years. It is surprisingly easy to make yet it comes out seeming so fancy.
Now I am sure some of you are saying, “But I am not a huge cabbage fan.” That’s ok, this salad will likely make a cabbage fan of you. I know a few people will tell you that it did for them!
While many salads are not, this one is hearty enough for those with big appetites with the crumbled bacon, rich feta and walnuts. It is robust enough to stand on it’s own and in my mind, isn’t considered just a side. I personally love to serve it up on our salad bar for a pop of color.
Although, it does make a great side dish, kind of like our fluffy buttermilk biscuits, it is also yummy when served with Evolving Tables chicken lettuce wraps, egg roll in a bowl with chicken or gluten-free pan fried fish too! For dessert, I recommend Vegetarian Mammas mixed berry fruit salad.
I know when my mom first made this for my dad, he was a little skeptical. However, he soon came to love it as much as she did.
For me, this salad is nostalgic. My mom and I would eat it while sitting down together to watch an episode of Law and Order. We didn’t get along very well in highschool but food was always one thing we could agree on.
Since those school days, we are very close now. I still love going home to my moms house where I can enjoy this bacon cabbage salad as I once used to.
Warm Red Cabbage Salad Ingredients:
- Red Cabbage
- Bacon (I like thick cut Beelers brand)
- Feta
- Walnuts
- Salt and Pepper
- Aged Balsamic Vinegar
What aged balsamic is best?
Choose aged balsamic that is thick and delicious. You want one that has been aged longer and comes out like a syrup more than a vinegar.
I like Napa Valley Naturals Grand Reserve aged balsamic. The flavor is rich and slightly sweet. It works great with sweet and savory dishes. 
How to make red cabbage salad:
Bacon Cabbage Salad Notes:
- Don’t be afraid to use the bacon grease for cooking the cabbage, it will give this salad so much flavor!
- Make sure to cook the cabbage only a few minutes, you want it to still be a vibrant purple color
- Be sure to toss the cabbage and get the yummy bacon morsels off the bottom of the pan when cooking
How do you store this salad:
This salad is best served warm and fresh. You can store the cooked cabbage and bacon in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat it the next day.
Just wait to add the toppings of feta, nuts and additional balsamic drizzle, until you’ve reheated it.
I don’t recommend freezing this salad.
If you like this recipe, be sure to check these out…
Golden Beet Salad with Watermelon
Instant Pot Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
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Bacon Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz. package of nitrate-free, gluten-free bacon (I like Beelers)
- 1 head purple cabbage chopped into thin strips
- 1/2 C Feta cheese
- 1/2 C raw walnuts chopped
- 3 Tbls. gluten-free balsamic vinegar
- Real Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pan cook bacon until crisp
- Transfer bacon to a plate to cool
- Remove HALF, only HALF of the bacon grease from the pan
- Add cabbage to the bacon grease and cook until slightly tender (It should still be a bright purple. If you overcook it you will lose the vibrant color and be left with a purple cabbage)
- Add balsamic vinegar, chopped bacon and as many walnuts as you prefer and toss lightly
- Transfer to a serving plate and top with Feta cheese and Real Salt to taste
Nutrition
This recipe was first posted on my old blog back in 2011. Since then we have added new photos, instructions and information but the recipe is the same. Here is a peek at the old photo…
This is hands down one of my favorite recipes of all times!! For added protein and good fats I love frying up an egg or two to place on top! Sooo good! This is a must try! Even my picky husband was blown away by this! Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to try more of the recipes you have on here!
Oh I love the idea of adding a fried egg! I’m so glad both you and your husband love it. Thanks! 🙂
My kiddos love this when they’re not being picky, but I know it’ll never go to waste because I can eat the whole recipe by myself, it’s that good!!!
Haha, oh I love hearing that! It is one of my favorites too 🙂
This is a favorite of mine. It’s crunchy, filled with flavor, healthy and a delicious way to use purple cabbage. It’s pretty easy too! I’m so glad to have a quick, easy and nutritious meal.
Hey! I'm your newest follower…nice to “meet” you! Both my daughter and I have celiac.
She made that a few weeks ago when I was over there and it was amazing! I'll definitely make this soon, but with pecans instead of walnuts because hubby's allergic.