Cook the chopped bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving the drippings.
Add sliced onions and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Stir in the shredded cabbage, stirring to coat it well with the onion mixture. Add the water or broth, then cover, and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Pour in the vinegar and brown sugar. Stir and cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
Return the bacon to the pot, season with salt and pepper.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
This is an easy recipe to double if your pot is big enough. The cabbage cooks down, but you’ll need the space at the start.
Adjust the sweetness right before serving by adding more sugar, or add extra vinegar if you prefer more tang.
If the dish looks dry as it cooks, pour in a little more water.
Make it ahead of time and reheat gently before serving. The flavor gets even better overnight.
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
Keyword German cabbage, Oma’s German red cabbage, red cabbage with bacon