Easy Fried Cabbage and Noodles with Bacon (Haluski)

Name: Easy Fried Cabbage and Noodles with Bacon (Haluski)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1/2 pound bacon (diced); 1 small yellow onion (chopped or sliced); 1 small green cabbage (about 1 1/2-2 lbs, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces); 8 oz egg noodles (or other flat-type noodles); 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional); Salt and pepper to taste

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Craving easy comfort food? Try this traditional Haluski recipe with fried cabbage, buttery noodles, crispy bacon, and caramelized onions that comes together in about 30 minutes. It's a budget-friendly dish with complex flavors but simple to make, perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Try it tonight!

Fried cabbage and noodles with crispy bacon in a skillet.

This Polish style stir-fry is so flavorful and satisfying that I'm making it again for dinner tonight (twice in one week)!

Table of Contents

1) What Makes This Dish Special

2) Haluski Origin

3) 🛒 Ingredients and Notes

4) 💡 Top tip

5) 🔪 How to make fried cabbage and noodles with bacon

6) 👩‍🍳 Cook's Tips

7) 🍽 How To Serve It

8) 👉 Variations

9) ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

10) More classic Polish recipes to try

11) 📖 Recipe

12) Easy Fried Cabbage and Noodles with Bacon (Haluski)

What Makes This Dish Special

"Sometimes, the simple things in life are the best, like a belly full of pasta."

This Polish pasta dish uses humble ingredients.
Haluski with bacon is quick and easy to make.
It's simple, old-world comfort food. I mean, bacon, am I right? 🥓 😋
It has the perfect balance: it's hearty without being heavy, rich without being overwhelming, and, above all, wonderfully nostalgic.
It's a dish that keeps families fed during lean times and continues bringing families together around the table.

Haluski Origin

Hailing from the heart of Eastern Europe, bacon-fried cabbage and noodles is an old-fashioned peasant dish from the regions of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine made with just a handful of ingredients: cabbage, noodles, onions, and often, the smoky richness of bacon.

Ha-who-ski? Pronounced "ha-loosh-key," haluski is also known as halušky and kluski, and if you live around Pittsburgh, then you know it simply as "fried cabbage and noodles" Pennsylvania Dutch recipe.

Recipes for haluski rarely vary in their essentials, although every region has its own version.

🛒 Ingredients and Notes

Ingredients for haluski noodles and cabbage.

Here are the ingredients you'll need to prepare a wonderful batch of haluski:

Cabbage: If you don't like cabbage, this recipe will make you change your mind! There's a considerable improvement in cabbage's flavor and texture when it's fried, especially in bacon fat. A small to medium-sized head of green cabbage is what I usually use. To reduce the carbs, use more cabbage and less noodles. This recipe is pretty flexible.

Noodles: This recipe is traditionally made with wide homemade pasta or dumplings. I normally use egg noodles, tagliatelle, or fettuccine, but it doesn't have to be flat noodles. You can also use spaghetti if that's all you have in your pantry, and it also works with gluten-free pasta.

Bacon: It's best to use good quality smoked bacon, but pancetta or turkey bacon will work, too. Leave it out for a kosher or vegetarian version.

You will also need: A small yellow onion, butter, salt, pepper, and caraway seeds (highly recommended but optional).

That's it! Simple and straightforward, right? Now, onto the cooking.

💡 Top tip

Always use a serrated knife (bread knife) to cut or slice cabbage. You can thank me later.

🔪 How to make fried cabbage and noodles with bacon

I like to prep all my ingredients ahead of time. Having everything ready makes the cooking process smoother and more enjoyable. Core and slice or chop the cabbage, slice (or chop) the onion, and cut your bacon into small pieces.

Step 1: Cook the bacon

Cooking the bacon for haluski in a skillet.

✔️ Over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet until it's nice and crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 2: Sauté the onions

Sautéing the onions in a skillet to make haluski.

✔️ To the skillet with the bacon grease, add onions, and cook until translucent and almost caramelized.

Step 3: Fry the cabbage

Frying the cabbage for haluski in a cast-iron skillet.

✔️ Add the cabbage and caraway seed (if using) to the onions and toss to combine - fry until tender. Add a bit of water if necessary to prevent the cabbage from burning.

Step 4: Cook the noodles

Cooking noodles for fried cabbage and noodles recipe.

✔️ While the cabbage is cooking, boil the noodles according to the package instructions. Remember to salt the water for flavor. When done to all dente, drain.

Step 5: Bring it all together

✔️ Add drained noodles and cooked bacon to the skillet; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Your haluski is now ready to serve!

Fried cabbage and noodles with bacon in a skillet with fork.

👩‍🍳 Cook's Tips

Slice the cabbage into ribbons or smaller squares - it will cook faster.
You can also use prepackaged shredded cabbage to speed up the cooking time even more.
Add a tab of butter if your bacon doesn't render enough fat. If leaving out the bacon, use about four tablespoons of butter or oil instead.
Have leftover kielbasa or ham from another recipe? Throw it in here for extra flavor or as an alternative to bacon.
Don't overcook the noodles! Always cook them al dente - firm to the bite - as they will continue to cook when added to cabbage.

🍽 How To Serve It

I always serve haluski as a main dish unless I have a bit of leftover. In that case, I use it as a side to round out my meal.

Whether you're looking to keep things classic or take things in a different direction, there are plenty of ways to make haluski your own. Here are some ideas for the perfect pairing:

A simple, crisp salad with a vinaigrette that provides a welcome contrast to the richness of the haluski.
Try this Polish classic, creamy cucumber salad. It's the family favorite!
You can never go wrong with grilled or roasted meat like pork chops to make the meal even heartier.
It also goes great alongside baked chicken.
This fried cabbage and noodles, sans bacon, is ideal for a meatless option during the Lenten season or as a side to fish.
A side of potato dumplings or spaetzle.

👉 Variations

For those who want to keep it traditional, serve your haluski with a dollop of sour cream or cottage cheese on the side.
Add a fried or poached egg to turn it into a satisfying breakfast or brunch.
Sprinkle with paprika or chopped parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
If you like it spicy, add crushed pepper flakes.
Toss in minced garlic.
Mix in leftover sauerkraut. YUM!
Add smoked sausage (kielbasa) or ham.

A skillet with haluski sprinkled with fresh parsley on a table with fork.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make it ahead?

This noodles and cabbage dish can be prepped or made in advance (also perfect for meal prep). You can chop the cabbage and keep it in the refrigerator for a day or two. TIP: Bag it tightly as cabbage relieves gasses when cut.

Can I make it gluten-free?

Absolutely! Go for your favorite gluten-free pasta. Here's mine.

How do I store bacon-fried cabbage and noodles?

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Can I freeze haluski?

Yes. Place the cooled dish in freezer-friendly bags or containers, pressing out as much air as possible. Use it up within three months.

More classic Polish recipes to try

Noodles with fried cabbage and bacon wrapped around a fork.

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📖 Recipe