Krautfleckerl
Krautfleckerl (Fried Cabbage Noodles and Bacon) is a rich, hearty fried cabbage and bacon noodle dish with ham and bacon.
Experience the warmth and comfort of a traditional German dish with this delicious fried cabbage and noodle recipe: crispy bacon, savory ham, caramelized cabbage and onions, tender pasta, and a hint of nutty Parmesan cheese.
Fried Cabbage and Noodles is a popular recipe that is known all over Eastern Europe. You’ll find German, Austrian, Polish, Hungarian, and many other Eastern European variations of this recipe.
In Germany, we call this dish Krautfleckerl (‘crowd-f-lack-earl’ … say that three times fast!). My friend Krisztina who grew up in Hungary, calls this recipe (or a variation) a traditional haluski recipe.
And as recipes go, this one falls under the ‘Hausmannkost’. What is Hausmannskost, you ask? Traditional, rustic German comfort food.
Krautfleckerl Recipe Highlights
- NOODLE LOVIN’ – The egg noodles serve as a soft and chewy base, deeply satisfying every bite.
- MEATY GOODNESS – Bacon and ham bring a salty, savory depth that balances the sweetness of the cabbage.
- QUICK AND EASY – This dish comes together in about half an hour.
- ONE-PAN WONDER – Everything is cooked in a single skillet, saving you time and making cleanup a breeze.
- FLAVOR BOMB – With the addition of Parmesan cheese, you get a rich, umami kick that takes this dish to the next level.
Ingredient Notes
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
EGG NOODLES – As the name suggests, egg noodles are always made with eggs. While there are many types of egg noodles, the ones we are looking for here are wide egg noodles. The good news is that they are easy to find, and you’ll find them in the pasta section of most American supermarkets.
BACON – Whenever possible, I opt for thick-cut bacon. But you can choose whichever bacon you like best.
HAM – Look for a boneless smoked uncured ham steak.
ONION – I like sweet onions best.
GREEN CABBAGE – Look for a cabbage that feels heavy and has relatively few unblemished outer leaves. The leaves should also still be compact and not separate from the steam. A smaller head will be more tender than a larger head of cabbage.
PARMESAN – This is a bit of a substitution. Typically in Germany, we would often use cheeses such as Emmental or Bergkäse (mountain cheese) but also sometimes Parmesan. While you can find Emmental in larger grocery stores, it’s often very expensive, and Bergkäse is almost impossible to find.
Thus Parmesan is something we’d definitely use in Germany, too, and this is why I wrote the recipe this way. And you can find Parmesan at reasonable prices in every supermarket.
If possible, stay away from pre-shredded parmesan. It’s full of fillers and preservatives. Also, a block of parmesan is going to be more cost-effective and taste a lot better!
How To Make Fried Cabbage and Noodles (Krautfleckerl)
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Cook egg noodles, reserving one cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Cook bacon and ham in a skillet until almost crispy, then set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onions in olive oil until soft and brown.
- Add cabbage until wilted, then toss in bacon, ham, Parmesan, and noodles.
EXPERT TIP: If you want to enhance the flavor of cabbage, soak your shredded cabbage for one hour before cooking. This will make it sweeter.
More Delicious German Comfort Food
Tips and Tricks for Dealing with Cabbage
SHREDDING CABBAGE
- Turn the cabbage upside down. First, cut it in half and then cut the halves into quarters.
- Put each quarter on its side and use a sharp knife to slice out the core. Shred the quarters by thinly slicing crosswise.
Leftovers
STORE – Place any leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
FREEZE – If you’re thinking ahead, you can freeze this dish. Just put it in an airtight container and freeze it for up to one month.
REHEAT – When you’re ready to dive back into this comforting meal, you have two options: Use the microwave or reheat it on the stove. If it’s looking a bit dry, add a splash of water or broth to loosen things up.
More Easy and Delicious Comfort Food Recipes
SHRIMP CARBONARA – scrumptious pasta recipe made with eggs, parmesan cheese, and bacon
BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC’N CHEESE – a delicious spin on a classic recipe
CHICKEN PARMESAN – find out why our readers love this recipe
GROUND BEEF TACO CASSEROLE – an easy recipe that’s perfect for a quick midweek dinner the entire family will love
Krautfleckerl
Ingredients
- 12 ounces egg noodles
- 12 ounces bacon diced
- 7 ounces ham steak diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 large onion thinly sliced
- 4 cups cabbage thinly sliced
- ½ cup parmesan grated
Instructions
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve one cup of pasta water.
- Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until almost crispy. Add the diced ham and cook until it begins to crisp. Use a slotted spoon and remove ham and bacon from the skillet. Set aside.
- Keep the bacon and ham fat in the skillet and add olive oil. Add onions into the skillet, stir occasionally, cover with a lid, and sauté for 15 minutes on medium-low heat. The onions should be soft and brown.
- Add the cabbage and sauté until it wilts, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add bacon, ham, parmesan cheese, and egg noodles. Toss over medium heat for one minute. Add a small amount of reserved pasta water if the pasta looks too dry. If desired, season with salt and pepper.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.
Superb recipe, seems easy and very tasty…
I just made this, and it was obsolete wonderful.
Great Recipe…….I subbed potatoes for the noodles. Yummy dinner for a cold & rainy night. Added ground pepper and a small amount of hot sauce, and it was wonderful!! My neighbors loved it too!! This one is a keeper.
I halfed the recipe since it was just my husband and me…and I eyeballed a lot of it. This recipe is very forgiving. My onions were slivered and I added 2 chopped garlic cloves when heating the onion (everything was cooked in my Dutch oven except the noodles.) It was all so delicious and flavorful!!! I didn’t add salt or pepper, still amazing. The house smells so good too. This was so fun to make and it’s absolutely a new staple in our house.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. When I don’t cook for the blog but ‘just’ for the family I also eyeball a lot. It’s actually how Oma taught me to took. Yes, this recipe is great for doing that and I know what you mean, the house smells go when you’re making it. You can even slow-cook the onions if you want to add some sweetness. And garlic is a lovely addition. Thank you for sharing.
It was pretty good. But next time I would try it without the bacon, and fry the onions and cabbage in butter and oil. It was too salty for us. I used the whole cup of pasta water. To reheat we will probably add more liquid or maybe sour cream. Thank you.