Quick and easy comfort food is what we all crave and this simple Polish Haluski recipe is ready in minutes. Buttery fried cabbage with noodles are tossed with crispy bacon for added flavor. The ultimate in cozy family dinners.

Overhead shot of Polish Haluski recipe in a black skillet.


Polish Haluski

When time is tight and the budget is slim, cozy comfort food is what I crave. And my grandfather’s Polish Haluski is something I constantly crave. It’s a dish I’ve been eating for years because it always, always is a consistent dinner that takes me back to my younger days. 

Super easy to throw together, Haluski is simplly fried cabbage and noodles. I like to throw in some crispy bacon for added texture and flavor or a few slices of leftover kielbasa when we have it around. 

If you’re looking for a quick and inexpensive dinner to serve up your pickiest eaters, this is definitely what you need!

Polish Haluski in a gray bowl with a wooden fork.

What is Polish Haluski?

Haluski is a regional dish originating in the Central and Eastern European territories. It’s a one pot dish of fried cabbage and noodles, which are usually broad or dumpling like, that are tossed butter.

They’re the national dish of Slovakia but this recipe leans more toward a Polish origin as it’s something my Polish family made a lot. 

It’s often served during the lenten season without bacon or kielbasa, or course, but we also enjoy it as a side dish for ham or other pork recipes.

Close up of polish haluski in a gray bowl.

How To Make It

Traditionally, Haluski is made with homemade egg noodles but, to be honest, most times I just buy a bag to keep in the pantry for when my craving comes calling.

And if you want to skip the bacon, you can start the process for 3 tablespoons of butter.

  1. To start your haluski, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and cabbage to the skillet cooking until wilted, approximately 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  4. Add the noodles and bacon to the cabbage tossing to combine. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Serve immediately.
Overhead shot of polish haluski in a gray bowl.

How To Cut Cabbage for Haluski

To start, make sure you are using a very sharp knife. More kitchen accidents happen because of a dull knife.

First, set the cabbage core side down on a flat surface. Cut the cabbage in half through the core.

Lay one half of the cabbage, cut side down, on the cutting board and slice the cabbage into thin, ribbon like, slices starting from the top. 

I used the same method to slice my cabbage as I did for this fried cabbage recipe.

You can cut the cabbage up the day before and store in an airtight container refrigerated overnight to speed up the dinner process even more.

Haluski in a gray bowl on a white background.

How To Store Fried Cabbage and Noodles

This Haluski recipe makes a ton so leftovers are almost a certainty. You can store fried cabbages and noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze Polish Haluski for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Press out all the air to avoid freezer burn.

What To Serve With It

We love to serve our cabbage and noodles alongside a few links of kielbasa, it’s the perfect side dish! But it’s also amazing with our favorite Potato Pierogi recipe because it’s just a great way to enjoy a whole buffet from my childhood.

The BEST Potato Pierogi you will ever make, easy and authentic. TheSuburbanSoapbox.com

If you’re serving it as the main course, you can make some fresh sauteed green beans.

We also love it alongside this simple, yet flavor-filled, Baked Chicken Breast. It’s the fastest, easiest dinner ever and my little guy eats every single bite.

Tips for Making Haluski

  • This recipe is best if made with green cabbage. Napa cabbage or other varieties of cabbage won’t hold up as well and may wilt down too much.
  • Slice your cabbage thinly like ribbons for best results. This will also help your cabbage cook down more quickly.
  • Be sure to use the butter called for in this recipe. Even though we’re using bacon, the butter adds to the true and authentic Haluski flavor.
  • You can buy preshredded cabbage to make this recipe even faster but it will cook much more quickly because it’s sliced super thin for slaws and things like that.
  • Want more flavor? Add some crushed garlic or ground sausage to pump it up a bit more.
  • If you don’t have egg noodles, you can use any pasta you have on hand. 
Close up of polish haluski in a black skillet.

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Close up of polish haluski in a black skillet.

Get the Recipe: Easy Polish Haluski Recipe

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Quick and easy fried cabbage and noodles are on the table in about 30 minutes. Cozy comfort food with sauteed onions, cabbage, noodles and bacon. A hit with the whole family.
4.34 from 3 votes
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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces medium egg noodles
  • 3 sliced bacon, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 1/2 cup sliced onion
  • 1 head cabbage, cored and sliced thinly
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon to the pan and cook until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  • Add the onions and cabbage to the skillet cooking until wilted, approximately 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the noodles and bacon to the cabbage tossing to combine. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve immediately.

Video

https://youtu.be/0-wxAxdNR40

Notes

Cabbage can be sliced and stored in a zip top bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Be aware that cabbage will release gases when cut so it’s best that your bag is airtight. 🙂
If you’re planning to make your Haluski in advance to freeze, undercook the noodles slightly before tossing with the cabbage. This will help them stay perfectly cooked when reheated after thawing.
 
Calories: 243kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 300mg, Potassium: 333mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 260IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine: Polish