Made with garlic, onion, and tangy Dijon mustard, this Air Fryer Cabbage recipe is a quick, cheap, and easy dinner. The crispy cabbage wedges are ready to eat in just 20 minutes thanks to your air fryer. Enjoy it plain or with your favorite dipping sauce or drizzle (recommendations below!)
Cabbage is something that’s common around the world and an ingredient I grew to love as I got older. It’s always cheap to buy and its uses stretch way beyond just coleslaw and sauerkraut. With my deep love of air fryer recipes, it’s no surprise that this is a recipe for how to air fry cabbage. And once you learn how…you’ll never go back.
Why you’ll love it
- Staple simple ingredients like garlic and onion powder are all you need to make this cabbage recipe. Cooking cabbage brings out its slightly sweet taste so it really doesn’t need much for seasoning!
- Ready in 20 minutes with the most beautiful char thanks to the air fryer and its magical abilities.
- This versatile recipe can be served as a main course or as a side dish. You can pair it with a creamy sauce or something lighter – the options are endless.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Cabbage
Cabbage in the air fryer is wonderful because you don’t need many ingredients. The high heat caramelizes the cabbage, highlighting its natural flavors. To help bring them out just a bit more, the ingredients you will need are:
- Cabbage wedges: These fit best in the air fryer basket and make for a pretty presentation. Be sure to check out our post on how to cut cabbage for more options if you want to make air fryer cabbage steaks. Green cabbage is the most common, but purple or red cabbage works fine too.
- The flavor makers: To help the cabbage shine, you will need onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Using ground spices ensures it all gets mixed into the layers of the cabbage. You can also add or swap spices like chili powder and Italian seasoning for a different flavor profile.
- Oil: Even an air fryer requires a little bit of oil. This is also another way to distribute the spices evenly. I use avocado oil due to its higher smoke point but olive oil will work too.
When Using ground spices
Typically, I recommend using fresh herbs and spices when at all possible, but for this recipe ground spices are convenient and transport the flavor better. Ground spices, especially when fresh, deliver a more concentrated flavor. The issue most home cooks have is that their spices lose their strength after 6 months to a year, yet we continue to use them well past 1 year. As a general rule, if you smell the spice and the flavor doesn’t smack you in the face, the spice is probably too old to use accurately.
How to make Cabbage Wedges in the air fryer
Using an air fryer is ideal for quick meals and for developing flavor quickly. It works by circulating super hot air all around, thus essentially frying it. To make cabbage in the air fryer, the steps are pretty similar to any air fryer vegetable.
- Cut the cabbage wedges, making sure the cabbage core stays intact to hold it all together.
- Mix together the oil and spices.
- Brush this onto the cabbage, working it into all the crevices!
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes.
Storage
Fried cabbage is always best enjoyed right away, but leftovers will keep in the fridge. Let it cool completely then store in an air-tight container for up to 4 days (try to store them without any sauce on the slices). To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer or oven to get crispy again.
Why this Recipe Works
- Extra crispy with a tender inside. This is not the soft cabbage you may have had at your grandma’s, this is fun, exciting, textural cabbage wedges.
- Healthy since cabbage is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B6, and folate. This makes it a great choice for adding more veggies to your diet. It’s also a delicious low carb side dish that provides a crunchy element that most low-carb things are missing.
- Minimal prep time is required since all you have to do is cut the cabbage and mix the spices. These steps add mayyyybbbeee 5 minutes to the total time.
FAVORITE AIR FRYER
After trying out a bunch of different air fryers, this is my favorite!
FAQs
An egg air fryer is slightly smaller with a deep basket while an oven air fryer looks more like a toaster oven. Both work well, but oven air fryers will have more settings and options. I use an egg-style air fryer but either style will work. Cook times just may need adjusting.
Baking and air frying are pretty different methods of cooking. If you’re looking to bake the cabbage, I recommend trying this recipe for Roasted Cabbage Steaks.
How To serve air fried cabbage
If you’re wondering how to serve these wedges as part of a whole meal, I’ve got you covered with side dish ideas and some topping ideas.
- Top this easy side dish with parmesan cheese, whipped feta, lemon tahini dressing, or miso mayo.
- Serve it with a chickpea salad, a sweet potato salad with quinoa, or this Freekeh salad.
- Make chared vegetables shine by serving them with grilled romaine lettuce, air fried tofu, or air fryer buffalo cauliflower.
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @liveeatlearn on Facebook or Instagram!
Ingredients
- ½ large head cabbage
- 2 Tbsp oil 30 mL
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prep Cabbage: Cut cabbage in half, then cut that have into 4 wedges (reserve other half for a different use).
- Flavor: In a small bowl, stir together 2 Tbsp oil, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper. Brush the mixture onto all sides of the cabbage wedges.
- Air Fry: Set air fryer to 350°F (176°C). Place wedges in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until charred at the edges and tender.
Kim says
This looks so amazing!!! I cannot wait to make it!
Sarah Bond says
Can’t wait for you to try it, Kim! 😀
Sharon says
Do you flip the cabbage at all?
Sarah Bond says
I don’t, but if you notice them cooking unevenly you can! Everyone’s air fryer is a bit different.
Alicia says
What type of cabbage did you use? I have a green cabbage but it looks much tighter when cut and not as ‘leafy’ as your picture.
Thanks!
Sarah Bond says
I used a green cabbage too! The tighter ones actually work better, I just couldn’t find any when I went to shoot this one 🙂
Donaco says
I just made this but I cut the cabbage wrong because I wasn’t paying attention. It was more like shredded strips. Still was delicious, just came out different. Took less time to cook as well.