This post contains affiliate links.
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!)
save this recipe!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.
Such an easy side
- 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.
here’s what you’ll need
Cabbage in the air fryer is wonderful because you don’t need many ingredients. The high heat caramelizes the cabbage, highlighting its natural flavors. Jump to the recipe card for exact measurements and substitutions.
- Cabbage wedges: These fit best in the air fryer basket and make for a pretty presentation. Green cabbage is the most common, but purple or red cabbage works fine too.
- Dijon Mustard: This adds a little tang and depth of flavor without a ton of ingredients.
- Spices: To season these cabbage steaks, we just need onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. 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.
tip for when to use 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.
Just check that they are still fresh. 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. The steps for making cabbage in the air fryer are pretty similar to any air fryer vegetable. This is an overview of the recipe. Jump to the recipe for the full printable instructions.
- Cut the cabbage wedges, ensuring the core stays intact to hold it all together.
- Mix the oil and spices.
- Brush this onto the cabbage, working it into all the crevices!
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes.
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!
all the toppings
I know I’ve talked about the drizzle and toppings. Here are some of my favorites.
- Lemon tahini dressing is my favorite because the lemon brightens up everything it touches, and the tahini is just delicious!
- Another tasty topping or dip, miso mayo, is easy to whip up while the cabbage cooks.
Easy Air Fryer Cabbage Recipe (Flavor-Packed!)
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
This looks so amazing!!! I cannot wait to make it!
Can’t wait for you to try it, Kim! 😀
Do you flip the cabbage at all?
I don’t, but if you notice them cooking unevenly you can! Everyone’s air fryer is a bit different.
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!
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 🙂
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.
This was absolutely horrible! The seasoning ‘paste’ burnt before the Cabbage was ever done. I threw it all away.
Not a good recipe, sorry. The outside burnt before the inside was done. I’ve made some good recipes from this site, but this wasn’t it.
Do not recommend this recipe! Find something else on this site, there’s other good recipes. Unfortunately I’m rating this recipe a 2 star, sorry. Cook times seemed off and it didn’t taste right.
Great recipe ! Combined with your lemon tahini recipe. My guests told me 3 times they loved it. Did do in airfryer at 170 for 20 minutes . Came out perfect. 😋
Happy you enjoyed it Caroline, thanks for cooking with us!