This quick and easy air fryer cabbage is sure to be a family favorite vegetable side dish. The cabbage is tender, yet has perfectly crispy edges, and it’s coated in the most delicious 2-ingredient glaze.
Air Fryer Cabbage
This air fryer cabbage recipe is absolutely delicious! It’s so quick and easy to pull together, and it’s the perfect side dish to serve on busy weeknights.
This cabbage is coated with a little oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then it’s cooked quickly in the air fryer. It comes out tender and crunchy with crispy edges, and it’s so flavorful. Seriously, it’s so good that you could eat it just as it is.
I like to add an extra layer of flavor by making the optional honey balsamic glaze though – and the extra few minutes of effort are totally worth it. That sweet and tangy glaze really brings this air fried cabbage to the next level. I’m not sure if my favorite part is the glaze or the deliciously crispy edges. It’s a toss up because they’re both so tasty.
Ingredients
Green Cabbage: Cabbage is a great, hearty vegetable that holds up well to cooking and becomes tender as it cooks. It makes up the base of this dish. Green cabbage has a mild flavor, so it pairs really nicely with the balsamic honey glaze.
Olive Oil: Olive oil coats the cabbage before it cooks, which helps the seasonings stick to it and helps you get the delicious crispy edges as it air fries.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This adds a delicious tang that balances out the flavor of cabbage really well. It also helps tenderize the tough leaves a bit more.
Garlic Powder: This pantry staple adds depth of flavor to the dish.
Salt and Pepper: Salt enhances all of the other flavors in this dish, while pepper balances out the sweetness of the glaze.
Balsamic Vinegar: This adds a rich tangy flavor and makes up the liquid portion of the glaze.
Honey: Honey adds sweetness, which balances out the tangy flavor of the balsamic vinegar. It also helps create a sticky, syrupy texture so that the glaze sticks to the cabbage.
Alternative Ingredients
- Cabbage: You could also use Savoy cabbage. Just keep in mind that it tends to cook faster, so keep a close eye on it and adjust the cooking time as necessary.
- Glaze: If you’re not a fan of balsamic, try making a honey mustard glaze instead. That would taste delicious here!
How To Cook Air Fryer Cabbage
Preheat the Air Fryer and Prep the Cabbage: Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, get your cabbage ready. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cabbage chunks, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until the cabbage is evenly coated with the oil and seasonings. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Cook the Cabbage: Once the air fryer is ready, transfer half of the cabbage into it. Cook for a bit, then stir and cook again.
Finish Cooking the Cabbage: Stir and cook for a few more minutes until it reaches your desired level of tenderness. Repeat with the remaining cabbage.
Make the Balsamic Glaze: While the second batch of cabbage is cooking, make the balsamic glaze. Combine the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan and whisk them together. Heat this mixture over medium to medium-low heat until it simmers. Let it simmer until it reduces by half and reaches a syrupy consistency.
Serve: Transfer the cooked cabbage to a serving dish and drizzle half of the glaze over it. Toss the cabbage gently to evenly coat it in the glaze, then drizzle the remaining glaze on top. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Cut the Cabbage Evenly: Make sure to cut the cabbage into equal sized chunks so that it cooks evenly.
- Cook in Batches: Even though you technically can cook it all in one batch if your air fryer is large enough, it tastes better if you cook it in two batches. There needs to be enough room for the air to circulate in order to get the charred edges, which add so much delicious flavor.
How Long Do You Cook Cabbage In The Air Fryer?
It depends on how big you cut the cabbage, how much cabbage you cook at once, and your specific air fryer. The general rule of thumb is to cook it for 5 minutes, check it, and go from there. For this recipe with deliciously crispy edges, you’ll need to cook it for 5 minutes, then 5 more minutes, then a final 3-5 minutes. That’s 13-15 minutes of total cooking time.
How Do You Know When Cooked Cabbage Is Done?
Since you can eat cabbage raw or cooked, “done” is really just an indicator of how tender you’d like it to be. Some people like it very tender, while some people like it better if it still has a bit of crunch. Generally, for this recipe, you’re checking to see if the cabbage has wilted and shrunk down a bit, and that the edges have started to brown.
You can always taste it to check for doneness (carefully, it’ll still be hot), and go from there. It’s always better to check it a little earlier than accidentally cook it too long, because you can always cook it longer if it needs it.
What To Serve With Cabbage
I love serving this quick and easy vegetable side dish with some protein and a comforting carb. Some of my favorites are these Instant Pot frozen chicken thighs (perfect for busy weeknights) or these pork steaks. I also love serving it with some homemade fried potatoes and onions, or some simple seasoned rice or flavorful Cajun rice.
Storing Leftovers
Let it cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave, on the stove, or in the air fryer. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months, but it will have a softer texture with less crunch after it thaws.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Cabbage Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other cabbage recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Cabbage and Sausage
- Crockpot Cabbage
- Cabbage and Ham
- Corned Beef with Cabbage
- Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
BEST Air Fryer Cabbage (with Crispy Edges)
Ingredients
Cabbage:
- 2 pounds green cabbage core removed, then cut into 1 inch chunks
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
(Optional) Balsamic Glaze:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the cabbage. To a large mixing bowl, add the cabbage, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until the cabbage is evenly coated in the oil and seasonings.
- Transfer half of the cabbage to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir, and cook for 5 more minutes. Stir one more time, and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, depending on how tender you like it. Repeat with the second half of the cabbage. (See notes if you want to cook the cabbage all at once instead of in two rounds.)*
- While the second half of the cabbage is cooking, prepare the optional balsamic glaze (if using). To a small saucepan, add the balsamic vinegar and honey. Whisk together. Heat over medium to medium-low heat, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 7 minutes, or until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy.**
- Transfer the cabbage to a serving dish and drizzle half of the glaze over it. Gently toss the cabbage to evenly coat it in the glaze, drizzle the remaining half on top, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
I hope you enjoy this air fryer cabbage as much as I do! It’s one of my favorite easy vegetable side dishes.
