Air Fryer Fried Cabbage

Name: Air Fryer Fried Cabbage
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Ingredients: ½ head cabbage; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon sugar; 3 slices bacon; Salt and pepper (to taste)

Making fried cabbage in the air fryer is quick and simple! This low carb side dish is quick to make in less than 20 minutes and makes a hearty side dish!

A white plate full of air fryer cabbage.

I grew up eating my Southern grandma’s cooking and her fried cabbage was a treat!

Made with cabbage, onions, and plenty of bacon, it was always a favorite side dish.

Our air fryer cabbage has all of the same vibes, though we leave the onion out because we have picky eaters in the house. You can absolutely add it in though!

We serve this alongside just about anything, including Air Fryer Drumsticks or our Air Fryer Whole Chicken, but you can make it with any type of meat! These boneless pork chops in the air fryer are also a great choice.

This recipe is super simple with minimal prep and a short cook time.

Table of Contents

Ingredient Notes:

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Ingredients for air fryer cabbage spread out on a countertop.

Cabbage – We use half a head of cabbage for this recipe. If doubling the recipe and using a full head of cabbage, you’ll need to cook in batches or use a really large air fryer. Our 6 quart did best with just a half head.

Bacon – You’ll dice this into small pieces. We like a traditional bacon, but maple bacon would be good, too.

Seasonings- You will need olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper for seasonings.

Sugar helps bring out the natural sweetness of the cabbage a bit more, but it isn’t necessary if you’re cutting carbs or avoiding sugar.

How to Make Fried Cabbage in an Air Fryer:

Collage of the steps of preparing air fryer cabbage.

Prep the Cabbage– Remove your core from the cabbage and chop it into one inch pieces. Place it in your air fryer and drizzle oil and sugar over the top. Leave the sugar off if you are going low carb. Stir this to coat the cabbage.

Chop the Bacon– Next cut your bacon into small pieces and sprinkle over the top of the cabbage. Don’t stir this in, but instead let it sit on top of the cabbage as you start to cook it.

Air Fry– Air fry your cabbage and bacon for 7 minutes at 380 degrees. Stop and stir your bacon into the cabbage and then continue cooking until you get the texture you like. I usually go for 5 more minutes for a total of 12 minutes of cook time.

When you are ready to serve, transfer to another bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.

Overhead view of air fryer cabbage on a wooden cutting board.

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FAQ:

Do I need to soak my cabbage in water?

Soaking your cabbage in water is not necessary, but it can help with that cabbage smell. You can soak your cabbage in very cold water if you want a more crisp cabbage or if you want to cut the odor of the cabbage a bit while cooking. If you do this, drain and pat dry very well before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

My air fryer looks pretty full, will the cabbage shrink while it is cooking?

Cabbage shrinks quite a bit while cooking. This recipe will serve about 4 people, depending on their appetite.

Is fried cabbage healthy?

As with all food, it really depends on how you cook it and what you add to it. We’re air frying (yay for less oil), but we’re also adding bacon to the mix. Cabbage itself is low fat and high fiber, which is great!

Airfried cabbage on a small white plate.

Recipe Tips!

No picky eaters in your house? Dice up a half of an onion and add it in with the cabbage.

This recipe also reheats well in the air fryer! Reheat it for 5 minutes at 370 degrees F if you have any leftovers!

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