I bet you never thought you’d air fry cabbage… yet here we are! This Air Fryer Cabbage (Southern Style) is a tasty way to create a cabbage dish that uses simple ingredients to turn a vegetable not many like, into something delicious.
Bacon, butter, and spices combine to create a buttery, savory side dish that is mouthwateringly good, and will quickly become one of your favorite recipes.
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Cabbage Recipe
- This is such an easy side dish to create and the simple seasonings really help create something so delicious the whole family will be excited to eat cabbage.
- It’s super easy to make, which makes it perfect for a mid-week addition to your main dish (like my Air Fryer Whole Chicken – yum!).
- It combines butter and bacon grease for a buttery cabbage low carb side dish that packs a ton of flavor.
- Bacon – need I say more?
🛒 Ingredients
- ½ lb of bacon (reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease)
- 1 head of cabbage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon of butter, melted
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
*see recipe card for detailed amounts
How to Make Southern Style Cabbage in the Air Fryer
- Air fry your bacon at 370 degrees F for 5 minutes, flip the bacon then continue cooking for 5 additional minutes.
- Take the bacon out of the air fryer and place the strips on a paper lined plate and crumble when cooled.
- Drain the grease from your air fryer and reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
- Next core and chop your cabbage and add it to a large bowl.
- Pour the melted butter and reserved bacon grease over the chopped cabbage and toss to coat.
- Next add your spices; salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to the bowl and combine until all the ingredients are incorporated well.
- Place the seasoned cabbage into your air fryer basket and air fry at 375 degrees F for 8-12 minutes (toss with tongs as the cabbage cooks) or until you have reached the desired texture (crispier or more wilted).
Place the cooked cabbage in a bowl, toss with your crumbled bacon, and serve warm.
Variations & Alternatives
- Add your favorite seasoning or seasoning blend to the cabbage before air frying (cajun seasoning would work really well) – keep in mind if you’re adding additional seasoning that already has salt in it, you may need to reduce the salt you add to the dish.
- Use Brussels sprouts instead of cabbage for a different texture and crunch – cut in quarters and allow them to soak in the butter/bacon grease mixture a little longer to get through to the layers underneath.
- Add some red pepper flakes to your seasoning for a bit of a spicy kick.
- Switch out the butter for olive oil or avocado oil if you’d prefer a more mild flavor.
- Sprinkle some parmesan cheese over the cabbage before eating – because cheese and bacon = perfection.
How To Store Leftover Air Fryer Cabbage
Refrigerate the cabbage in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze this dish – just be sure to let it cool completely before freezing and allow adequate time for thawing prior to reheating.
How To Reheat Cabbage In The Air Fryer
Simply place the leftover cabbage in your air fryer basket and reheat for 3-4 minutes at 375 degrees F.
FAQS
The cooking times will depend on your personal preferences when it comes to how you like your cabbage.
If you prefer cabbage with a bit of crunch, then cook for less time and stick closer to 8 minutes, if you prefer tender perfection then 10 minutes will likely work, and if you prefer your cabbage to have crispy edges or a more crispy texture, then you’ll need to cook for closer to 12 minutes.
Both will work well in this recipe, however green cabbage tends to get more tender and has a milder flavor. Red cabbage is slightly crunchier and can lend a slight sweetness to the dish.
Yes, you can easily make this recipe with cabbage steaks. Just keep in mind that the cooking times will be a bit longer as the cabbage steak is thicker. Start by cooking for 8 minutes, then turn and cook for an additional 10-12 minutes or until you have reached your desired texture.
Not at all. This delicious recipe is a little different from some of the other roasted cabbage recipes in that tossing around the cabbage as you cook it is part of the process that makes this tender cabbage one of the most tasty air fryer recipes you could ever try out.
No, you don’t need to use bacon grease – you can easily substitute it for butter or your favorite cooking oil. If you do choose to use bacon grease, it will add a unique flavor to the dish that can’t be replicated with other ingredients.
Try Some of My Other Favorite Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
- Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Air Fryer Glazed Carrots
- Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
EQUIPMENT
- Air Fryer, This recipe uses a Cosori Dual Blaze 6.8 QT
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 lb Bacon, 1 tsp bacon grease reserved
- 1 head Cabbage, cored and shredded
- 1 tbsp Butter, melted
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/3 tsp Onion Powder
INSTRUCTIONS
- Air fry your bacon at 370 degrees F for 5 minutes, flip the bacon then continue cooking for 5 additional minutes.
- Take the bacon out of the air fryer and place the strips on a paper lined plate and crumble when cooled.
- Drain the grease from your air fryer and reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
- Next core and chop your cabbage and add it to a large bowl.
- Pour the melted butter and reserved bacon grease over the chopped cabbage and toss to coat.
- Next add your spices; salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to the bowl and combine until all the ingredients are incorporated well.
- Place the seasoned cabbage into your air fryer basket and air fry at 375 degrees F for 8-12 minutes (toss with tongs as the cabbage cooks) or until you have reached the desired texture (crispier or more wilted).
- Place the cooked cabbage in a bowl, toss with your crumbled bacon and serve warm.
