Air Fryer Cabbage with Onions and Apples

Name: Air Fryer Cabbage with Onions and Apples
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 small white cabbage; 1 yellow onion; 2 apples; 2 tablespoons oil; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Quick and easy to make, this air fryer white cabbage is cooked with onion and apple for a delicious everyday healthy side dish.

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Air fried white cabbage with fresh parsley garnish.

Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Betty Davies

Sweet and tangy, this air fryer cabbage is cooked with onions and apples for a delicious, quick and healthy vegetable side dish. Simple to prep, it only takes 10 minutes to air fry the cabbage til it is perfectly tender and flavorful. This healthy white cabbage recipe is perfect for family weeknight dinners.

A bowl of air fryer cabbage with onions and apples ready to serve.

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This air fryer fried cabbage is a delicious and healthy side with hints of sweet and tangy flavors from apples and onions. Quick to prep and cook, this versatile side dish works great with all of your favorite main meals.

The air fryer cooks the cabbage til it is tender, but still has a bit of crunch to it, and though tasty, they flavors aren’t overpowering. Super quick to prep and cook, it’s a great everyday veggie side dish.

It’s also a great addition to your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, or serve it up during Oktoberfest!

Be sure to try my Braised Red Cabbage and Cabbage, Carrot and Beet Slaw too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Healthy: Made from scratch with fresh produce, this recipe is low in fat and calories. Cabbage is a great source of fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals.
Quick and easy: Ready to serve in less than 20 minutes, this simple recipe is made with a few basic ingredients.
Dietary info: This air fryer cabbage recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. It is also low carb at under 20g of carbs per serving.

Cabbage, apples and onions served in a large bowl with two spoons.

Ingredients

Cabbage: This recipe uses a small white (also known as green) cabbage.
Onion: Diced onion adds a great tangy flavor.
Apples: Apples add a lovely sweetness to this side dish. You can use Granny Smith’s for a tangier taste, or a sweeter apple like Fuji.
Oil: Oil helps the flavors to penetrate the cabbage. Use a high heat neutral oil like canola, vegetable or avocado.
Apple Cider Vinegar: This adds a slight sour tang to each bite. For a milder flavor, use rice wine vinegar, or white wine vinega also works well.
Seasonings: Salt and black pepper

How to air fryer cabbage

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Chop the cabbage, onion and apples, and toss in the oil, vinegar and seasonings (photo 1).
Place in the air fryer basket (photo 2).
Cook til tender (photo 3).

Three step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

This air fryer cabbage is delicious just as it is, but you can easily mix things up by adding different seasonings like garlic powder, paprika or dried herbs. The flavor and texture of the onion and apples add interest, but you can easily just stick to cabbage if you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make this recipe with red cabbage?

Yes! This recipe works great with red cabbage too!

Do you need to soak the cabbage in water before cooking?

Some recipes call for cabbage to be soaked for up to an hour in a bowl of water before cooking. This dulls the flavor of the cabbage and helps it be tender once cooked. The air fryer cooks the cabbage perfectly, in my opinion, as I still like it to have a bit of a bite to it.

If you prefer it to be softer, then you can soak it in water with a teaspoon of salt before cooking. Drain it well before mixing with the other ingredients.

Can you make this recipe without an air fryer?

Sure! Rather than air fryer, you can fry the cabbage in a large skillet or pot. Fry it for 5 to 10 minutes, then, add in 1/4 cup of stock and cook, stirring occasionally, til it has evaporated. This process will help t get the cabbage nice and tender.

A bowl of air fried cabbage on a wooden chopping board.

Serving Suggestions

This air fried cabbage with onions and apples is perfect for everyday meals, and it’s great to serve up with corned beef for St.Patrick’s Day, or, with Bratwurst for Oktoberfest. It’s a super versatile, and great with chicken, pork and beef dishes. Try it alongside:

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

You can chop and season the cabbage, onion and apples a couple of hours ahead of cooking it. Keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to use it. The vinegar will stop the apples browning too quickly.

Once cooked, the cabbage can be kept in the fridge, covered, for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the air fryer at 360F / 180c for 3 minutes to warm it through to serve.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Don’t cut the cabbage too thinly. It looses water and will shrink down as it cooks. You can get away with chop it pretty roughly.
Dice the apples and onion fairly small so that they mix well with the cabbage and don’t become too overpowering.
Stir or toss the cabbage half way through air frying so that it cooks evenly.

Air fried cabbage with apples and onions served in a large bowl.

This air fryer cabbage recipe with onion and apples is perfect in it’s simplicity. It takes no time at all to make and cook, and it works great with so many dinners. Crunchy but tender, with hints of sweetness, it’s sure to become a family favorite.

More Air Fryer Vegetable Side Dishes

If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!