This air fryer cabbage and onions recipe features caramelized onions and cabbage bursting with flavor and a little crunch in only 15 minutes. It’s great solo as a veggie side, but also perfect for other recipes.
½Smallhead green cabbage(about 2 - 2 ½ cups shredded)
1Smallyellow or sweet onion
2Tbspbutter, melted
1Tspsalt(or to taste)
½Tspblack pepper(or to taste)
Instructions
Core and shred your cabbage using a sharp knife (you can also use a food processor if you have a shred attachment, or a box grater). Peel, halve, and thinly slice your onion
½ Small head green cabbage, 1 Small yellow or sweet onion
In a mixing bowl, toss the shredded cabbage and onion with the butter, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly distributed
2 Tbsp butter, melted, 1 Tsp salt, ½ Tsp black pepper
Place the cabbage and onion mixture into your air fryer’s basket or rack in a single layer (a little overlap is alright, but don’t overcrowd - cook in batches if needed)
Cook on the air fry setting at 375°F (or the closest setting your specific air fryer has) for 10-15 minutes, pausing every 5 minutes to stir, until vegetables are soft and desired level of browning is achieved
Serve hot
Notes
You could also use napa or red cabbage in place of the green cabbage, but green is a classic for this dish. For reference, I used about ⅓ of a 7” diameter extra large cabbage
Other types of onions are alright (such as white or red) but they tend to have a more pungent flavor
You can substitute olive oil in place of the butter if preferred (or if you want to make the dish vegan)
Seasonings are adjustable to taste, and you can definitely add others as desired! Cabbage pairs well with garlic powder, paprika, thyme, parsley, rosemary, or red pepper flakes for heat. Add sesame seeds if it’s going in an Asian-inspired dish, or mustard seeds for pickled dishes!
Haluski variation (pictured): cook 2 cups egg noodles per package directions and combine with the finished cabbage and onions. Add extra butter if desired (optional) and enjoy a haluski version!
Don’t shred your cabbage too thin, as it will naturally shrink as it cooks and releases moisture. I generally aim for between ¼” and ½” thickness
If you do more than one batch, reduce cooking time by 5 minutes to start (to account for the heated basket) and adjust from there
I made this recipe in my Ninja air fryer. Without preheating, it took me 15 minutes, and my second batch took 11 minutes to come out perfectly. Other air fryers will vary, so adjust as needed for your specific unit!
Store leftover cabbage and onions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer term storage, make sure to cool completely and then freeze for up to 3 months
To reheat, air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes (depending on your air fryer and portion size) until warmed through. You can also microwave or warm in a pan on the stove
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and variety of ingredients, any seasonings or sides added, and actual quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fry shredded cabbage, air fryer cabbage and onions, air fryer cabbage recipes, air fryer side dishes, ninja air fryer cabbage and onions, roasted cabbage, vegetarian dishes