Home » Vegetarian » Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks

Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Cooking Temperature380 degrees Fahrenheit

The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!

Looking for a meatless dinner component that packs flavor and is easy to make? Air fryer cabbage steaks are a great idea!

Simple to prepare and cooked in less than 30 minutes, these cabbage steaks are lightly spiced and delicious to munch on!

cooked cabbage steak on plate sitting on wooden board with blue cloth behind.
Air fryer cabbage steaks are so easy!

Recipe Tips

Making cabbage steaks in the air fryer is actually pretty simple. That said, here are a few recipe tips and other things you’ll need to know:

  • You can vary the spice blend to suit your tastes. We like to keep it simple with garlic powder, salt and black pepper. But you could definitely substitute some minced garlic or add some cayenne pepper if you want a bit of kick.
  • Be careful when you flip the cabbage steaks over in the air fryer. The softer inner layers have a tendency to want to slip out.
  • Some of the outer cabbage leaves are bound to fall off/become loose during cooking – that’s normal. Additionally, some of the outer leaves might crisp up a lot. You can choose to eat them or remove them when the steaks are done. Some people really like the taste of them while others don’t!
  • You’ll likely have to cook the cabbage steaks in batches unless you have a very large air fryer.
  • You can add some water into the air fryer tray to help soften the cabbage but this is not necessary. We’ve tried it with and without water and found it made no big difference (with our air fryer at least).
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Step by Step Instructions

To make these air fried cabbage steaks, check out the recipe process photos in this section of the post.

This way you can see just how we made ours and compare your progress at each step of the way.

If you just want to get started air frying, head down to the recipe card for the full instructions, cooking time, and cooking temperature without visuals.

head of cabbage with stem cut off on wooden board sitting on white countertop.
Cut the stem off.

First, cut the stem off the cabbage – but try not to cut too much off as this can loosen some of the leaves.

Also remove any loose and discolored outer leaves from the cabbage.

long knife cutting large slice off head of cabbage all on wooden cutting board.
Cut the cabbage into slices.

Then place the cabbage on the cutting board with the cut-off stem facing down (it won’t wobble as much this way). Cut the cabbage into slices, approximately 1 inch thick.

three raw cabbage steaks on blue plate sitting on white countertop.
Place the slices onto a plate.

You should get between 4-6 slices out of a small to medium-sized cabbage. We got 6 slices out of ours but it was also on the larger end for a small cabbage.

white bowl with oil and spices mixed together with blue tipped brush sticking out on counter.
Mix the oil and spices.

Next, add the oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a small bowl. If you have any other spices you wish to add, add those as well. Stir everything until it is well mixed.

At this time also preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. This way you won’t have to wait for it to preheat later.

blue tipped cooking brush brushing oil and spices on raw cabbage steaks on blue grey plate on counter.
Brush the cabbage with the oil and spice mix

While the air fryer is preheating, lightly brush the cabbage steaks with the oil and spice mix, then flip them over and brush the other side as well.

If your cabbage is quite large, you might need slightly more of the oil and spice mix indicated in this recipe – but it should be enough for a small head of cabbage.

raw cabbage steaks sitting in black air fryer tray on counter.
Place the cabbage steaks into the air fryer.

When the air fryer is preheated, place as many slices into the air fryer as you can fit without overlap. That’s important because otherwise the cabbage steaks might cook unevenly!

In our case, we can usually fit three slices (half of the cabbage) but this can vary depending on the size of the air fryer.

OPTIONAL: If you want the cabbage steaks to end up slightly softer, you can add two tablespoons of water to the bottom of your air fryer.

However, this is completely optional – we have tested making cabbage steaks with water and without and found it makes no big difference (at least with our air fryer – it might be different for other air fryers).

red tipped tongs flipping cooked cabbage steak out of air fryer tray on counter.
Flip the cabbage steaks halfway through.

Air fry the cabbage steaks at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then flip them over. This works well with tongs.

Then air fry them for another 10-12 minutes until the cabbage steaks are soft and slightly browned. The total cooking time will be around 20-22 minutes, but can be longer depending on personal preference (e.g. if you want softer cabbage).

The diameter and the thickness of the cabbage slices as well as your air fryer can also affect cooking time.

cooked cabbage steaks in black air fryer tray on counter.
The cabbage steaks should be tender but also slightly crispy.

The outside leaves can get quite crispy – that’s normal. Some people really like them like that, but of course you can also always remove them.

When done, remove the cabbage steaks from the air fryer and repeat the cooking process with the rest of the cabbage slices – if required – until all the cabbage steaks are cooked.

cooked cabbage steaks on white plate sitting on wooden board.
These cabbage steaks were delicious!

You can sprinkle the cabbage steaks with some chopped parsley before serving for a pop of color – but this is completely optional. You can also add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Storage Tips

These cabbage steaks store well if you have any leftovers. Place them in a sealed container and store them in the fridge where they’ll last for about 3 to 5 days.

We’d recommend reheating them in the air fryer for a few minutes if you want to regain some of the crispiness.

You could also microwave them if you prefer but they will release their moisture and be softer compared to reheating them in the air fryer.

What to Serve Cabbage Steaks With

Cabbage steaks can serve as the main part of a dinner dish. We’d pair them with another flavorful vegetable dish like air fryer carrots and some carbs like roasted baby potatoes, or even garlic parmesan fries!

You could also aim for a bit of sweetness and make some sweet potato cubes or sweet potato fries with it!

Related Recipes

If you liked these cabbage steaks, you might be interested in these other yummy vegetarian air fryer ideas!

cooked cabbage steaks on white plate sitting on wooden board.

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks

Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks are a delicious way to eat cabbage. Easy to make with just a few spices and oil, these hearty steaks make a nice vegetarian dinner option!
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 small head cabbage
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons water, optional
  • chopped parsley, optional

Instructions

  • Remove any loose and discolored leaves from the cabbage. Then trim off the stem. Cut the cabbage into slices, approximately 1 inch thick. You should get between four and six slices/steaks out of a regular sized cabbage.
    1 small head cabbage
  • In a small bowl, add the oil, garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Stir until everything is well mixed.
    2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • At this time, preheat your air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Carefully place the cabbage slices onto a large plate. Lightly brush the cabbage steaks with seasoning, then flip them over and brush the other side with oil/spice mix as well.
  • When the air fryer is hot, place as many slices into the air fryer as you can fit without overlap. In our case, that's usually three slices (half of the cabbage) but this can vary depending on the size of the air fryer. OPTIONAL: If you want the cabbage steaks to be slightly softer, you can add two tablespoons of water to the bottom of your air fryer to create steam. However, this is optional – we have tested making these cabbage steaks with water and without and found it makes no big difference.
    2 tablespoons water
  • Air fry the cabbage steaks at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then flip them over (tongs work well here) and air fry them for another 10-12 minutes (total cooking time 20-22 minutes) until soft and slightly browned. These cooking times are guidelines only – for softer cabbage, air fry the steaks slightly longer. The diameter and the thickness of the cabbage slices as well as your air fryer can also affect cooking time. The outside leaves can get quite crispy – that's normal. Some people really like them like that, but of course you can also always remove them.
  • When done, remove the cabbage steaks from the air fryer and repeat the cooking process with the rest of the cabbage slices until all the cabbage steaks are cooked.
  • Optional: You can sprinkle the cabbage steaks with a little bit of chopped parsley before serving for a pop of color – but this is completely optional. You can also add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
    chopped parsley

Notes

If you only place one cabbage slice into the air fryer instead of 2 or 3, then the cooking time will likely be less than 20 minutes so keep a closer eye on it! 

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 323mg | Potassium: 322mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg

This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.

Cuisine American
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This recipe was contributed by
Lisa is the founder and main creator for Simply Air Fryer. As the author of two successful food blogs, she's usually found measuring ingredients, trying out new combinations, or hiding behind the camera snapping photos of food. She bought her first air fryer over 3 years ago and has since used it over 500 times. With the help of her trusty sidekick (husband), she's created and tested lots of recipes for Simply Air Fryer.

2 thoughts on “Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks”

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely the best cabbage I have ever eaten… and I’ve eaten a lot of cabbage cooked all kinds of ways. And, the left overs the next day were even better. Thank you so much for these delicious, easy recipes.

    Reply

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