This easy fried cabbage and sausage recipe is a healthy weeknight dinner made in the air fryer in 20 minutes with 6 simple ingredients. With bites of caramelized, smoked sausage, charred cabbage and tender onions, this is sure to be a new family favorite!
Why This Is the Best Air Fried Cabbage and Sausage Recipe
Here are a few reasons we know you will love this recipe:
- Flavor: The smoked sausage browns and caramelizes as it cooks in the air fryer, while the moist and soft cabbage soaks up so much flavor from the sausage, sweet onions, and seasonings.
- Quick & Easy: This is definitely the easiest cabbage and sausage recipe we’ve ever made and it is ready in under 20 minutes! The air fryer allows you to cook the sausage and cabbage at the same time, without having to stir and check on it like in our stovetop fried cabbage and sausage recipe.
- Healthy: The only ingredients in this dish are sausage, veggies, olive oil, and seasonings! That means it’s low carb, gluten free, packed full protein from the sausage and with lots of nutrients and fiber from the fresh cabbage.
If you love cabbage as much as we do, make sure to check out our easy crockpot cabbage and sausage and these deliciously easy unstuffed cabbage rolls.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a handful of ingredients, with most of the ingredients being pantry stables we bet you already have! For full ingredient amounts and directions, scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Smoked Sausage: You can use any kind of sausage you enjoy, just make sure it’s the already cooked kind.
- Cabbage: You want to use green cabbage for this recipe, but red cabbage will work if it’s all you have.
- Onion: A sweet yellow onion is best, but a white onion will also work.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil also works great.
- Granulated Garlic: Freshly minced garlic can also be used.
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked pepper will give you the most flavor.
How to Make Cabbage and Sausage
Making tender fried cabbage with juicy sausage takes less than 20 minutes and barely any work. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for detailed instructions on how to make this healthy and savory comfort meal.
- Prep. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F, and mix all of the ingredients together.
- Cook. Put the cabbage and sausage in the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes, stirring halfway through. Serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks
This tender and juicy air fryer cabbage and sausage recipe couldn’t be easier to make, but here are a few tips to help make sure it turns out perfect!
- How To Cut The Cabbage: Cutting cabbage might seem difficult, but it’s actually really easy if you know what to do. First, remove the outer leaves and throw them away. Then cut off the bottom where the stem was, so the vegetable sits flat. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the stems. Then you can easily cut the cabbage without it rolling away, and without any of the stem getting in the way.
- Different Size Pieces: We like to cut the cabbage pieces in a few different sizes so that the dish has a variety of textures. Small pieces will char easily, medium pieces will be tender, and large pieces will be a little al dente.
- Don’t Worry About Crowding: A lot of times you have to worry about crowding when you cook in an air fryer, but you don’t need to worry about that with this recipe. The air fryer will be really full after you add all the ingredients, but they’ll shrink as they cook!
What To Serve With Sausage and Cabbage?
Sausage and cabbage is the perfect meal all on its own, but it’s just as delicious with a few sides too! If you want a heartier meal, try serving along side some stewed okra, our easy skillet fried corn, or a piece of warm cornbread. Some readers like to stir in cooked egg noodles along with their fried cabbage and sausage!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments, or in a 400°F air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes, until warmed through.
Can You Freeze Fried Cabbage With Sausage?
Air fried cabbage with sausage freezes well. Make sure it is completely cooled, then place it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. You can reheat in a 400°F air fryer directly from the freezer for 8-10 minutes, or thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fyrer Onions and Potatoes
- Air Fryer London Broil
- Air Fryer Mahi Mahi
- Air Fryer Steak Bites With Potatoes
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Air Fyrer Fried Pickles
Air Fryer Cabbage and Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb smoked sausage, cut into slices
- 1-1½ lbs green cabbage, cut into pieces
- 1 small yellow onion, sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, or avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Using a large mixing bowl, add the sausage, cabbage, and onion. Add the olive oil, garlic, and onion powder over the top of the cabbage mixture, a little at a time, tossing to coat. Continue until all the olive oil and seasonings have coated the cabbage mixture.
- Add to the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes. Open the air fryer and give everything a good stir and then cook for an additional 6 minutes, or until cabbage is tender and sausage has a good char on the edges.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
How To Cut The Cabbage: Cutting cabbage might seem difficult, but it’s actually really easy if you know what to do. First, remove the outer leaves and throw them away. Then cut off the bottom where the stem was, so the vegetable sits flat. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the stems. Then you can easily cut the cabbage without it rolling away, and without any of the stem getting in the way. Different Size Pieces: We like to cut the cabbage pieces in a few different sizes so that the dish has a variety of textures. Small pieces will char easily, medium pieces will be tender, and large pieces will be a little al dente. Don’t Worry About Crowding: A lot of times you have to worry about crowding when you cook in an air fryer, but you don’t need to worry about that with this recipe. The air fryer will be really full after you add all the ingredients, but they’ll shrink as they cook!
