The invention discloses an expanded cut tobacco carbon dioxide recovery device and a recovery method. The recovery device comprises a steeper, a process tank, a recovery pressurizing tank and a diaphragm compressor, wherein the recovery pressurizing tank is connected to the diaphragm compressor and the steeper by virtue of pipelines; the process tank is connected to the recovery pressurizing tankby virtue of the diaphragm compressor; and valves are arranged on the various pipelines. According to the recovery device provided by the invention, by virtue of the recovery pressurizing tank, carbondioxide gas can be recovered, and air of the steeper can be removed and the steeper can be pre-pressurized, so that equipment input is reduced and the emission of greenhouse gas is reduced; moreover,the diaphragm compressor is high in compression ratio, good in sealing performance and low in noise; and compressed gas cannot get contaminated by lubricating oil and other solid impurities; therefore, the diaphragm compressor is applicable to the field of food-grade tobacco processing. In addition, the entire device is simple in structure and safe and reliable in operation, and the device can reduce labor and materials for later maintenance and the device can improve enterprise benefits.