This Ground Beef and Cabbage recipe is a simple, one-pan meal that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free, making it a great option for a variety of diets.
Packed with flavor and easy to make, it’s a hearty dish without the need for complex sauces or special ingredients.
This recipe was updated in November 2024 with new photos, video, and tips.
Ground Beef and Cabbage
This Beef and Cabbage recipe is one of the most popular on my blog, receiving thousands of views monthly and ranking in the top 10 readers' favorites.
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Ground Beef and Cabbage Video
Ingredients For Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe
- Cabbage - you can use chopped or shredded cabbage. Slice it similar to coleslaw but into thicker strips. A bag of coleslaw mix is also a convenient option.
- Beef - I typically opt for lean ground beef, which is a healthier choice with less fat to drain.
- Shredded Carrots - in our house, cabbage and carrots go hand in hand. Carrots add a subtle sweetness to ground beef stir fry. You can also use grated sweet potato or bell peppers cut into strips.
- Tomato paste - I recommend using high-quality tomato paste in a tube (from an Italian brand).
Readers Feedback
I tried it! It came out delicious. my family really loved it. Everyone dished out twice.
- Emily, our reader
How To Make Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry Step-By-Step
- Start with beef. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
- Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown. Drain and set aside.
- Saute onion. In the same skillet saute onion and cook until translucent.
- Add carrots. Follow with grated carrot and cook until the carrot becomes soft.
- Add tomato sauce/paste and veggie stock (or a bouillon cube mixed in with water) and stir well.
- Simmer. Let the carrots and onions simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add cabbage, add salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Combine ingredients, stir well, cover, and simmer until cabbage is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Return the cooked beef, stir, garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives, and serve while hot.
- Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt!
What Else Can I Add?
To make it a more fulfilling meal, consider one of the following recipe variations:
- Add rice: Cook ½ cups of rice. Add it to the beef mixture and stir for a couple of minutes until combined.
- Low carb: Use grated broccoli or cauliflower rice as a low-carb option.
- Sauces: Instead of tomato sauce, use taco, salsa, or BBQ sauce.
- Asian flavors: Swap tomato sauce for soy sauce or coconut aminos.
- Spicy kick: Add some red pepper flakes, chili powder, or Tabasco.
- Add more veggies: Diced tomatoes, bell peppers, cremini mushrooms, peas, or sprouted mung beans.
- Garlic: Mince 1-2 garlic cloves and add them right after the onions.
Julia's Tip: I prefer using green cabbage, but red cabbage should work fine too. Just remember that it has a different flavor and will give your meal a purple hue.
What To Serve With Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe
This recipe is really satisfying on its own. Cabbage has a way of filling you up, almost like a starch replacement.
But if you want to make it even heartier, you can serve it over white rice or Asian noodles like ramen, udon, or soba.
Here are some delicious side dish options:
- Salad: cucumber salad, or tomato mozzarella salad, and readers' favorite cucumber, tomato and onion salad
- Soup: pumpkin soup
- With sides: mashed potatoes, or whipped sweet potatoes, sauteed green beans, air fryer cauliflower, dinner rolls, or brussels sprouts
If you’re looking for more satisfying, budget-friendly dinners, try my other cabbage recipes like chicken and cabbage or inside-out egg rolls.
How To Chop Cabbage For Frying?
Chopping cabbage for frying is quite simple. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Start by removing any outer leaves that are wilted or damaged.
- Cut the cabbage in half through the core.
- Place the cut side of the cabbage half down on the cutting board to keep it stable.
- With a sharp knife, slice the cabbage thinly from top to bottom, creating long, thin strips.
- Rotate the cabbage half as needed to continue slicing until you've chopped the entire half.
- If you prefer smaller pieces, you can crosscut the long strips into smaller chunks.
- Repeat the process with the other half of the cabbage if needed.
What To Do With Leftover Cabbage?
How about trying air-fried cabbage or cabbage steaks for a crispy and tasty side dish?
Or, you could make fermented cabbage (real sauerkraut) to add a tangy twist to your meals.
Follow my best tips on how to store cabbage - a whole head of cabbage or slices.
Storing Leftovers
Stir fries and skillets, like this one, hold up nicely when stored.
- To Store. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- To Freeze. You can also freeze this recipe for later. It'll keep for about two to three months in the freezer.
- To Reheat. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in a skillet when you're ready to enjoy it again.
How To Meal Prep
- Allow the stir-fry to cool down completely.
- Take your meal prep containers and portion out the mixture into each one. You can add some cooked rice as well. Seal them tightly with the lid.
- When you're ready for a quick lunch, grab one container and microwave it for 2 minutes before serving.
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Ground Beef and Cabbage (Ready in 20 Minutes!)
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ of a medium cabbage, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, grated or julienned
- 3 tablespoon tomato sauce or paste
- ½ cup beef broth, or vegetable broth
- salt and pepper , to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika, regular or smoked
- 1 medium to large onion
- 2-3 tablespoon vegetable oil for cooking
INSTRUCTIONS
- Start with beef. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook until ground beef is cooked and golden brown. Drain the fat if needed and set aside.1 pound lean ground beef, salt and pepper, 2-3 tablespoon vegetable oil for cooking
- In the same skillet, add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the grated carrot and cook until the carrot becomes soft.1 medium to large onion, 1 medium carrot
- Add tomato sauce/paste and veggie stock or mix in a bouillon cube with water and stir. Let the carrots and onions simmer for 2-3 minutes.3 tablespoon tomato sauce or paste, ½ cup beef broth
- Follow with cabbage, add salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Let simmer under a closed lid (stirring occasionally) until cabbage becomes soft.½ of a medium cabbage, salt and pepper, 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- Return the cooked beef, stir, garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or chives and serve while hot.
- Tip: I like my cabbage to still have a little crunch, so I only cooked it until it was partially wilted. If you prefer your cabbage fully cooked and soft, just cook it a bit longer.
VIDEO
NOTES
- The recipe makes about 4-5 smaller servings.
- Store the food in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. When reheating in the skillet, add a bit of liquid, like water or broth, to revive the flavors.
-
Storing leftovers:
- Stir fries and skillets, like this one, hold up nicely when stored. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- You can also freeze this recipe for later. It'll keep for about two to three months in the freezer.
- Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in a skillet when ready to enjoy it again.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Ground Beef and Cabbage Frequently Asked Questions
One popular dish made with ground beef and cabbage is a delicious stir fry cooked in a skillet with onions and other vegetables.
For a variation, add some crushed red pepper for a little kick, or switch out the ground beef for ground turkey to make it lighter.
In addition to cabbage and ground beef, you can include rice, noodles, green onions, red peppers, or even cauliflower for added flavor and texture.
Yes, you can definitely use leftover ground beef to make this stir fry.
Reheat the meat in the skillet and add the cabbage and other ingredients.
Yes, you can cook ground beef and vegetables together!
It's common in stir-fries, casseroles, tacos, and soups.
Cooking them together helps blend the flavors, and it's easy because you can make a whole meal in one pan.
Just cook the ground beef all the way first, then add the veggies and cook until they're done the way you like.
There are several reasons why your ground beef might taste weird. Some possible reasons include:
1. Spoilage: Check the expiration date and smell for any strong, unpleasant odors.
2. Contamination: Ensure thorough cooking to kill harmful bacteria.
3. Seasoning: Review the ingredients list for unfamiliar spices or herbs.
4. Quality: Consider the quality of the meat, as it can impact taste.
The ground beef and cabbage recipe is a great choice for those on the keto diet without feeling like it is a diet food.
Ground beef can become watery if it has a lot of fat or if you crowd the pan while cooking. To avoid becoming too watery, choose lean ground beef and cook it in batches over medium-high heat.
To cook ground beef really fine, break it up as it cooks. Use a potato masher or a fork to stir and mash the beef constantly in the skillet until it is browned and finely crumbled.
You'll Also Love
Bianca
I had a few items in the fridge, cabbage, onions, carrots and ground beef. I've asked chatGPT to create a keto meal for me, so this was it.
I love cabbage rolls, and so does my dog who eats all that I eat, so instead of rolling it and needing to put rice in, we tried this in.
It is tasty and very filling and yes keto, but it will all together take about an hour or just a bit over to be done.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thanks, glad you liked it. so why 4 stars Bianca?
Dorothy
made it like the recipe said and turned out really good. I dont need to change anything. I used ground turkey instrad of ground meat. Definitely will make it again. Thank you for sharing.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much Dorothy!
Beverly
This is absolutely delicious. It reminds me of a meat cabbage dish my Polish immigrant grandparents made. I used tomato paste & beef broth and added some extra spices, garlic powder, dried thyme and ground savory.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
yum! thank you and glad you liked it!
Linda Dalton
After reading all those wonderful comments, I'm certainly going to make it this week!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you Linda, let me know how it goes 🙂
Danielle
This is one of those ultra comforting hearty meals I love so much. Yummy flavors and simple to make. Great recipe!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you so much Danielle, glad you liked it!
Diane
Good starter recipe. I made it as written and the family found it very bland with mainly a hamburger taste. It wasn't well received. I did add the rice. It was better after each person added their own twist - ketchup, soy sauce, mustard. I should have added the taco seasoning.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Interesting, this is one of my top readers favorite recipes on this blog. Sorry your family didn't like it
Claudia Lamascolo
WE are huge fan of this style meal and it was delicious the cabbage was tender and flavorful!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you SO much Claudia, appreciate your time!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
It is so good to find a different recipe for minced beef, rather than the same old dishes. This is such a great weeknight family meal too.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Absolutely agree, a little change is always good! Thank you Amanda!
Dannii
How this is my kind of comfort food! So easy to make too.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you so much Dannii!
Hayley Dhanecha
We use cabbage in Indian cooking a lot. This is easy and flavourful recipe.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Such an inexpensive and great flavor ingredient! Thank you Hayley
Beth
So easy and delicious, we make this once in a week or two!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you Beth, glad you like it!
Aaron
I topped mine with scallions and parsley, delicious. Had leftovers and served the next day with freshly cooked long grain rice. This is a keeper!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you Aaron, so glad you liked it!
Brian
WOW! Just finished making this but used beyond meat in place of beef. And added a long red pepper also. Absolutely amazing great recipe. Thank you!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you Aaron, that's a great swap!
BRENDA
Julia,
Oopsie typo! I meant to say Dad is so glad I learned how to cook a dish without garlic!
Pamala
Garlic makes me vomit, literally. It seems like every recipe these days has garlic. I just leave it out. I also saute onions until they are soft and caramelized in any recipe I make, for instance, meat loaf, even if it doesn't call for it. My happy spaghetti sauce find is Michael's of Brooklyn "Sunday Gravy" and Rao's "Sensitive Marinara". Neither sauce have garlic. Both pricey, but delicious!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
I totally understand Pamala. Most of my recipes have at least one of the two: garlic and onion as these are great, easy-to-find flavorful aromatics. For allergy friendly recipes, these can be substituted or left out completely.
Pamala
Thank you for your kind words. I made the beef and cabbage as written and it was delicious!
Ronald Carmona
I really enjoyed this recipe because it is tasty, filling and nutritious, and especially because it tastes like something Russian people would eat. It is an everyday dish and not fancy.
Vkusnyy! Spacibo za retsept!
Julia
Thank you Ronald, love to hear that you liked it!
Ivo
Our family's favorite dinner recipe!Thank you!
Julia
wow, thank you so much! Ours too )
Richard
Delicious, I topped mine with green onions.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you Richard, green onions are my favorite too!
Diana
So tasty and cozy meal.
Julia
Thank you so much Diana!
BRENDA
Julia,
This dish was absolutely divine! My Dad was so happy I learned to make a dish without onions! Thank you so much for ALL your wonderful recipes!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you Brenda, absolutely many dishes are being made without garlic or onion and taste delicious 🙂 I am glad you both liked it!
Julia
Please enjoy this hearty and cozy one=pot Ground Beef and Fried Cabbage meal 🙂
Kaye Branigan
Yummm! Im a Texan. Made this today exactly as written. I used the smoked paprika, I decided to add the zest of one orange and stirred it in before serving, that was really tasty. I made brown rice, and a put a dash of soy sauce on it after putting it in a serving bowl. Really really tasty recipe!!! Thank you!!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thats sound incredible, I also love to enjoy with a drizzle of gluten free soy sauce!
Marg Roefs
This tastes like halupki...yum!
Ellen
When I was married to my ex and raising children I learned to make Cabbage and Noodles with some bacon from my father-in-law. I thoughly love the dish. My ex's family claimed Hungarian heritage and hence the meal. Your variation will give me a tasty new choice. Much love and peace.♀️ Thanks.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Ellen, your recipe sounds lovely and very budget-friendly which I love! Hope you enjoyed this variation too!
Debbie
Trying your recipe right now, letting the meat warm up again and we will eat. My son said the smells were making him hungry. I admit I'm cheating, I'm eating a bite now and it is great. Only question is could you give a time for the cabbage and carrots to get tender? Mine didn't quite get soft enough for me.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
the cabbage should be tender yet still crisp, at least this is how I like it. If you need more, add more water or stock and simmer until it becomes soft. 15-20 minutes should be enough.
Mimi
I made this exactly the way you said to, just used beef broth instead of veggie. Absolutely delicious and really fast. I came home from work tired and hungry. It was on the table in 30 to 40 minutes.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much, such a quick and easy dinner right!
Karen
This was so good! Just exactly the recipe I was looking for when I started googling recipes for cabbage and ground beef. Delicious! AND LOW CARB! Thank you!!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Thank you Karen! This one is one of the most popular recipes on my blog and for a reason!!!
Mark
Love it, instead of paprika i used curry and i add cranberries. Thanks for sharing. Very yummy
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you!