This Ground Chicken and Cabbage Stir Fry is one of those dinners I make when I need something quick, filling, and made with simple ingredients I already have at home. It comes together in under 30 minutes, uses just one skillet, and is a great way to turn a humble head of cabbage into a meal my whole family actually enjoys.
I usually serve it just as it is for a lighter dinner, but it's also delicious over rice or noodles if you want something a little heartier.
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Ingredients For Ground Chicken and Cabbage
- Cabbage - Green cabbage is my favorite because it becomes tender while still keeping a little bite. Younger cabbages are usually sweeter and cook more quickly. If you're short on time, a bag of coleslaw mix works surprisingly well too.
- Ground chicken - I like using lean ground chicken because it cooks quickly and stays nice and tender. Ground turkey works just as well, and if you have leftover rotisserie chicken, simply stir it in during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Onion - I almost always add onion because it gives the cabbage a sweeter flavor as it cooks. If you're in a hurry, you can skip it and the stir fry will still taste great.
- Tomato paste & smoked paprika - These two ingredients add so much flavor with very little effort. The tomato paste creates richness while the paprika gives the dish a warm, savory flavor without making it spicy.
- Carrots - In our house, cabbage and carrots just belong together. They're optional, but I almost never leave them out because they add natural sweetness and make the skillet much more colorful.
- Chicken broth - The broth helps soften the cabbage while creating a light, flavorful sauce. If you're using salted broth, wait until the end before adding extra salt.
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How to Make Ground Chicken and Cabbage Stir Fry
- Brown the chicken - Heat half of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until almost cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Cook the vegetables - Add the remaining oil to the skillet and sauté the onion until softened. Stir in the cabbage, carrots, tomato paste, paprika, and your favorite seasonings. I like adding more flavor using seasoned homemade celery salt.
- Simmer - Pour in the chicken broth, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes until the cabbage is tender but still has a little texture. I like stopping just before it becomes too soft.
- Finish the skillet - Return the chicken to the pan and stir everything together until heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve - Garnish with fresh parsley, green onions, or cilantro. We love serving it with a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, either on its own or over rice or noodles.
PRO TIP: To make this cabbage stir fry extra indulgent, add about a tablespoon of salted butter once you remove it from the heat. Delicious!
What To Serve With Ground Chicken and Cabbage
Just like with our cabbage roll casserole, for an extra hearty meal, we like to serve this skillet with one or two of the following:
- Greek salad or healthy cucumber salad
- crusty bread
- glazed carrots
- cauliflower
- air fryer potatoes
- roasted asparagus
- Air fryer roasted Brussels sprouts
- or for an extra hearty meal creamy mashed potatoes or steamed potatoes
EXPERT TIP: For an extra flavor boost, consider adding low-sodium soy sauce, coconut aminos, or Worcestershire sauce towards the end of cooking.
However, I think the recipe is as delicious as it is with simple ingredients.
Julia's Best Tips
- Don't overcook the cabbage - I like leaving a little bite in the cabbage because it gives the stir fry the best texture.
- Brown the chicken first - Letting the chicken brown before removing it from the skillet adds extra flavor to the finished dish.
- Customize the vegetables - This recipe is perfect for cleaning out the fridge. Mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, peas, or spinach all work well.
- Want it richer? Stir in a small pat of butter just before serving. It melts into the cabbage and makes the whole dish extra cozy.
- Turn it into a complete meal - Serve it over rice, noodles, quinoa, or cauliflower rice depending on what you're in the mood for.
- Leftovers are even better - The flavors continue to develop overnight, making this one of my favorite meal prep lunches.
Freezing And Storing Leftovers
- To Store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I love having this for lunch because the flavors become even better the next day.
- To Freeze. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- To Make Ahead. Chop the vegetables a day in advance and refrigerate them separately. Dinner comes together even faster when everything is already prepped.
- To Reheat. Warm gently in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken broth or water, or microwave individual portions until heated through.
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Before You Head Out
If you gave this recipe a try, I'd be so thankful if you could leave a ★★★★★ rating and review below. It helps other readers, supports my work, and means the world to me. Thank you for being part of The Yummy Bowl family. Happy cooking! ❤️
Recipe Card
Ground Chicken And Cabbage Stir Fry (Ready in 30 Minutes!)
Ingredients
Method
- Heat half a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and saute once the oil is hot until it is almost cooked. Season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
- Lower the heat to medium, add more oil and sauté the onion until soft. Then, add the cabbage, ssweet paprika and tomato paste. Stir well and pour in the stock. Cover with a lid and let the cabbage simmer for 20-25 minutes until it's soft and flavorful.3 cups shredded green cabbage, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 3 teaspoon tomato paste , ¾ cup chicken broth, 2 tablespoons yellow onion
- Return the chicken to the skillet and add rice and grated carrots. Stir everything together and let it simmer for another 5 minutes until all the ingredients are warmed through.½ cup carrot, ½ cup cooked brown rice
- We love to serve this sauteed cabbage with fresh herbs (green onions, parsley, cilantro) and a dollop of sour cream or plain greek yogurt.Parsley chopped
- PRO TIP: to make this cabbage stir fry extra indulgent, add about a tablespoon of salted butter once you remove it from the heat. Delicious!
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- How to reheat leftover chicken cabbage stir fry? To reheat leftover chicken cabbage, stir fry and place it in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a little chicken broth to prevent it from drying out and stir until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave using an airtight container.
- Can you use rotisserie chicken in a stir fry? Yes, you can. For a quick and easy meal, simply shred the cooked chicken and add it to the skillet following the instructions.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Chicken and Cabbage FAQ
Yes! Simply shred or chop the cooked chicken and stir it in during the last few minutes of cooking until warmed through.
We love it with steamed rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, crusty bread, or a simple cucumber or Greek salad.
Yes. This recipe reheats beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights.
Yes! As written, it's naturally low in carbohydrates. For a heartier meal, serve it with rice or noodles.
Absolutely. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs add even more flavor and stay wonderfully juicy. Just cut them into bite-sized pieces before cooking.
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Liz
I made this tonight and my husband and I enjoyed it. I liked that the recipe is easy and not too time consuming. It’s a good way to get whole foods into your diet. I gave it four stars instead of five because I think it could use additional spices. The dish was a little bland. It probably would have more flavorful if I had topped it with some herbs but I didn’t have any. Thank you for the recipe.
Julia
Thank you for sharing this, our family doesn't use much salt, perhaps you need to add more and use very good quality ingredients.