Ground Beef & Cabbage Stir-Fry: Crunchy cabbage and veggies and savory crumbled meat come together in a zesty, salty, and lightly sweet stir-fry sauce that is as good for you as it is delicious to eat! A one-pot recipe that’s ready in 30 minutes.
If you are looking for an easy and quick dinner recipe that won’t break the bank but still delivers big on flavor and satisfies even the pickiest of family eaters, this beef cabbage stir-fry recipe is for you!
Worcestershire sauce, ginger, and sesame oil infuse the stir-fry sauce, enrobing this cabbage and hamburger recipe in vibrant, savory, and zippy flavors that will have you taste buds singing and your kids asking for more.
Best of all, this ground beef cabbage recipe is as good for you as it is flavorful and easy to make. Ground beef delivers B vitamins, iron and protein. Cabbage and bright vegetables hit big with fiber, a host of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
This meat and cabbage extravaganza delights the senses and will keep you coming back again and again. Now, what are you waiting for? Let’s get cooking!
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Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef & Cabbage Recipe
- Easy to Prepare. No technical skills or elaborate techniques are needed to make this hamburger and cabbage recipe. If you can chop veggies and stir-fry meat, you can make this dish!
- A 30-Minute Meal. This cabbage and hamburger recipe is a great option for busy nights. In less than 30 minutes, a hot and satisfying family dinner is on the table.
- Nutritious & Delicious. Vegetables and ground beef shine in the savory, sweet, and zesty stir-fry sauce, for a dish that you can feel good about feeding your family.
- Versatile.Though cabbage, ground beef, and peppers shine in this dish, you can substitute almost any combination of ground meat and fresh vegetables, making it a great year-round dinner option!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef – Any fat percentage works in this ground beef and cabbage recipe, but I recommend either 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef, as they add flavor without making the stir-fry too greasy.
- Cabbage – Classic green cabbage, shredded or chopped.
- Red Peppers – Adds a natural sweetness and crunch to the recipe.
- Carrots – Peeled and shredded.
- Yellow Onion – Sliced.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is best.
- Beef Broth – Low-sodium beef broth deepens the savory flavor of the ground beef and forms the base of the stir-fry sauce.
- Soy Sauce – Use low-sodium soy sauce for a lower sodium nutritional profile.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This sauce provides a sweet, sour, and spicy kick, being the secret ingredient that sets this cabbage and beef recipe apart from the rest!
- Sesame Oil – Brings savory, nutty flavor to the stir-fry sauce. This hamburger cabbage recipe really isn’t the same without it!
- Rice Vinegar – Brightens the flavors of the ground beef stir-fry with cabbage and adds a light tang.
- Ginger Powder – Finishes off the sauce with mild sweet and spicy notes.
To Garnish and Serve (Optional) – Top the stir-fry with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and sriracha if desired. Serve it with yakisoba noodles, steamed rice, zoodles, or even ramen noodles.
Substitutions
- Beef: Ground turkey, ground pork, or even ground chicken can substitute for ground beef.
- Vegetables: Any combination of zucchini, mushrooms, green beans, red onions, green onions, or broccoli can substitute for sweet peppers, carrots, and yellow onion.
- Cabbage: Red cabbage or napa cabbage can work in place of green cabbage.
How to Make Ground Beef & Cabbage Stir-Fry
All it takes is 30 minutes and a few simple steps to whip up this cabbage and ground beef recipe. Here’s how to make it:
Step 1: Cook the beef in a large skillet over medium heat, crumbling it as it cooks.
Step 2: Move the beef aside in the skillet, then add the onion and pepper. Toss and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3: Add the cabbage, shredded carrots, garlic, beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and ginger. Stir until combined.
Step 4: Cover and cook over medium for about 4-5 minutes.
Step 5: Uncover the stir-fry, stir, and continue to cook for another 6-7 minutes, or until the cabbage and vegetables are tender.
Step 6: Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and/or sriracha if desired and serve with rice, yakisoba noodles, or zoodles.
Recipe Tips
- Stir & Crumble the Beef As It Cooks. This will allow the beef to cook evenly and to brown nicely, developing a rich and savory-caramelized flavor.
- Cut the Vegetables Into Uniform Sizes. Doing so will help the veggies to cook quickly and evenly, saving you time and resulting in tender-crisp vegetables you can’t get enough of.
- Add Some Heat. For a little kick in your stir-fry, stir sriracha in with the stir-fry sauce ingredients, sprinkle on a little cayenne before steaming the vegetables, or stir-fry a sliced jalapeño with the peppers and onions.
Storage Directions
- Storage: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They do not freeze well, as the texture of the vegetables will break down in the freezing and thawing process.
- Reheating: Warm up servings of leftover cabbage and ground beef in the microwave on medium heat for 1-2 minute intervals, or until warmed through.
Nutritional Info
This beef and cabbage recipe is a delicious recipe that packs a great nutritional punch! It’s rich in protein, vegetables, fiber, and contains a host of vitamins and minerals.
Just one serving of the ground beef and cabbage stir-fry contains over 36 grams of protein and 29 grams of carbohydrate. For additional carbohydrates, serve the recipe with steamed rice, yakisoba noodles, or even ramen noodles.
Thanks to the cabbage and vegetables, each serving of this stir-fry has 5 grams of your daily fiber. Additionally, cabbage is a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, and potassium. The peppers, onions, and carrots contribute additional vitamin A and C as well as vitamin E, K, and phosphorous, and calcium.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 443 calories
- Total Fat: 21 grams
- Protein: 36 grams
- Sodium: 846 mg
- Carbohydrates: 29 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Dietary Adaptations
To make a gluten-free cabbage and ground beef stir-fry, substitute coconut liquid aminos or tamari for the soy sauce and serve the stir-fry over steamed rice or gluten-free noodles.
Pricing Info
This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- 1 lb ground beef: $5.88
- 1 medium yellow onion: $0.78
- 2 red bell peppers: $1.96
- 4 cups cabbage: $0.89
- 1 cup shredded carrots: $0.66
- 3 garlic cloves: $0.15
- ¾ cup low sodium beef broth: $0.76
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce: $0.21
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce: $0.25
- 1 tbsp sesame oil: $0.29
- 2 tsp rice vinegar: $0.04
- 1 ½ tsp dry ginger: $0.07
The total I paid to make this recipe comes out to be about $11.94 or roughly $2.98 per serving!
FAQ
Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that goes with many different meats, but it creates a star pairing when matched with beef or hamburger meat, ground turkey, or even pork. This hamburger with cabbage stir-fry is one of my favorite ways to pair meat with the green vegetable!
There are so many different dishes that can be made from cabbage and ground beef. A few other popular recipes are cabbage rolls, pierogies, ground beef and cabbage casserole, and hamburger cabbage soup.
More Beef Recipes
- Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
- Layered Beef Noodle Casserole
- Hamburger Mac and Cheese
- Dutch Oven Beef Stew
- Instant Pot Beef Vegetable Soup
Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!
Recipe
Ground Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
- 2 red bell peppers sliced
- 4 cups cabbage shredded or chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¾ cup low sodium beef broth
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tsp dry ginger
- Green onions, sesame seeds, and sriracha for garnish optional
Instructions
- Heat the beef in a large skillet over medium heat, crumbling as it cooks.
- Move the beef aside in the skillet, then add the onion and bell pepper. Toss and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cabbage, shredded carrots, garlic, beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and ginger. Stir until combined. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes.
- Uncover, stir, and continue to cook for another 6-7 minutes, until the cabbage and vegetables are soft. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and/or sriracha sauce if desired.
- Serve with yakisoba noodles, rice, or zoodles!
Notes
- Storage: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They do not freeze well, as the texture of the vegetables will break down in the freezing and thawing process.
- Reheating: Warm up servings of leftover cabbage and ground beef in the microwave on medium heat for 1-2 minute intervals, or until warmed through.
- Substitutions:
- Beef: Ground turkey, ground pork, or even ground chicken can substitute for ground beef.
- Vegetables: Any combination of zucchini, mushrooms, green beans, red onions, green onions, or broccoli can substitute for sweet peppers, carrots, and yellow onion.
- Cabbage: red cabbage can work in place of green cabbage.
Nutrition
If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!
xoxo Megan
Heather J. says
Oh my gosh. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this and so did my husband. The vegetables were crunchy and flavorful and the sauce was perfect and tangy. When I first made it I served it over rice but when I reheated for leftovers I didn’t have any. The dish stands alone. This one will definitely be on repeat! Thank you for sharing!!
Megan Byrd, RD says
Thank you so much for this review, I’m glad you loved it!!