Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet

Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet is a simple one-pan dinner made with browned ground beef, tender cabbage, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and basic seasonings. It is hearty, budget-friendly, and easy to make with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

This recipe is great for busy weeknights when you want a warm meal without a lot of cleanup. The cabbage cooks down into the beef and tomato mixture, giving the dish a cozy, savory flavor that works well on its own or served with rice, potatoes, or bread.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It is made in one skillet with easy cleanup.

• It uses affordable, everyday ingredients.

• It is filling without being too heavy.

• It works well for meal prep and leftovers.

Equipment Needed

• Large deep skillet or sauté pan

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

• Wooden spoon or spatula

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Can opener

Ingredients List

For the Skillet

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 small head green cabbage, chopped, about 6 cups

• 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces, with juices

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

• 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth or water

For Topping

• Chopped fresh parsley, optional

• Shredded cheddar cheese, optional

• Sour cream, optional

Timing & Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

How to Make Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet Step by Step

Step 1: Brown the beef
Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.

Step 2: Drain if needed
If there is a lot of grease in the skillet, carefully drain most of it. Leave a little behind for flavor.

Step 3: Add onion and garlic
Add the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until it starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Step 4: Add tomato and seasonings
Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.

Step 5: Add the cabbage
Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet. Pour in the beef broth or water. Stir well so the cabbage starts to mix with the beef and tomato sauce.

Step 6: Simmer until tender
Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring a few times, until the cabbage is tender.

Step 7: Finish and serve
Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm with parsley, cheese, or sour cream if you like.

Tips for the Best Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet

• Use a large skillet because cabbage takes up a lot of space before it cooks down.
• Chop the cabbage into similar-size pieces so it cooks evenly.
• Do not overcook the cabbage. It should be tender, but not mushy.
• Use lean ground beef if you want less grease in the pan.
• Add broth slowly if needed. Cabbage releases moisture as it cooks, so you may not need a lot of liquid.
• Taste at the end before adding more salt, especially if your broth is salty.

Variations to Try

• Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
• Add cooked rice to make it more like an unstuffed cabbage roll skillet.
• Stir in diced bell peppers with the onion for extra flavor.
• Use fire-roasted tomatoes for a deeper tomato taste.
• Add shredded cheese on top and cover the skillet for a few minutes until melted.
• Make it spicy with extra red pepper flakes or a little hot sauce.

Serving Suggestions

1. Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet can be served by itself as a simple low-carb meal.
2. For a heartier dinner, serve it over white rice, brown rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or quinoa. It also goes well with crusty bread or a side salad.
3. If you want a comfort-food style plate, add a spoonful of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

1. You can chop the cabbage and onion ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
2. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
3. To reheat, warm the skillet mixture on the stove over medium-low heat until hot. Add a splash of broth or water if it looks dry.
4. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each one.
5. This recipe can be frozen for up to 2 months. Let it cool completely, then store it in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutritional Facts

Calories: 360
Fat: 22g
Carbs: 16g
Protein: 25g
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 620mg

Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet

Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet is a hearty one-pan meal made with seasoned ground beef, tender cabbage, onions, and simple pantry spices. It's an easy, budget-friendly dinner that's ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 360 kcal

Equipment

• Large deep skillet or sauté pan
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Can opener

Ingredients

  

For the Skillet

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 small head green cabbage chopped, about 6 cups
• 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 ounces, with juices
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth or water

For Topping

• Chopped fresh parsley optional
• Shredded cheddar cheese optional
• Sour cream optional

Instructions

 

Step 1: Brown the beef

• Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.

Step 2: Drain if needed

• If there is a lot of grease in the skillet, carefully drain most of it. Leave a little behind for flavor.

Step 3: Add onion and garlic

• Add the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until it starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Step 4: Add tomato and seasonings

• Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.

Step 5: Add the cabbage

• Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet. Pour in the beef broth or water. Stir well so the cabbage starts to mix with the beef and tomato sauce.

Step 6: Simmer until tender

• Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring a few times, until the cabbage is tender.

Step 7: Finish and serve

• Taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm with parsley, cheese, or sour cream if you like.

Keyword Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet

FAQs

Can I use red cabbage instead of green cabbage?
Yes, but it will change the color and give the dish a slightly different flavor. Green cabbage is the more classic choice.

Can I make this recipe without tomatoes?
Yes. Skip the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, then use a little extra broth with your favorite seasonings.

Is this recipe low-carb?
Yes, it can be a lower-carb meal if served on its own without rice, pasta, or potatoes.

Can I add rice directly to the skillet?
Yes, but cooked rice works best. Stir it in near the end so it warms through without soaking up too much liquid.

Conclusion

Cabbage And Ground Beef Skillet is a simple, filling meal that comes together in one pan with basic ingredients. It is warm, practical, and easy to adjust based on what you have at home. Try it for a quick weeknight dinner with rice, potatoes, or your favorite toppings.