Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ground Beef and cabbage stir fry is an easy meal idea that combines lean ground beef, inexpensive fresh veggies, coconut aminos, ginger, and chili flakes for a flavorful skillet meal. It’s a simple budget-friendly meal that’s ready in 25 minutes or less making it perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or fast weekly meal prep that will keep you satisfied for hours with its high protein and fiber.

Why you’ll love this recipe

I love shopping sales at the grocery store. When I find something great, I plan a meal around it. Lately, cabbage has been on sale every Monday, so it’s been fun experimenting with new cabbage recipes. But being an inexpensive recipe isn’t the only reason you will love this cabbage ground beef stir fry.

Budget Friendly: Fresh cabbage is very inexpensive. I find that on top of making easy cabbage skillet meals, I also like making this healthy cabbage soup recipe and riced cabbage recipe to really bulk up meals and stretch the dinner budget. In terms of price per cup, a report by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shown cabbage to be the second most economical vegetable in terms of price per edible cup. Yes! Grab some fresh cabbage next time you’re out & about!

Soy and Gluten Free: In this cabbage and ground beef stir fry, we use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce making it both a soy and gluten free recipe.

One-Pan Fast Meal Idea: The time it takes to make our cabbage and beef stir fry recipe is less than 25 minutes. Add that this is a healthy one-pan recipe and that means super easy clean up too! What a perfect dinner idea to make after a long busy day.

Want more fast one-pan meals to make for weekly dinners? Try our One Pan Sausage + Veggies, One Pan Shrimp Coconut Curry, or One Pan Unstuffed Bell Peppers.

Healthy ground beef and cabbage stir fry recipe in a bowl.

Is Beef and Cabbage healthy?

Yes! Beef and cabbage are both very healthy ingredients.

Cabbage is a very underrated vegetable. It’s very LOW in calories, HIGH in nutrients and fiber, and definitely a vegetable that we could all be eating more of!

Lean ground beef is important for reaching your daily protein goals! Plus it is low in saturated fat. Any high protein meal made with lean meat can help you accomplish this.

Together, the cabbage and ground beef in this recipe provide high protein and high fiber to help build lean muscles, curb cravings, keep you satisfied longer, and help you to not overeat.

Ingredients

Unlike many cabbage stir fry recipes that rely on heavy, high sugar sauces, this healthy version keeps the ingredients simple while still delivering bold flavors.

These are the clean ingredients that come together to make this beef and cabbage stir fry recipe healthy, budget-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

4 servings

1 Tbsp avocado oil, tallow, ghee, or oil of your choice
2 large carrots, Julianned or shredded
4 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger or ginger paste
1 tsp crushed pepper flakes
1 large head cabbage, chopped
1 lb lean ground beef
2-3 Tbsps coconut aminos, tamari, Braggs liquid aminos, or low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil (optional)
sesame seeds (optional)

See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and instructions.

Variations/ Adaptations

Cabbage substitute: If cabbage is not the cheapest veggie you can find on sale, be flexible. For instance, if you find carrots on sale, shred the carrots into carrot slaw and use that in this recipe. You can do the same with brussels sprouts, broccoli ribs, cauliflower, peppers, and more.

Lean Ground Beef Substitute: Ground beef is great, but if you find it too expensive or you don’t eat red meat, then try ground turkey or ground chicken in this recipe.

Change the spice level: Spice is a personal preference. I like things pretty hot, but you can adjust the amount of heat in this beef and cabbage skillet recipe by adding more or less chili flakes.

How to make Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Use the following steps and pictures to help you create the perfect easy stir fry.

Step 1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in your oil. Add the carrots, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes, then stir fry for 3-4 minutes.

Step 2. Add your chopped cabbage and continue to stir fry for 3-4 minutes, until cabbage is just starting to wilt but still tender-crisp. Set veggies aside on a plate.

Step 3. Reduce heat to medium, then add ground beef. Mince it with your spatula and cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, then stir fry for 2-3 minutes more, until cooked through and crisp. Stir in the coconut aminos.

Step 4. Return the cabbage mixture back to your skillet then combine with the beef. Drizzle with the sesame oil and stir in some sesame seeds if desired.

Enjoy!

Love, Rachel

Tips for the best result

Purchase ingredients on sale so you can really stretch your budget when making this healthy beef and cabbage recipe.
Make this stir fry recipe faster by using one of these kitchen tools or having some of the ingredients shipped to your door by Amazon:

Looking for more easy meal prep recipes? Then try these Peanut Butter Overnight Oats for Easy Meal Prep!, Greek Chicken Bowls for Easy Meal Prep, or Spicy Southwestern Egg Breakfast Muffins (Easy Meal Prep Idea!).

Close up of cabbage stir fry with ground beef.

Serving Suggestions

Asian recipes have so much bold flavor from the garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and coconut aminos that I like to pair them with dishes that don’t take away from those star flavors. Here are some of my suggestions:

Use this beef and cabbage skillet mixture in Asian meal prep bowls.
Add Asian grilled portobello mushrooms as a side dish.
Use any extra cabbage to make Asian cabbage rolls.
Serve alongside this refreshing Miso smashed cucumber salad.

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

This meal is great for meal prep because it keeps well in an air tight container and the flavors only get better with time. Refrigerate it for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. To reheat, just pop it in the microwave or back into a skillet and heat until hot.

Ground beef and cabbage stir fry in skillet.

Recipe FAQs

Could I just use a bag of cabbage slaw for this cabbage and beef recipe?

Of course! Pre-shredded cabbage will save you a lot of time, however the price may be a little higher. It just depends on what you need to prioritize.

What is the best oil to use in a stir fry?

The best fat to use for a stir fry is avocado oil, ghee, or tallow. All of these have very high smoke points that can take the high temperature needed to make a stir fry the right way.