Description
Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry is a quick, flavorful, and healthy dinner that combines savory ground beef, crisp cabbage, and a flavorful stir fry sauce, all in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option)
1 medium yellow onion, sliced thinly
2 cups shredded cabbage (green or napa cabbage)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional but adds great flavor)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil (for flavor and depth)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for cooking)
1 teaspoon sugar (to balance the acidity)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the sliced onion, minced garlic, and freshly grated ginger to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic and ginger are fragrant.
- Add the cabbage: Stir in the shredded cabbage and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until it starts to soften but still retains some crunch. Stir occasionally to ensure the cabbage cooks evenly.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Combine and cook: Pour the sauce over the beef and cabbage mixture. Stir everything together, making sure the sauce coats the beef and vegetables evenly. Let the stir fry cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- Taste and adjust: Taste the stir fry and adjust the seasoning, adding more soy sauce or a pinch of salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve the stir fry hot, garnished with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
Ground turkey or chicken is a great alternative for a lighter version of this dish.
You can add vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas to the stir fry. Just adjust the cooking time based on the vegetables used.
For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce and check the oyster sauce for gluten or omit it.
To make the stir fry spicier, increase the red pepper flakes or add fresh chilies or chili paste to the sauce.
This dish can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Ground pork can be used instead of beef for a slightly richer flavor.
A wok works wonderfully for this recipe, but a large skillet works too.
You can substitute rice vinegar with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar for a different flavor.
For softer cabbage, cook it for an additional 2-3 minutes until it reaches your desired texture.
This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir-fry
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
