Cabbage and Ground Beef

I make this Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet when I want something hearty, flavorful, and easy without spending all day in the kitchen. I start by browning seasoned ground beef, then cook it with onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and a combination of smoky and slightly spicy seasonings. Once the cabbage goes into the skillet, it cooks down and absorbs all those juices and flavors from the beef and tomatoes.

What I really like about this recipe is how simple it is. There aren't a lot of complicated ingredients, but once everything comes together, you've got tender cabbage, savory ground beef, tomatoes, and plenty of seasoning in every bite. It's one of those straightforward skillet meals that proves you don't need a long ingredient list to put a satisfying dinner on the table.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet is the kind of recipe I love because it's simple without being boring. You get savory beef, tender cabbage, tomatoes, garlic, and plenty of seasoning all cooked together in one skillet.

It's also inexpensive, filling, and doesn't require a bunch of specialty ingredients. Everything cooks in one pan, which means less cleanup, and you can easily adjust the seasonings to make it mild, smoky, or spicy. It's especially good when you need a quick weeknight meal but still want something that tastes like you actually spent some time cooking

Recipe Variations

Cheesy Ground Beef & Cabbage: Sprinkle 1 to 1½ cups of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack over the skillet, cover, and let it melt before serving.

Cajun Version: Replace the cumin and cayenne with 1 to 2 teaspoons of Cajun or Creole seasoning.

Smoked Sausage & Beef: Add sliced smoked sausage along with the ground beef for an extra hearty version.

Ground Turkey: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.

Mexican-Inspired: Add taco seasoning, diced green chiles, corn, and black beans. Finish with shredded cheese.

Low-Carb Bowl: Keep the recipe exactly as written and serve it on its own for a simple lower-carb meal.

Cabbage & Rice: Stir in cooked white rice toward the end to stretch the recipe and make it even more filling.

Cabbage and Ground Beef

This easy Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet combines tender cabbage, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and garlic in one pan. It's a hearty, budget-friendly dinner that's packed with flavor and ready in about 30 minutes.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small green cabbage approximately 1½ to 2 pounds, roughly chopped
• 1 - 15 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
• 1 cup yellow diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon beef bouillon powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper optional
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

 

• Remove any damaged outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut out the tough core and roughly chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. If there is excessive grease in the skillet, drain some of it while leaving a small amount for flavor.
• Push the ground beef toward one side of the skillet. Add the chopped onion to the open side. Cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onion begins to soften and become translucent. Mix the onions into the ground beef.
• Add the minced garlic. Cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
• Pour the entire can of diced tomatoes, including the juices, into the skillet. Add the beef bouillon powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper if using. Stir everything together until well combined. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet. Don't worry if the skillet looks extremely full. The cabbage will reduce significantly as it cooks. Carefully toss the cabbage with the beef and tomato mixture.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet. Cook for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes so the cabbage cooks evenly. For firmer cabbage, stay closer to 10 minutes. For softer cabbage, cook closer to 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir everything together. Taste and add additional salt, pepper, cayenne, or bouillon as needed. If there's more liquid than you want, leave the skillet uncovered and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes to reduce the sauce.
• Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if you want additional heat. Serve hot straight from the skillet.

Video

Recipe Tips

Don't overcook your cabbage. Add it toward the end and cook just until it's tender. You want the cabbage to soften and absorb the seasoned tomato and beef juices while still having a little texture. If you prefer very soft cabbage, simply cook it an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Also, if your ground beef releases a lot of grease, drain some of it before adding the onions and tomatoes. Leave a little behind for flavor.

Keyword cabbage, cabbage and ground beef, cabbage recipes, ground beef recipes

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