Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Content… A Weeknight Winner Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Stellar Ground Beef Recipes to Try Watch How to Make It

Ground Beef and Cabbage – A Weeknight Winner

Maybe best of all, this dish is incredibly easy to make because one-dish meals translate into effortless cleanup. Plus, ground beef and cabbage come together in literally under half an hour. It’s a dream come true for a busy mom like myself. 😜

Recipe Ingredients

1. Ground Beef – Organic, grass-fed ground beef has the best flavor, but any old ground beef will work for this dish. Opt for lean ground beef to make it slightly healthier.
2. Cabbage – You’ll need a whole (small) head of cabbage for this recipe. Look for one that is firm and green for optimal tastiness. 
3. Carrots – This optional ingredient adds a nice pop of color and some added flavor, too. 🧡
4. Tomatoes – The rich flavor and high water content of a diced tomato or two really round out the sauce. 
5. Seasonings – Diced onion and garlic add aroma and texture, while paprika, thyme, salt, white pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce add flavors galore. If you want reddish cabbage, generously season with paprika. Otherwise, go easy on it.
6. Beef Broth adds extra richness and makes the dish nice and saucy – perfect for pouring over rice or mashed potatoes. 😋

How to Make Ground Beef and Cabbage

• Chop Cabbage – Remove the core and slice or chop your cabbage. (Photo 1)
• Saute Veggies – Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook until softened. (Photo 2)
• Tomatoes – Next, add the diced tomatoes and cook for about 8-10 minutes. (Photo 3)
• Beef – Then, add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned. (Photo 4)
• Season – Once the ground beef is cooked, add the paprika, thyme, salt and pepper, bouillon powder, and Worcestershire sauce. (Photo 5)
• Cabbage – Toss the chopped cabbage into the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Then add the grated carrots. (Photos 6-7)
• Broth – Add the beef broth and let the cabbage simmer for 5 more minutes or until it reaches your desired doneness. (Photo 8)
• Serve – Take it off the heat and let it cool. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Recipe Variations

1. Add more veggies. Feel free to add other vegetables, such as celery, bell peppers, and green beans, for added flavor and nutrition.
2. Extra hearty one-dish meal. Add cooked rice or quinoa to make it an even more filling meal.
3. Bring the heat. For a spicy kick, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes. Or serve hot sauce on the side so everyone can customize their own.
4. More tomatoes, anyone? More tomatoes make this dish redder (and more delicious if you ask me). 🤤
5. Omit the paprika. Paprika can give your cabbage a reddish color. If you prefer to leave it out, feel free.
6. Meat swap. Trade out the ground meat with ground turkey if you prefer avoiding red meat.

Tips and Tricks

1. Break up the ground beef as it cooks (quick hack—use a potato masher to break it up). That way, the meat cooks more evenly, and you’ll enjoy plenty of beef in every bite. 
2. Non-stick skillets are ideal for this dish and can save you from burning the ingredients. If you don’t have a non-stick skillet, you should be fine with just oil. In either case, don’t leave your ingredients unattended for too long.
3. It may look like you have too much cabbage for the dish at first, but you probably don’t. Cabbage shrinks a ton as it cooks, so don’t be afraid of large, uncooked quantities. 😅

Make-Ahead Instructions

Make this dish ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months. Reheat thawed ground beef and cabbage on the stovetop on medium heat until warmed through.

Serving and Storage Instructions 

Serve ground beef and cabbage hot, along with your favorite carb-alicious sides.

Store leftover beef and cabbage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave. 

What Goes With Ground Beef and Cabbage

Serve with warm jasmine rice, homemade garlic bread, or a classic crusty baguette for a complete meal. It also tastes amazing served over a steamy heap of garlic mashed potatoes or with a side of roasted fingerling potatoes. 

Wine Pairing: Dry white wines, like a German Riesling or a California Chardonnay, go well with this dish. If you go heavy on the diced tomatoes, try it with your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon. 🍷

More Stellar Ground Beef Recipes to Try

1. Moist Smoked Meatloaf
2. Ground Beef Casserole
3. Homemade Hamburger Helper
4. Juicy Smoked Burgers
5. Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

Watch How to Make It