Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (2024)

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Posted bySandra Shaffer on Updated on

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This Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet is a flavorful, family friendly one pot meal that is loaded with tender beef and juicy cabbage and it can be on your table in 30 minutes or less. This dish is naturally gluten free, low-carb and is sure to become a regular on your menu rotation!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll This Recipe

This ground beef and cabbage skillet has so many reasons to love it!

  • It’s quick and easy which makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • And, it’s loaded with lean protein, fiber-filled veggies and healthy fats.
  • It’s full of seasonings which makes gives this one-pot dish a burst of savory flavors.
  • This is the perfect low carb and keto friendly meal that the whole family will enjoy.
  • You only need a few basic ingredients to help you make this delicious dish.

Equipment Needed

To make this simple skillet meal you only need a few kitchen tools. Grab these tools and get ready to enjoy this cheesy cabbage casserole! The whole family will love this easy dinner!

  • Dutch oven or large cast-iron skillet, which I love using and if you’re interested in learning more about cooking with cast iron check this post (ten reasons to try cast iron cookware).
  • Wooden spoon or tongs for sautéing.
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (2)

Ingredients

Making this low-carb skillet only requires a few simple ingredients. The best part about this skillet is that all of these ingredients are budget-friendly and easy to find at your local grocery store. You may even already have some of these ingredients on hand, which can save you a trip to the store.

  • ground beef
  • cabbage – I like to slice my own, but you could purchase a pre-cut bag of cabbage.
  • butter
  • taco seasoning
  • shredded cheese
  • minced onion
  • salt and pepper

How to Make This Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe

Are you ready to make this low carb meal? Just follow these simple instructions and you will have a hearty family-friendly meal that’s perfect for busy days in no time at all.

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 2: Saute the cabbage

In a large skillet add 1 tablespoon of butter and saute cabbage on medium high heat until the cabbage softens. Remove from heat and place cabbage in a separate dish.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (4)

Step 3: Brown the ground beef

In the same skillet add the remaining tablespoon of butter and cook ground beef breaking up meat as it cooks. Add taco seasoning, onion and stir until meat is cooked. If the meat is dry add up to 1/4 cup of water.

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Step 4: Add the cheese and cabbage to the skillet

Return cabbage to skillet and season with salt and pepper. Fold in 1/2 cup of cheese.

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Step 5: Brown the top of the cheese

Top skillet with remaining cheese and place in the oven. Cook until cheese melts (10 minutes).

What To Serve With This Dish

This hearty meal is amazing on it’s own, however you could also serve with it healthy veggies such as Baked Zucchini Squash. I also enjoy ending a keto-friendly meal like this one, with a dessert such as these Keto Cheesecake Brownies.

Substitutions and Additions

This dish is so versatile, that you can make a few small modifications to customize it to your family’s tastes. No matter what you choose to add or subtract from this skillet meal, your family will love it!

  • You could add additional vegetables such as bell peppers or carrots.
  • You could also swap out ground beef for another type of ground meat such as ground turkey or italian sausage.
  • And if you need this meal to be vegetarian then swapping the ground beef for your favorite meatless product would work as well.
  • You could also try adding a different type of cheese, such as cheddar cheese or even Parmesan.
  • Add a hint of spice to this dish with a sprinkle of chili powder, diced jalapeños, diced green chili or your favorite hot sauce.
  • If you want to add a little more flavor to this dish, you can add in soy sauce, coconut aminos, minced cloves of garlic, green onions, sesame oil, italian seasoning, or a splash of hoisin sauce.
  • Add a can of beans (if you aren’t limiting your carbs)
  • Mix in some spicy tomatoes like Rotel
  • Top with sliced olives, a dollop of guacamole or avocado cream sauce

How To Store

Storage – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommending freezing this dish, and I doubt you will have leftovers to consider that option.

Reheating – Reheat in the microwave for about 1 minute or until warm all the way through. Or you could also reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over low heat until warm.

Sandra’s Pro Tips

Do you want to make sure that this recipe turns out perfectly every time that you make it? Here are a few tips that you can use.

  • If you to save a little time in the kitchen then you can use pre-shredded cabbage.
  • You could also cook the cabbage in bacon grease to increase the flavor. Or you could use a mixture of bacon grease and butter.
  • You don’t have to stick with one type of cheese, try adding in a variety for different flavors and textures.
  • If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, make sure that this skillet is oven-safe before you add it to the oven.
  • Give the cabbage and beef mixture a little taste to make sure that it suit your tastebuds before you add the remaining cheese and melt it.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this easy meal? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about this quick dinner recipe.

Do you season ground beef before or after it browns?

I recommend that you season the beef after you brown it. Seasoning before will dry the moisture out and give you a dry beef.

Can I use fresh onions instead of dried onions?

Yes, but I recommend that you saute the onions while you are browning the beef so that they cook through.

Can I freeze cooked cabbage?

Yes, you can freeze cooked cabbage. Place the cooled cabbage in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or microwave.

Other Delicious Recipes You May Enjoy

  • If you are looking for another healthy yet delicious skillet meal recipe, look no further than these Skillet Pork Chops. They turn out juicy, tender and flavorful every time that you make them.
  • Do you want to spice up your meal rotation? This Tex Mex shredded beef, yet filled with Southwest flavor!
  • Did you know that you can whip up delicious desserts in your skillets? Why only use them for savory foods when you can make some chocolatey goodness like this Chocolate Chip S’mores Cookie Skillet.

Give this low carb Mexican Beef Cabbage Soup a try too!

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (10)

Tex Mex Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe

Ground beef and cabbage with a Tex-Mex flair! This low carb stovetop to oven recipe is simple to make and completely customize-able. Want more heat, add some jalapenos or diced chilies.

4.60 from 96 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Beef and Cabbage, low carb beef and cabbage, Tex Mex skillet recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 388kcal

Author: Sandra Shaffer

Ingredients

  • 1/2 head green cabbage sliced in shreds
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons Taco Seasoning Mix
  • 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
  • 1 1/2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.

  • In a large skillet add 1 tablespoon of butter and saute cabbage on medium high heat until the cabbage softens. Remove from heat and place cabbage in a separate dish.

  • In the same skillet add the remaining tablespoon of butter and cook ground beef breaking up meat as it cooks. Add taco seasoning, onion and stir until meat is cooked. If the meat is dry add up to 1/4 cup of water.

  • Return cabbage to skillet and season with salt and pepper. Fold in 1/2 cup of cheese.

  • Top skillet with remaining cheese and place in the oven. Cook until cheese melts (10 minutes).

Video

Notes

You can use a pre-sliced package of coleslalw if you perefer. I find that the cabbage is too thin and gets mushy quick, so watch the cooking time closely.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 388kcal

Disclaimer

Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (2024)

FAQs

Can you cook ground beef and veggies in same pan? ›

Heat avocado oil in a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet to medium heat. Add the carrots, broccoli florets, and radishes and stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Scoot the vegetables to one side of the cast iron skillet and add the ground beef.

How to brown ground beef in a skillet? ›

Cook the Browned Beef Without Disturbing: Add the ground beef to the skillet and use a wooden spoon to break it up into a few large pieces. Brown the meat, without touching it, for about 5 minutes.

Should you season ground beef before browning? ›

When it comes to seasoning your ground beef, wait until after it has been browned and drained. Adding salt to raw ground beef pulls out moisture, drying the meat out and creating steam while it cooks, which prevents it from browning properly.

How to brown ground beef without drying it out? ›

A hot pan ensures that the beef browns quickly and seals the juices. Don't stir the meat too often. After adding the ground beef to the pan, let it cook undisturbed to allow the bottom to brown properly. Break up the meat and stir as needed but keep it to a minimum to ensure even browning.

Do you saute veggies or ground beef first? ›

Cook the meat first to get that caramelization, then take it out and add in your veggies. The veggies will absorb all of the meaty flavors and scrape up all the delicious bits it left behind. In the end, you'll get caramelized, flavorful meat and tender, not mushy veggies.

Can you put raw meat and vegetables in the same pan? ›

Cooking raw chicken and vegetables in the same pan is generally safe as long as proper food safety practices are followed. Here are some important points to consider: Cooking Temperatures: Both chicken and vegetables need to reach a safe internal temperature to kill any harmful bacteria.

Do you brown ground beef with oil or butter? ›

Adding oil is optional but recommended for better browning. Add the meat to the pan and break it into large pieces. Use a wooden spoon, fish spatula, or other sturdy spatula to break the meat up into large pieces in the pan. Let it brown for several minutes.

How long does it take to cook ground beef in a skillet? ›

On most stove tops, browning a pound of ground beef takes approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Remember, it's important to continue stirring and breaking the pieces into the same size with the wooden spoon or heatproof spatula so the ground beef cooks evenly.

Should I cook onions before ground beef? ›

How do you Make Ground Beef from Scratch? You'll sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil, then add the ground beef. Cook until it's no longer pink, then season with salt and pepper and top with chopped green onions.

What can I add to ground beef for flavor? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons oregano.
  2. 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  3. 1 teaspoon cumin.
  4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  5. 2 teaspoons onion powder.
  6. 12 teaspoon salt.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 12 cup water.

When to add garlic to ground beef? ›

Once the beef has rendered its fat, it's time to generously add your mix of seasonings — granulated garlic, granulated onion, ground cumin, and cayenne powder.

Why do you add baking soda to ground beef? ›

Baking soda acts as a tenderizer for ground beef, keeps it moist during cooking, and encourages deep browning by raising the acidity level of the surface of the meat. Simply add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 pound of ground beef for more tender meat with better browning.

Should you rinse ground beef after browning? ›

Rinsing raw ground beef could pose a health risk by splashing bacteria-filled juices all over your kitchen's surfaces. After the beef has been cooked, you're just rinsing away good flavor. If you want to get rid of some of the grease, drain the beef, but don't rinse it. It's just not necessary.

What to add to ground beef when browning? ›

Heavy cream promises to be the magic ingredient because it isn't too acidic and it adds fat and some sugars to the beef for maximum browning. You'll need just 2 tablespoons of cream for each pound of beef. Mix in the cream, then let the beef marinate overnight before browning it in a large cast iron skillet.

Can you cook raw meat and cooked meat in the same pan? ›

If you must use the same pan, make sure to thoroughly clean it between cooking raw and cooked meat, and use a food thermometer to ensure that the cooked meat reaches a safe internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) before consuming.

Can you use the same pan to cook different meats? ›

Can you cook chicken and beef in the same pan? On the same grill or cooktop, yes. In the same pan, probably not if you expect any decent results. The pan by design allows cross-sharing of flavors and the two proteins are too dissimilar for that to work well.

Can you cook raw meat and cooked meat together? ›

Cooking can kill most food poisoning organisms – it is important not to spread the organisms from the raw food back to the cooked food. Keeping raw and cooked food separate stops the bacteria from raw food re-contaminating cooked food.

Do you cook beef or veggies first in stir fry? ›

Meat first, then vegetables – If you want meat or seafood in your stir fry, cook it first then scoop it out onto a separate plate before cooking the vegetables. You'll add the meat back in at the end. 5. Don't crowd the pan – If you have too much in your pan, the vegetables will steam instead of staying crisp.

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