A quick, flavorful one-pan meal made with lean ground beef, tender-crisp cabbage, garlic, ginger, and a savory homemade sauce. Great for a healthy weeknight dinner and meal prep.
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
- 5–6 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
- 1 medium carrot, julienned or grated
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, optional
For the Sauce
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp water
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce:
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, water, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. - Brown the beef:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and fully cooked. - Add aromatics:
Add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. - Add the vegetables:
Add the cabbage and carrot. Stir-fry for 5–7 minutes, until the cabbage becomes tender but still has a little crunch. - Add the sauce:
Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables. Toss everything together and cook for another 2–3 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat the ingredients. - Finish:
Remove from heat and sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, if using. - Serve:
Serve hot on its own for a lower-carb meal, or over steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa.
Recipe Information
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
- Meal Type: Lunch / Dinner
- Difficulty: Easy
Nut Information
- Contains nuts: No tree nuts or peanuts are required.
- Sesame: Sesame seeds and sesame oil are used; sesame is a seed, not a tree nut, but it is a common allergen.
- Nut-free option: Omit the sesame seeds and replace sesame oil with a little extra olive or avocado oil.
- Soy: Contains soy if regular soy sauce is used.
- Gluten-free option: Use certified gluten-free tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
- Dairy-free: Yes, naturally.
- Egg-free: Yes.
- For allergies: Check the labels of soy sauce, sesame oil, and other packaged ingredients for cross-contact warnings.
Helpful Tips
- Use 90–95% lean ground beef for a lighter meal.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet so the cabbage stir-fries instead of steaming.
- For extra vegetables, add sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, or snow peas.
- Want it spicy? Add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or extra red pepper flakes.
- For meal prep, divide into 4 containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Q&A
Q: Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
A: Yes. Ground turkey or chicken works very well and makes the dish even leaner.
Q: Can I make this recipe low-carb?
A: Yes. Serve it by itself or with cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
Q: Can I use red cabbage?
A: Absolutely. Red cabbage works well and gives the stir-fry a beautiful color.
Q: Is this recipe gluten-free?
A: It can be. Use gluten-free tamari or certified gluten-free soy sauce.
Q: Can I make it without sesame oil?
A: Yes. Substitute olive or avocado oil, although the sesame oil gives the dish a more traditional Asian-inspired flavor.
Q: Can I add noodles?
A: Yes. Rice noodles, soba noodles, or your favorite stir-fry noodles can be added.
Q: How do I store leftovers?
A: Cool completely, place in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Yes. Freeze in an airtight container for up to about 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat thoroughly.
Q: What can I serve with it?
A: Cauliflower rice, steamed rice, quinoa, rice noodles, or simply a fresh cucumber salad make good pairings.
Q: Is this good for meal prep?
A: Yes. It reheats well and is easy to portion into individual containers.
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