Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry (Printable version)
Hearty stir fry with tender beef, crisp cabbage, and savory Asian seasonings ready in 30 minutes.
# Ingredient list:
→ Proteins
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small head green cabbage (about 1½ lbs), thinly sliced
03 - 1 medium carrot, julienned or grated
04 - 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
07 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Sauces & Seasonings
08 - 3 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
09 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
10 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
11 - 1 tsp chili garlic sauce or Sriracha
12 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1 tsp sugar or honey
→ Oils
14 - 1 tbsp neutral oil (canola or vegetable oil)
# Directions:
01 - Heat neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add sliced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Stir fry for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and onions begin to soften.
03 - Incorporate cabbage and carrot. Stir fry for 4–5 minutes until vegetables are tender yet still crisp, maintaining their texture.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), sesame oil, chili garlic sauce, black pepper, and sugar or honey until fully combined.
05 - Pour sauce over beef and vegetables. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly. Stir fry for 1–2 additional minutes until heated through. Adjust seasoning to taste, then remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with sliced green onions.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cabbage gets this perfect tendercrisp texture that makes you forget youre eating something so healthy
- Everything happens in one pan, meaning less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal
02 -
- Overcrowding the pan will make your cabbage steam instead of stir fry, so use your largest pan or cook in batches if necessary
- The sauce will look thin when you first pour it in, but it thickens beautifully as it coats the hot ingredients and cooks for that final minute
03 -
- Cold leftovers can be turned into an incredible fried rice by adding dayold rice and a beaten egg
- Freezing works surprisingly well if you want to make a big batch for future busy weeks