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Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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This quick and easy ground beef and cabbage stir-fry recipe is made with ground sirloin and Napa cabbage sautéed with ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce. It’s delicious served over rice or wrapped in lettuce cups.

Garnishing ground beef and cabbage stir-fry.

It should come as no surprise to those who have followed me a while that being a busy, working mom, I love a good, quick dinner recipe. And when it comes to those quick meals, it also shouldn’t surprise anyone that I’ve come up with another stir-fry! Stir-fry is a great way to serve your family a simple and quick meal, while keeping it well balanced and getting in all the food groups. I make a stir-fry at least once a week in various forms. such as my Beef Stir-Fry with Rice Noodles or Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry as it’s also the perfect way to use up any leftover veggies sitting in that bottom drawer of your fridge. My Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry is naturally gluten-free and is great over rice, chow mein noodles, or in lettuce cups!

Ingredients

  • Sesame oil: A good cooking oil for Asian inspired dishes, it adds a bit of a nutty taste to the dish.
  • Ginger: A kick of tangy and spicy flavor that isn’t overwhelming.
  • Garlic: Pungent and aromatic flavor, a bit nutty that sweetens as it cooks.
  • Ground beef: I usually use a ground sirloin as it’s a leaner choice, but ground chuck will work as well.
  • Cabbage: I like to use Napa cabbage for stir-fry, but you could use any type of cabbage. It doesn’t get soggy when it cooks, and is a great source of vitamins.
  • Soy sauce: Full of umami and classic stir-fry flavor.
  • Rice vinegar: Not as strong as white vinegar, and slightly sweet, but still adds a bit of acidity to the sauce.
  • Sugar: Balances out the tangy and salty flavors of the sauce.

How to Make Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Begin your ground beef and cabbage stir-fry by heating the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger, and then add the ground beef. If you like a kick of heat, you could also add some chili paste at this point as well. Brown the ground beef and crumble as it cooks.

When ground beef is browned, add the chopped cabbage to the wok along with a sprinkle of salt, black pepper, and sugar!

Then pour in the soy sauce.

Followed by the rice vinegar and water. Stir and sauté an additional couple minutes to cook the cabbage.

Ground beef and cabbage stir-fry.

Serve garnished with fresh scallions (green onions) and sesame seeds and alongside brown rice, and enjoy your Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry!

Easy Substitutions

  • Switch the protein. Instead of ground beef, you could easily use ground turkey or ground pork.
  • Add more veggies. Shredded carrots, broccoli, bok choy, and many other veggies would taste great and work well in stir-frying.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cut cabbage for stir-fry?

Shredding cabbage, or cutting it very thinly, is the best way to cut it for stir-fry.

Why is napa cabbage good for stir frying?

Napa cabbage is also known as Chinese cabbage, which is usually why it’s used in Asian inspired recipes and cooking. In reality, you could use green or red cabbage in stir-fry as well.

How to store leftover stir-fry?

Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

More Stir-Fry Recipes

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Liz eating ground beef and cabbage stir-fry.

Quick and delicious for parents and kids alike, my Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry is on the menu for dinner this week.

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Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry

5 stars average
Liz Della Croce
This quick and easy weeknight beef stir-fry recipe is made with ground sirloin and chopped cabbage sauteed with ginger, garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce. It's delicious served over rice or wrapped in lettuce cups.
PREP: 10 minutes
COOK: 20 minutes
Servings4

Equipment

1 wok optional

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic paste (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 6 cups napa cabbage (chopped (or any kind of cabbage!))
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • minced scallions and sesame seeds (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large wok or saute pan over high heat. Add sesame oil, sambal, garlic and ginger. Heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Add ground beef to the pan along with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Using a wooden spoon, begin breaking down the beef in to bite-sized pieces. Continue sauteing beef until browned, about 6-8 minutes stirring frequently.
  • Add the chopped cabbage to the wok along with sugar, more salt and pepper to taste, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and water. Stir well then sauté until cabbage is softened, about 3-4 additional minutes. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly before serving.

Last Step:

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Liz’s Notes

I love using napa cabbage for this recipe but any type of green cabbage would work well as would bok choy. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 897mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 363IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 3mg


5 from 3 votes

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3 responses to “Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry”

  1. Angele Avatar
    Angele

    easy to make ,

  2. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Fast, easy, and delicious!

  3. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    This recipe was easy (I used ground chicken breast) and it tasted like something from a high-end Asian restaurant! The flavors were all singing in harmony, with just a hint of heat from the chili garlic paste. We served it over jasmine rice. HIGHLY recommend :)