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.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (5)

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.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe - The Foodie Affair (6)

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

How do you make ground beef taste good? ›

As others have said, add a good amount of salt. If you want to bump up the umami, you could add a few teaspoon of Worcestershire and/or mushroom ketchup. Cooked ground beef really doesn't have any real taste so it is necessary to season it up.

How long does it take to cook ground beef? ›

Let it cook untouched for 4 minutes. This is what helps create a brown crust. Start to break apart the meat, flipping it over. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking it into clumps until cooked through, 4-5 more minutes.

Do you brown ground beef with oil or butter? ›

If you're working with a nonstick pan, you may not need to add any additional oil. The natural fat from the ground beef will help the meat brown and prevent it from sticking. If you prefer, you can add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan before adding the beef.

Do you brown ground beef with olive oil? ›

Olive oil (or vegetable oil) is optional but helps the beef to brown better. Don't stir too much, cooking the beef without stirring allows it to actually 'brown' which adds great flavor! Preheat the pan for the best results and do not stir the beef until it's browned on one side.

What does adding milk to ground beef do? ›

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

What not to do when cooking ground beef? ›

10 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Ground Beef
  1. Thawing ground beef on the kitchen counter. ...
  2. Not choosing ground beef with the right fat content. ...
  3. Not choosing the right pan. ...
  4. Placing the meat in the pan directly out of the fridge. ...
  5. Forgetting to preheat the pan. ...
  6. Stirring the meat too much as it cooks.
Jan 13, 2024

How do you make perfectly brown ground beef? ›

Beef Browning Method: Cast Iron Skillet with Oil

After that, you break the meat into smaller pieces, season with salt, and let it cook for a minute or two between each stir. Your patience gives the moisture a chance to cook off between stirrings, which will give you browned bits of meat instead of gray crumbles.

Do you season ground beef before or after it browns? ›

Season the Ground Beef

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 cook ground beef in skillet? ›

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up into small pieces with a spatula or spoon. Cook the ground beef, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.

Can ground beef be little pink? ›

Because doneness and safety cannot be judged by color, it is very important to use a food thermometer when cooking ground beef. To be sure all harmful bacteria are destroyed, cook all ground beef products to an internal temperature of 160 °F throughout. Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked.

How do you cook ground beef without drying it out? ›

Salt draws out moisture, drying the meat and creating steam while it cooks, preventing it from browning properly. Season the meat towards the end. Don't overcook the meat. For tender and moist ground hamburger, cook until no pink remains, and promptly remove from heat once it's done.

How to cook ground beef in a skillet? ›

Instructions
  1. Heat the pan and coat with oil. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. ...
  2. Add the meat to the hot pan and break into large pieces. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. ...
  3. Break meat into smaller pieces, season, and brown. ...
  4. Finish browning.
Aug 29, 2023

Can you brown meat in a frying pan? ›

Cast iron and stainless steel are the best choices for getting that beautiful, brown sear. Once the pan is hot, add the meat, and use a spatula to break it up into pieces. Let the meat brown without touching for about five minutes. This gives the meat more contact with the pan, and thus, a better sear.

How do you brown ground beef without making it tough? ›

Beef Browning Method: Cast Iron Skillet with Oil

You add the cold ground beef to a hot cast iron skillet with a little vegetable oil, break it into a few large pieces with a spatula, and then leave it alone for four to five minutes so it can brown.

Do you need oil to brown ground beef? ›

If the ground beef is very lean then adding a small amount of cooking oil to the pan is necessary. Otherwise, ultra-lean ground beef will burn and stick to the pan before the center of your burger is even done.

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