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Easy Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet in 15 Minutes

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A quick and delicious one-pan meal featuring savory ground beef and tender, caramelized cabbage. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in under 15 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small head green cabbage, cored and thinly sliced (about 4–5 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Fresh parsley or green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil and cook the onion. Place your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once it shimmers, toss in the diced onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and starts to turn translucent.
  2. Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with your wooden spoon. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes to get a good sear, then start stirring. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink. If there’s a lot of excess fat, spoon it out, leaving about a tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Add the garlic and spices. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the minced garlic, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
  4. Add the cabbage. Pile the sliced cabbage into the skillet. Stir everything together, coating the cabbage in the beef mixture. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring too much, so the cabbage gets some nice charred edges.
  5. Deglaze and simmer. Pour in the soy sauce and apple cider vinegar. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 5-6 minutes.
  6. Check for doneness and adjust. After 5-6 minutes, remove the lid. The cabbage should be tender but still have a little bite. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
  7. Garnish and serve. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley or green onions if desired. Serve hot, straight from the skillet, or spooned into bowls.

Notes

For best flavor, use 80/20 ground beef and don’t rush the browning step. Slice cabbage thinly and evenly for even cooking. If using leaner beef, add extra oil. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, cabbage skillet, quick dinner, weeknight meal, one-pan, low-carb, gluten-free

Find it online: https://forkmila.com/easy-ground-beef-and-cabbage-skillet-in-15-minutes/