Easy & Flavorful Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry: Your New Weeknight Favorite!

Ground Beef Stir Fry with shredded cabbage is not just easy but incredibly tasty, making it an absolute must-try for anyone looking for a quick and satisfying meal. This recipe will most definitely become your new go-to, simple yet flavour-packed dinner favourite, perfect for those busy evenings when you crave something homemade without the fuss.

Imagine juicy, perfectly browned ground beef infused with a ton of savoury Asian-inspired flavour, combined with crisp-tender shredded cabbage and carrots. It’s a dish that’s full of healthy veggies and protein, offering everything you could want in a balanced meal. Our Ground Beef Stir Fry is a light yet filling dish, featuring a simple stir fry sauce made from basic pantry ingredients. It’s an extremely addictive and incredibly cheap meal solution that delivers on taste and convenience.

Why This Ground Beef Stir Fry Recipe Will Become Your Favorite

You’ve likely enjoyed our Honey Soy Chicken Stir Fry and perhaps even ventured into our Singapore Zoodle Stir Fry. Now, prepare to meet our easiest and most budget-friendly stir fry to date – the Ground Beef Stir Fry! This recipe is a game-changer for those evenings when your energy levels are low, and the thought of an elaborate dinner feels daunting, but your taste buds are craving something fresh, vibrant, and homemade.

This super tasty, super easy, and SUPER fast stir fry borrows incredible umami and savoury notes from your favourite Fried Rice recipes, but with a fraction of the effort. By utilizing just a handful of essential Asian sauces, this stir fry offers immense versatility. While ground beef shines as the star, don’t hesitate to switch it out for ground chicken, pork, or turkey if you prefer, making it adaptable to whatever you have on hand.

The Secret to an Irresistible Stir Fry Sauce

Although this recipe is not a traditional Chinese stir fry in the strictest sense, you will absolutely adore the familiar, rich, and balanced flavours in its simple sauce. The magic happens with a blend of staple Asian condiments: classic soy sauce for salinity, luscious oyster sauce for depth, rich hoisin sauce for sweetness and body, and a splash of dark soy sauce to achieve that beautiful, deep colour and additional umami notes. These ingredients work in harmony to create a sauce that coats every strand of cabbage and every morsel of beef, ensuring an explosion of flavour in every bite.

Chef’s Tip: Make sure you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready (mise en place) before you start cooking. Stir-fries come together incredibly quick, and having everything at hand ensures a smooth and successful cooking experience!

How to Make This Effortless Beef Stir Fry

The process of making this ground beef stir fry is delightfully straightforward, perfect for novice cooks and seasoned home chefs alike. You’ll be amazed at how quickly this satisfying meal comes together, making it a fantastic alternative to takeout.

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide:

1. Brown the Beef: Begin by frying your ground beef in a hot skillet until it’s nicely browned and slightly crispy. This step is crucial for developing deep flavour. As the beef cooks, add your aromatics: diced onion, minced garlic, and fresh minced ginger. Sauté until fragrant, creating a flavourful base for your stir fry.
2. First Sauce Addition: Once the beef is perfectly browned and the aromatics are softened, pour in half of your carefully prepared stir fry sauce. Stir fry vigorously to ensure every piece of beef and every aromatic is beautifully coated in this flavourful mixture.
3. Add the Veggies: Introduce the shredded cabbage and carrots to the skillet. Continue to stir fry, tossing everything together until the vegetables begin to soften and wilt. The natural moisture released from the cabbage will meld with the sauce, creating an abundance of truly crazy good, rich, and luscious sauce that will coat every ingredient.
4. Final Sauce & Serve: Finally, add the remaining half of the sauce, stirring it through for a final flavour boost. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately while warm, perhaps over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles, or as a stand-alone low-carb delight.

Choosing the Best Beef for Your Stir Fry

One of the many advantages of this recipe is its use of ground beef (mince). This means absolutely no meat slicing is required, saving you precious time and effort in the kitchen! The texture of ground beef blends wonderfully with the shredded cabbage, ensuring a satisfying bite every time.

If you are looking to keep the calories as low as possible, we recommend using lean or extra lean ground beef. These options still provide fantastic flavour and texture without excess fat. For those who enjoy a richer dish, regular ground beef works just as well and will contribute to a more indulgent flavour profile. Regardless of your choice, ensure you break up the ground beef well as it cooks to achieve that desirable crumbly texture.

Customizing Your Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry

This recipe is incredibly versatile and easily adaptable to your taste preferences or what you have available in your pantry. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

• Protein Swaps: As mentioned, ground chicken, pork, or turkey are excellent alternatives to ground beef. You could even use finely chopped firm tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian option.
• Vegetable Additions: While cabbage and carrots are the stars here, feel free to incorporate other quick-cooking vegetables. Bell peppers (any color), snow peas, broccoli florets, mushrooms, or bok choy would all be delicious additions. Just remember to add them in stages, considering their cooking times.
• Spice It Up: If you love a bit of heat, consider adding a pinch of chili powder, a dash of red pepper flakes, or a swirl of sriracha to your stir fry sauce. A few slices of fresh jalapeño or serrano peppers added with the ginger and garlic can also provide a wonderful kick.
• Garnishes: Elevate your dish with simple garnishes. Sliced green onions (scallions) add a fresh, pungent crunch, while a sprinkle of sesame seeds provides a nutty flavour and pleasing texture. A drizzle of extra sesame oil right before serving can also enhance the aroma.
• Low-Carb Options: This dish is inherently low-carb, especially if you opt for a sugar substitute in the sauce. Serve it as-is, or with cauliflower rice or zoodles for a complete low-carb meal.

Your new favourite home cooked meal awaits! You’ll fall in love with this easy beef stir fry after just one bite. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients, combined with smart cooking techniques, can yield an extraordinarily delicious result. Happy frying!

Serving Suggestions for Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry

While this stir fry is fantastic on its own, here are some ideas to complete your meal:

• Rice: Classic steamed white or brown rice is always a perfect accompaniment, soaking up all the delicious sauce.
• Noodles: Serve over stir-fried noodles, ramen, or even thin rice vermicelli for a heartier meal.
• Cauliflower Rice: For a low-carb alternative, cauliflower rice works wonderfully and perfectly complements the dish.
• Lettuce Wraps: Spoon the stir fry into fresh lettuce cups for a light and refreshing meal.
• Side Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette can add freshness.

Meal Prep and Storage Tips

This Ground Beef Cabbage Stir Fry is an excellent candidate for meal prepping, allowing you to enjoy healthy, delicious meals throughout the week with minimal effort.

• Preparation: You can prepare the stir fry sauce up to 3-4 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Shredding the cabbage and carrots ahead of time also saves a lot of time on cooking day.
• Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavours often deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.
• Reheating: Reheat the stir fry in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth if it seems dry, until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally.
• Freezing: While ground beef dishes generally freeze well, the cabbage in this stir fry might become a bit softer after freezing and thawing. However, it’s still perfectly edible and tasty. Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

MORE GROUND BEEF RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

If you’re a fan of versatile ground beef, explore these other fantastic recipes:

• Chili Mac
• Smokey Mexican Beef Wedges
• The Best Lasagna Ever
• One Pot Ravioli in a Creamy Tomato Beef Sauce