Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe (2024)

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Ground beef and cabbage are a terrific combination of flavors. Add to that a couple of unique spices to really make this recipe special. And, by using lean ground beef, the calories stay low for this healthy casserole dish.

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I was thinking that with St. Patrick’s Day coming up, a recipe with cooked cabbage without corned beef would be fun to try.

Don’t get me wrong but I love corned beef and cabbage. But instead of Corned Beef, I thought lean ground beef would be a good substitute.

A tomato sauce and beef broth were used for the liquid. It reminded me of tomato soup, so I used my Tomato Bisque Recipe as the inspiration for the spices.

The ground beef and Cabbage dish turned out great. It’s a healthy recipe the whole family will like.

Simple Ingredients for the Cabbage Skillet

Lean ground beef
Small head of cabbage
Medium onion
Diced tomatoes
Beef broth
Butter
Dried dill
Dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Sour cream
Kosher salt
Black pepper

Preparing the Cabbage

When I got the idea for this cabbage recipe, I wanted the cabbage to be the star of the dish. Therefore, I kept the cabbage pieces fairly large.

Here is how I cut up the head of Cabbage.

First of all, cut off the stem. That will allow you to pull off 4 or 5 of the large outer leaves. The remaining cabbage should be nice and clean.

Then, use a sharp Chef’s Knife to cut the head lengthwise through the core to make 4 pieces. This will expose the tough, solid core and make it easy to chop out.

To make a more stable base for cutting the wedge of cabbage, I cut down the point of the wedge.

How to Make Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

You will need to use a large, high-sided skillet or a Dutch oven that holds at least 4 quarts. And the skillet will need a lid. This is a four-quart Dutch Oven that I’m using.

Start by browning the ground beef on medium heat. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon and cook until most of the beef is browned.

If you have used lean ground beef there shouldn’t be much fat in the skillet. If you have fat, remove it with a spoon.

Next, add the coarsely chopped onion and let the onion cook and soften for 3 or 4 minutes.

Next, add the Beef Broth and can of diced tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any Browned Bits on the bottom of your skillet.

Now add the spices and butter and stir them in and bring to a boil.

Add all of the cabbage, lower the heat to a simmer, and put the lid semi-covered or co*cked on the pot. This will steam and wilt the cabbage and also allow the liquid to evaporate.

It will take about 20 minutes of cooking time to steam the cabbage until it is tender. Every 5 minutes, use a large spoon or a wide wooden spoon like I have to turn the cabbage and beef mixture. This will ensure that the cabbage gets Cooked evenly.

You should end up with 1 or 2 tablespoons of liquid left in the pan. If you have excess liquid, uncover the pot and simmer for a few more minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Once the cabbage is thoroughly cooked and tender, add the sour cream and toss it to dissolve.

Variations to Consider

Meat substitutes:Ground turkey or chicken. Italian sausage. Add some chopped slices of bacon.

Additions:Shredded carrots, green bell pepper, and green onions, top with cheddar cheese, and substitute Rotel for the diced tomatoes.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in an Airtight Container in your refrigerator. It is easy to reheat the ground beef and cabbage in a microwave oven too.

The flavor of the casserole is just as good the next day.

Here are some more tasty recipes to try:

Crepes St. Jacques
Dinner ideas with Hamburger and potatoes
Green beans with bacon and onions
Homemade Italian sausage recipe
Wicked good fish tacos
Shrimp and sausage stew

Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Healthy recipe that is satisfying but is low in calories and high in nutrition.

4.82 from 32 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beef and cabbage, ground beef and cabbage

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 249kcal

Author: Joe Boyle

Ingredients

1 head cabbage, 2 to 2.5 pounds
1 lbs. lean ground beef, 92%
1 med. yellow onion, chopped
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup beef broth, I used Better Than Bouillon beef base
2 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. dried dill
2 tsp. dried oregano or Italian seasoning
1.5 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

Section the head of cabbage and remove the outer leaves and the core. Chop into bite-sized pieces or use a mandoline to shred the cabbage. You should end up with 1 1/2 to 2-pounds of cabbage.
Using a 4 quart dutch oven or other pot with a lid, brown the ground beef and break it up into small pieces. Once the meat is browned, remove any fat that might have rendered using a spoon. Then add the chopped onion and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Next, add the beef broth and diced tomatoes and the liquid in the can. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Then stir in the spices and butter. Bring the pot to a boil.
Place all of the chopped cabbage into the pot, lower the heat to a simmer and cover with a co*cked lid. This will allow the liquids to evaporate. Steam the cabbage for 20 minutes until it is soft, stirring the cabbage and turning every 5 minutes to ensure it is cooked evenly throughout the pot.
Once the cabbage is tender, add the sour cream and stir it in until fully dissolved into the dish. Serve the ground beef and cabbage hot.

Notes

Substitute ground beef with ground chicken or turkey. Also Italian sausage could be used.
Additional vegetables could also be added. Green bell pepper, shredded carrot, green onions, or chopped fennel.
Make a spicy dish by substituting Rotel for the diced tomatoes.
Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Reheat in a microwave oven. Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container for 4 to 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal