Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
In short: Ground beef browned with onion and tender cabbage in a smoky tomato sauce, an easy budget skillet dinner ready in about 40 minutes. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Cabbage is cheap, keeps for weeks and cooks down into something sweet and silky, which makes it a good partner for ground beef. This skillet borrows the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls without the rolling: onion, tomato, smoked paprika and a splash of vinegar. It cooks in one pan and tastes better after a night in the fridge. Eat it over rice or potatoes, or with plain bread to catch the sauce.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef for 6 minutes, breaking it up, until no pink remains. Spoon off all but 1 tbsp of the fat.
- Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, paprika and thyme for 1 minute.
- Add the cabbage in handfuls, stirring as each batch wilts so that it all fits in the pan. This takes about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the tomatoes and water, add the salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.
- Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the cabbage is tender.
- Stir in the vinegar, taste for salt and pepper, scatter with dill and serve.
Tips
- For a thicker, stew-like dish, cook it uncovered for the last 5 minutes. An extra splash of vinegar at the end adds a pleasant tartness.
- White or savoy cabbage both work. Red cabbage turns the dish purple and needs about 5 extra minutes.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze ground beef and cabbage skillet?
Yes. Freeze it in portions for up to 3 months. The cabbage softens a little but the flavor holds up. Thaw overnight and reheat in a pan.
Is this the same as stuffed cabbage rolls?
It uses similar flavors, but the cabbage is shredded into the pan rather than rolled around a filling, so it takes a fraction of the time.
What can I serve with it?
Boiled potatoes, rice or crusty bread all work well. A few pickles on the side add a fresh, sour contrast.
How long does it take to make Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet?
About 50 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 13 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
