Cabbage and ground beef make an incredible team for a quick, budget-friendly, and deeply comforting one-pan meal. When cooked together, the savory richness of the beef softens the earthy bite of the cabbage, and the cabbage breaks down into tender ribbons that soak up all the flavor.
A fast, incredibly popular way to bring these two ingredients together is an Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet (sometimes called “dirty cabbage” or an egg-roll-in-a-bowl style hash).
Quick 30-Minute Ground Beef & Cabbage Skillet
Ingredients
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Ground Beef: 1 lb (lean or regular)
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Cabbage: 1 small head of green cabbage, cored and roughly chopped
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Aromatics: 1 yellow onion (diced) and 2–3 cloves of garlic (minced)
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The Sauce/Flavor Base:
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1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (undrained, fire-roasted adds great depth)
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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1/2 cup beef broth
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1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
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Spices: 1 tsp paprika (smoked is great), 1 tsp Italian seasoning or a pinch of cumin, salt, and black pepper to taste
Instructions
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Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until fully browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
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Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion directly to the beef and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, and spices, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Build the Sauce: Pour in the diced tomatoes (with juices), beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
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Add the Cabbage: Add your chopped cabbage to the skillet. It will look like a mountain at first, but it shrinks down dramatically as it cooks! Toss it with the meat and sauce, or press it down so it’s mostly submerged.
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Simmer: Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until the cabbage reaches your desired tenderness.
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Serve: Taste, adjust salt and pepper if needed, and serve hot. It is fantastic on its own, or spooned over a bed of white rice, brown rice, or mashed potatoes.
