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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / 30 Minutes or Less / Easy Asian Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Easy Asian Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Last Updated on January 13, 2023 by Jean Choi

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This quick and easy Asian ground beef and cabbage stir fry is packed with flavor and perfect for weeknights! It’s a delicious dish that is paleo and Whole30-friendly and comes together in under 30 minutes. Serve it over rice, cauliflower rice, or even noodles!

ground beef cabbage stir fry in a bowl with rice

What Makes This Recipe Great

If you’ve tried my Easy Instant Pot Cabbage Soup you know how much I love ground beef and cabbage recipes. They really are the perfect pair, which is why these two ingredients are so popular together. 

I also love a good ground beef stir fry that comes together quickly. Anytime I’m too lazy or busy to cook, I can always quickly whip a stir fry dish as long as I have veggies and protein in my fridge. This time, I had some ground beef, cabbage, and other yummy veggies. 

This delicious ground beef stir fry recipe came together on one such night and my whole family fell in love with it immediately. It takes under 30 minutes, is super healthy, and has tons of flavor!

Stir frying cabbage and ground beef in a pan

Watch a Quick Video of This Recipe

How to Make Ground Beef Stir Fry

In this stir-fry recipe, ground beef is cooked with garlic, ginger, and onion, then combined with cabbage and carrots. The whole thing is coated in the most amazing paleo stir fry sauce that resembles Korean barbecue to me. It’s delicious with some rice, but if you are on the Whole30 or paleo diet you can always enjoy it with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.

Ingredient Notes

Ground Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry

  • Ground beef: Ground beef with cabbage is famously a perfect pair. But if you don’t eat red meat or don’t have it on hand, ground turkey will also work. 
  • Avocado oil: Or any of your other favorite cooking oil will work.
  • Onion: One onion (use the variety of your choice), chopped. 
  • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves or a jar of minced garlic will work for this. 
  • Ginger: I like to use fresh ginger, grated. You can use powdered ginger in a pinch. 
  • Cabbage: You’ll need 1 head of cabbage, thinly sliced. 
  • Carrot: I find that shredded carrot works best, but slice how you prefer. 
  • Salt & Pepper: Use to taste. 
  • Garnish: I like to top my ground beef stir fry with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, but they are completely optional!

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients

  • Coconut aminos: This is a soy-free and grain-free version of soy sauce. It’s delicious and adds a slight sweetness to the sauce without any added brown sugar! This is my favorite brand.
  • Rice vinegar: If you don’t have rice vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar will work.
  • Sesame oil
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: You can omit this for less spice!
whole30 beef stir fry recipe in a bowl with rice and chopsticks

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Stir together all ingredients for the paleo stir-fry sauce. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add onion and cook stirring until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in ginger and garlic until fragrant.
  5. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon – about 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in cabbage, and carrots, and add the sauce you made. Cook stirring until the cabbage is wilted and the sauce is cooked down about 5 minutes
  7. Taste to add salt and/or pepper. Serve warm, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds.
a bowl of beef and cooked veggies served over white rice

Recipe Variations

  • Add more veggies: You can add cubed sweet potatoes, red bell pepper (or any color bell pepper!), broccoli, or double up on any of the veggies I’ve listed. 
  • Give it a kick: If you like a spicier stir fry, add more crushed red pepper to your stir fry sauce. If you want it milder, reduce the amount. 
  • Swap the protein: You can always swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork. 

Storage Tips

  • To save the leftovers of this ground beef stir fry, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze for longer for up to a couple of weeks.

Meal Prep Tips

  • Let the stir fry cool completely. Then grab your meal prep containers and add rice to each one. Top with individual portions of stir fry and seal tightly with the lid. Grab one for a quick lunch and microwave it for 2 minutes before serving. 
Picking up cooked veggies and meat with chopsticks

Recipe FAQs

Can I use another protein for this ground beef and cabbage stir-fry recipe?

While I make this stir fry recipe with ground beef, you can use other proteins to vary it up! Ground chicken or turkey is a great option or even bite-sized pieces of chicken thighs or breasts. Use what you have on hand. That’s the beauty of stir fry- it’s really an “add what you have” kind of meal. 

What do you serve this with?

I personally love eating this ground beef stir fry over white rice. However, for a paleo or Whole30 option, you can serve it with cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or grain-free noodles like shirataki noodles or spaghetti pasta.

Try These Whole30 & Paleo Recipes

Asian Sautéed Broccolini Recipe (Paleo, Whole30, Vegan)

Spicy Thai Basil Chicken Recipe (Paleo & Whole30)

Paleo Mongolian Chicken with Shishito Peppers (Whole30)

Sriracha Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Paleo, Keto)

Whole30 Mongolian Beef (Paleo, Keto, AIP Option)

Asian beef and cabbage stir fry

Easy Asian Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

This quick and easy Asian ground beef and cabbage stir fry is packed with flavor and perfect for weeknights! It's a delicious dish that is paleo and Whole30-friendly and comes together in under 30 minutes. Serve it over rice, cauliflower rice, or even noodles!
4.94 from 16 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: 30 minute paleo meals, 30 minute whole30 meals, ground beef stir fry
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 360kcal

Video

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1/2 cup coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Stir Fry

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 inch ginger grated
  • 1 head of cabbage thinly sliced – about 8 cups
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrot
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Green onion slices and sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  • Stir together all the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add onion and cook stirring until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in ginger and garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.- about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in shredded cabbage, carrots, and the sauce. Cook stirring until the cabbage is wilted and the sauce is cooked down, about 5 minutes
  • Taste to add salt and/or pepper. Serve warm, sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Asian Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving (1 serving – makes 4)
Calories 360 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 74mg25%
Sodium 811mg35%
Potassium 866mg25%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 2970IU59%
Vitamin C 87mg105%
Calcium 123mg12%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Recipe Variations

  • Add more veggies: You can add cubed sweet potatoes, red bell pepper (or any color bell pepper!), broccoli, or double up on any of the veggies I’ve listed. 
  • Give it a kick: If you like a spicier stir fry, add more crushed red pepper to your stir fry sauce. If you want it milder, reduce the amount. 
  • Swap the protein: You can always swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork. 

Storage Tips

  • To save the leftovers of this ground beef stir fry, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze for longer for up to a couple of weeks.

Meal Prep Tips

  • Let the stir fry cool completely. Then grab your meal prep containers and add rice to each one. Top with individual portions of stir fry and seal tightly with the lid. Grab one for a quick lunch and microwave it for 2 minutes before serving. 
What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

16.1K shares
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By Jean Choi | January 13, 2023

Comments

  1. Catherine D says

    November 4, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Sounds delicious, I can’t wait to make it. Thank you!

    • Jean Choi says

      November 6, 2021 at 6:41 am

      Yay! Enjoy!!

  2. Angelica says

    November 13, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    5 stars
    So so sooooo delicious and easy!! I made this today for lunch and enjoyed it so much I ate it for dinner. Thank you!

  3. Erika says

    November 18, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    5 stars
    So easy to make! It has just the right amount of spice. And frankly it doesn’t need any rice, this makes plenty for 4 servings!

  4. Katia says

    December 11, 2021 at 6:10 pm

    5 stars
    Did it today (in my Instant pot because needed to leave asap so it’s not exactly the same dish). Very fast and delicious. Even my 16-month-old ate it with rice and it’s so rare when she agrees to something like this. Will make it again! Thank you!

  5. Kristina says

    December 13, 2021 at 8:25 am

    What an amazing dish. I‘m pretty picky about cabbage dishes, but this one was just delicious. My 3-year old daughter loved it as well. We will definitely do this on a regular basis from now on. Sending lots of love from Germany 🙂

    • Jean Choi says

      December 13, 2021 at 5:51 pm

      Thank you so much!! Love having international readers. 🙂

  6. Jessica McDonald says

    January 11, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    I’ve made this at least four times since you posted the recipe. It’s so simple and my husband loves it! Such a tasty way to use the cabbage I’ve been getting in my CSA box.

  7. Amber says

    August 18, 2022 at 3:37 am

    5 stars
    Another winner! Made this last night and it was so good and so easy. We had it over rice with toasted sesame seeds and green onions on top. Looking forward to the leftovers !!

  8. Elisheva says

    October 23, 2022 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    I just cooked this recipe to share with some friends. We all loved it! The red pepper flakes gave this dish just the right amount of zing. Super healthy yet delicious! Many thanks 😊

    • Jean Choi says

      October 25, 2022 at 3:31 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  9. Susan says

    November 1, 2022 at 6:18 am

    5 stars
    So delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and it was the perfect combination of flavors. It was a big hit in our home!

  10. Whitney says

    January 16, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    5 stars
    Made this again for dinner tonight! I love the flavors and it is so tasty. Definitely a staple in my household these days.

  11. Jeanette says

    January 27, 2023 at 1:01 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks so much for this recipe. I made it twice and it was delicious both ways: once with ground beef and once with ground turkey. One tip, for economic purposes. I used half the cabbage and ground meat and half the sauce and it made 4 heaping servings, especially if eating with rice. We made it last week and again this week. It was so good. :). I will definitely be making on a regular basis.

    • Jean Choi says

      February 1, 2023 at 12:53 pm

      So happy to hear that! Love your tip as well.

  12. Kibby says

    March 20, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    5 stars
    Stellar recipe! Came home exhausted, scrolled through some cabbage-related recipe ideas, saw this one was easy and quick to prepare, jumped in and hoped for the best. I wasn’t quite prepared for how well coconut aminos and rice vinegar complement each other! I threw in some Sriracha instead of red pepper flakes and the taste is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing this!

    • Jean Choi says

      March 23, 2023 at 1:21 pm

      Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found a quick dish to make on a tiring day. 🙂

  13. Beth says

    August 23, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    Good recipe. I wondered why you don’t have it labeled gluten-free.

  14. Becky says

    November 5, 2023 at 9:24 am

    This sounds so good. I want to make it tonight but do not have coconut aminos on hand. Could I use soy sauce instead?

    • Jean Choi says

      November 6, 2023 at 3:56 pm

      Yes, that’s fine!

  15. CJ says

    November 24, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you… thank you… thank you
    I am following AIP for a health issue. Most recipes have coconut milk or some sort of coconut. My husband really dislikes coconut.
    I made this tonight, without sesame oil or pepper flakes, to make it phase 1 compliant.
    We both loved it…and he didn’t taste any coconut 🙂
    Thanks so much for the great recipe.

    • Jean Choi says

      November 27, 2023 at 3:11 pm

      I’m so glad you can enjoy this recipe with your AIP diet! My mom was AIP for a while so I know it can be really hard at times. Thank you so much for leaving a review!!

  16. Xiomara says

    January 9, 2024 at 3:59 pm

    5 stars
    Wow amazing recipe!!! 10++ thank you!!

  17. Rene says

    February 7, 2024 at 8:30 am

    5 stars
    Fast, easy, and so delicious!

  18. Liz says

    February 18, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    Can you cook all the ingredients together?

    • Jean Choi says

      February 19, 2024 at 10:30 am

      You can but the texture won’t be ideal since the ingredients cook at different speeds. And the sauce will cook off if you add it too early.

  19. Jill Stein says

    January 15, 2025 at 6:23 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Easy to make. I doubled the sauce for extra flavor. Will definitely make again!

    • Jean Choi says

      January 15, 2025 at 12:45 pm

      So happy you enjoyed it!2

  20. Nicole says

    January 22, 2025 at 8:25 am

    4 stars
    Easy and yummy! I doubled the ground beef to get a few more servings out of it. Good meal prep recipe.

    • Jean Choi says

      January 22, 2025 at 9:28 am

      Thank you so much!

  21. Nikki Guerrero says

    January 31, 2025 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    My husband and I loved this recipe! So easy for busy nights and a great option for meal prep!

    Thank you can’t wait to try more of your meals.

    • Jean Choi says

      February 1, 2025 at 1:50 pm

      Amazing! That’s wonderful. Thank you so much for leaving a review.

  22. Alice S says

    March 23, 2025 at 6:25 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Made a double batch but didn’t have extra cabbage so it was protein-heavy but still so so good. Adding this to my meal rotation!

    • Jean Choi says

      March 24, 2025 at 1:08 pm

      Yay! Thank you so much for leaving a review!

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Hi, I’m Jean!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m a food lover and recipe developer living in Southern California. I love to share simple and approachable gluten-free recipes that are healthy but never sacrifice on flavor. I hope I can help you feel confident in the kitchen and inspire you to try out some new-to-you dishes!

More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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