Easy Asian Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

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!

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.

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. 

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Whole30 Mongolian Beef (Paleo, Keto, AIP Option)