Description

A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring browned ground beef and crisp cabbage in a sweet and savory soy-ginger sauce, all cooked in one skillet for minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 to 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 recommended)
1 medium head green cabbage (2–3 lbs), cored and sliced into thin strips
4–5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp sesame oil
2–3 green onions, sliced
Red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Prep the cabbage by removing outer leaves, cutting in half, removing the core, and slicing into thin, uniform strips. Pat dry if wet.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Drain excess grease if desired, leaving a little for flavor.
Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the beef. Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour over the beef and aromatics and stir to combine.
Add the sliced cabbage to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer for 3-4 minutes until cabbage is wilted and bright green.
Remove the lid. If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered for 1-2 minutes to thicken. Stir in sesame oil and half of the green onions.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat, garnish with remaining green onions and sesame seeds, and serve immediately.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce. For a low-carb/keto version, swap brown sugar for a keto-friendly sweetener and serve over cauliflower rice. Do not overcrowd the pan when browning beef to ensure proper caramelization. Whisk sauce thoroughly to prevent cornstarch clumps.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 1.5 cu
Calories: 375
Sugar: 14
Sodium: 850
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 18
Fiber: 4
Protein: 20

Keywords: Mongolian Ground Beef, Cabbage Recipe, One Skillet Dinner, Weeknight Dinner, Low Carb, Keto Friendly, Easy Beef Recipe, Healthy Dinner