Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage Easy Recipe is your weeknight savior, offering a nourishing and budget-friendly meal that’s surprisingly quick to prepare. This delicious dish transforms humble ingredients into a comforting and satisfying experience, perfect for busy families or anyone seeking a wholesome meal without the fuss.
Key Ingredients for Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, basil, and thyme)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)
- 1 medium head of cabbage, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (for garnish, optional)
How to Make Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage
This Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage Easy Recipe is a culinary marvel of simplicity, proving that nutritious and incredibly flavorful meals can be made in under an hour. Its magic lies in the harmonious blend of savory ground beef, tender cabbage, and a rich, subtly seasoned tomato broth. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can whip up a satisfying dish that tastes like it simmered for hours, with a preparation time of just about 15 minutes and a cooking time of around 30 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s browned and no pink remains. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Season the Mixture: Sprinkle the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the beef and onion mixture. Stir well to combine and distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Add Cabbage and Liquids: Add the thinly sliced cabbage to the skillet. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together to ensure the cabbage is somewhat submerged in the liquid.
- Simmer and Cook: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender but still has a slight bite. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the mixture and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can uncover the skillet for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
- Serve: Ladle the Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage into bowls. If desired, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and garnish with fresh parsley or chives before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage
You’ll absolutely adore this Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage Easy Recipe for its sheer simplicity and deeply satisfying flavor profile. It’s the ultimate comfort food reimagined, boasting tender, flavorful ground beef nestled amongst wilted, savory cabbage in a light, perfectly seasoned broth. Unlike more complex stews or casseroles, this dish comes together with minimal effort, making it an economical and speedy solution for busy weeknights. Plus, the subtle warmth from the seasonings and the optional kick from red pepper flakes, all enhanced by the umami of Worcestershire sauce, create a taste that will have you coming back for more.
Forget the time commitment of traditional slow-cooked meals; this recipe delivers a similar level of deliciousness in a fraction of the time, proving you don’t need hours to create a hearty and wholesome family dinner. It’s a fantastic alternative to dishes like shepherd’s pie or goulash when you’re short on time but craving something warm and comforting. So, gather your ingredients, and give this incredibly easy and flavorful Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage a try tonight – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips
- Refrigeration: Allow the Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage to cool completely before storing. Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, spoon a portion into a microwave-safe bowl and heat on medium power, stirring halfway through, until heated through. Alternatively, gently reheat in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of water or broth if it seems too dry.
- Freezing: For longer storage, cool the dish completely and transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as directed above.
Final Thoughts
This Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage Easy Recipe truly delivers on its promise of a delicious, quick, and budget-friendly meal. It’s a fantastic way to incorporate vegetables into your diet without sacrificing flavor or time, so don’t hesitate to give it a go your next busy weeknight!
Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage Easy Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s browned and no pink remains. Drain off any excess grease.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.1 medium onion, 1 pound lean ground beef, 2 cloves garlic
- Sprinkle the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the beef and onion mixture. Stir well to combine and distribute the seasonings evenly.1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 medium onion
- Add the thinly sliced cabbage to the skillet. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together to ensure the cabbage is somewhat submerged in the liquid.1 medium head cabbage, 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender but still has a slight bite. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Taste the mixture and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can uncover the skillet for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Ladle the Healthy Ground Beef Cabbage into bowls. If desired, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and garnish with fresh parsley or chives before serving.1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, Fresh parsley or chives