Looking for a quick, affordable, and flavorful dinner? This Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is one of those back-pocket recipes you’ll turn to again and again. It’s packed with tender cabbage, savory ground beef, and tossed in a simple homemade sauce that’s sweet, savory, and just a little zippy.
It’s ready in under 30 minutes, uses budget-friendly ingredients, and hits all the comfort food notes. Whether you serve it over rice, noodles, or wrap it in lettuce for a low-carb option, this dish is endlessly versatile and seriously satisfying.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Budget-friendly: Ground beef and cabbage are both inexpensive and go a long way.
- Fast and easy: Dinner’s on the table in about 30 minutes.
- Packed with flavor: Hoisin, peanut butter, and soy sauce make a rich, crave-worthy stir fry sauce.
- Customizable: Add more veggies or spice it up as you like.
- Meal prep friendly: Great for leftovers the next day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Stir Fry:
- Ground Beef – Use extra-lean ground beef for less grease, or any ground meat you have on hand.
- Green Cabbage – Roughly chopped. A small head gives you plenty.
- Onion – Sweet onions like Vidalia work well here.
- Garlic – Fresh and aromatic, use more if you’re a garlic fan.
- Ginger – Adds that zesty, fresh bite. Fresh is best!
For the Sauce:
- Hoisin Sauce – A sweet and savory base, like an Asian-style BBQ sauce.
- Peanut Butter – Use creamy peanut butter for the best consistency.
- Soy Sauce – Adds umami and depth. Low sodium works, too.
- Sriracha – Not enough to make it spicy, just enough to boost flavor. Add more if you love heat!
How to Make It
Prep the veggies:
Roughly chop the cabbage and onion. No need for perfect knife work here—rustic is fine.
Cook the beef:
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add garlic and ginger, cook for 30 seconds.
Add the veggies:
Toss in the chopped cabbage and onion. Stir-fry until the cabbage softens and the onions are translucent, about 6–8 minutes.
Make the sauce:
Stir in hoisin, peanut butter, soy sauce, and sriracha. Toss everything together until the sauce coats the beef and cabbage evenly.
Serve:
Serve hot over rice, noodles, or on its own. Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped scallions, if desired.
Tips for Success
- Use room temp peanut butter so it mixes easily into the sauce.
- Thin the sauce with a splash of water if it seems too thick.
- Cook the cabbage to your liking—a little crunch or more tender, both are delicious.
- Fresh ginger can be stored in the freezer and grated straight from frozen—it’s a game changer!
Substitutions and Variations
- Switch up the veggies: Add shredded carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas.
- Use ground turkey, pork, or chicken if you don’t have beef.
- Make it spicy: Add more sriracha or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Go low-carb: Skip the rice and serve in lettuce wraps or over cauliflower rice.
What to Serve With Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
- Jasmine or Basmati Rice – A classic, fluffy base.
- Ramen or Udon Noodles – Soak up all that saucy goodness.
- Lettuce Wraps – For a fun, hands-on, low-carb option.
- Steamed Dumplings or Spring Rolls – For a takeout-style dinner at home.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! This stir fry holds up well in the fridge for 2–3 days. Just reheat gently in a skillet or microwave.
Can I freeze it?
It’s best fresh. The cabbage doesn’t freeze and thaw well—it can get mushy.
Is it spicy?
Not as written. The sriracha adds flavor more than heat, but feel free to adjust up or down.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely. Just use a large enough skillet or cook in two batches for best results.
Final Thoughts
This Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is the kind of dinner that keeps things simple but still delivers big on flavor. It’s a no-fuss recipe with ingredients you probably already have—and it’s endlessly adaptable.
Perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or just when you’re craving something savory and satisfying without a lot of effort. Once you make it, it’ll earn a regular spot in your rotation.
Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
Looking for a quick, affordable, and flavorful dinner? This Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is one of those back-pocket recipes you’ll turn to again and again.
Ingredients
- 4 cups green cabbage chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 3 heaping tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sriracha sauce or more to taste
Instructions
- Chop the cabbage and onion.
- Add the ground beef to a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook it, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along, until it's just browned (about 5-6 minutes). I don't drain the little bit of fat released, but if you use fattier ground beef, you may want to spoon some of it out.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add in the cabbage and onion and continue sautéing, stirring occasionally, for another 8-10 minutes or until the cabbage is softened to your liking and the onions are cooked.
- Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the hoisin sauce, peanut butter, soy sauce, and sriracha sauce. Feel free to taste it then add more of any ingredient you choose if needed. Serve immediately. I like to serve it over rice.
- I garnished with scallions mostly to add some color to the photos, that's totally optional.
Notes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce if sensitive to salt.
- If the sauce looks too thick, simply thin it out with a tablespoon or so of water.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 351Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 101mgSodium 849mgCarbohydrates 21gFiber 4gSugar 10gProtein 40g
dinnerbytes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although dinnerbytes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
