Looking for a tasty dinner that's quick to make? Try the Tex-Mex Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet! It's yummy, keto-friendly, and ready in less than 30 minutes!
Want to make it even better? Add your favorite toppings like sour cream, green onions, or avocado for a delicious twist! It's an easy way to make dinner awesome!
Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet
Similar to my egg roll in a bowl, and deconstructed cabbage rolls, this skillet meal comes together easy and quick - just 30 minutes from start to finish!
🛒 Ingredients For Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet
- Lean ground beef - I picked 93% lean ground beef because it's lower in fat. But if you're not into beef, you can swap it for turkey or chicken.
- Taco seasoning - Making your own seasoning is easy! Just mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, and a bit of salt for that perfect flavor.
- Salsa - Grab your favorite chunky salsa—about ½ cups. Want more spice? Add extra when serving!
- Black Beans - Beans are awesome for adding protein and fiber. Any kind works, but I like pinto beans best.
- Cabbage - Instead of tortilla chips, I'm adding green cabbage, which makes this dish 100% low-carb. You'll need a small to medium cabbage head. It soaks up all the yummy flavors!
- Cheese - Gooey cheese on top is a must! I went with mozzarella, but cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack works just as well.
- Toppings - This is the fun part! Load up with cilantro, jalapeños, avocado, salsa, and sour cream or Greek yogurt. Yum!
- Onion - Use any variety, but we like regular brown onion or sweet (Vidalia) onion.
💜 Can I Use Red Cabbage? Yes, BUT purple cabbage may leach some color into the rest of your dish.
👩🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.
Toppings
- Personalize Your Meal. Set up small bowls of toppings on the table so everyone can customize their meal.
- Top Picks. Here are some favorites to choose from: cilantro, green onions, avocado slices or guacamole, avocado crema, sour cream, black olive slices, red onion, fresh tomato salsa, or diced tomatoes.
- Add a Twist. Don't forget a squeeze of fresh lime juice to bring all the flavors together.
Substitutions
- No Salsa? No Problem! Don't worry if you're out of salsa; grab a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies instead to give your beef skillet a Rotel-style twist.
- Spice it Up. If you're using diced tomatoes, just add some extra spices to keep it flavorful. And if things start to look dry, a little extra water should do the trick.
🥘 How To Make Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Step By Step
- Cook the ground beef by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it turns brown, then drain the excess fat.
- Mix in salsa and taco seasoning for flavor.
- Add cabbage, black beans, and water to the skillet, stirring well. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
- Let it simmer for 12 minutes until the cabbage is tender.
- Garnish with sour cream, green onions, avocado, or your favorite toppings, and serve warm.
- Remove the skillet from heat, sprinkle cheese on top, and cover to let it melt.
Taco Seasoning
No need to worry if you're missing some ingredients! You can use store-bought taco seasoning or whip up your own blend.
➡️ DIY Taco Seasoning: Mix together chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper for that irresistible taco flavor. It's easy and tastes just as good!
Storing Leftovers
- 🥬To Make Ahead. You can chop the veggies a day in advance and store them in the fridge.
- 🍱To Store. Put any leftovers in a sealed container and keep them in the fridge for up to three days.
- 🥶Freezing. Pop the extra filling into a sealed container that's freezer-safe. It can stay frozen for up to three months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
🍳 Ideas for leftovers
Use the leftovers as a base for breakfast hash and top it with a fried egg. Or mix the meaty filling into an omelet.
How To Reheat Taco Cabbage Dinner
🔥To Reheat. Heat the leftovers gently on the stove or in the oven at 350°F until they're warm. You can also use the microwave for single servings. If it's dry, add a bit of broth or water.
What To Serve With Cabbage Skillet
Try adding some classic side dishes to make your Tex-Mex Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet meal complete. Here's what I love to add:
- Rice, cilantro-lime rice or cauliflower rice.
- Warm tortillas or crispy tortilla chips are great for scooping up the tasty beef and cabbage mix.
- Creamy refried beans, a Tex-Mex favorite, go well with the skillet too.
- Mexican Street Corn.
- Guacamole, avocado crema, salsa, and sour cream add extra flavor and richness to the meal.
- And don't forget taco slaw or a simple side salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, avocado.
How Do You Cut Cabbage For a Skillet Meal?
To cut cabbage for a skillet, follow these steps:
- Remove Outer Leaves: Peel off any wilted or damaged outer leaves.
- Cut in Half: Place the cabbage on a cutting board with the stem side down. Cut it in half from top to bottom.
- Quarter the Cabbage: Cut each half into quarters by slicing down through the stem again.
- Remove the Core: Lay each quarter on its side and cut diagonally to remove the solid white core.
- Shred or Slice: Shred or slice the cabbage into thin strips. Place the quarters flat side down and cut them into thin slices. Or cut them thicker like I did.
Recommended Tools
- Ovenproof Skillet: This skillet will last a lifetime.
- Measuring Spoons: Perfect for anything.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife: An investment piece that will help you prepare ingredients for every recipe.
Related: Air Fryer Beef Meatballs
📖Recipe
Tex-Mex Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet (30 Minute Meal)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, choose leaner
- 2 tablespoons olive oil , or your preferred cooking oil
- ½ cup salsa, pick your favorite kind
- 4-5 cups cabbage, shredded
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 3 tablespoons water
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or your favorite cheese
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup canned black beans
Optional garnishes:
- sour cream, green onions, avocado, tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it turns brown, then drain the excess fat. Mix in salsa and taco seasoning for flavor.1 pound ground beef, ½ cup salsa, 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add cabbage, black beans, and water to the skillet, stirring well. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Let it simmer for 12 minutes until the cabbage is tender.4-5 cups cabbage, salt and black pepper, ½ cup canned black beans, 3 tablespoons water
- Remove the skillet from heat, sprinkle cheese on top, and cover to let it melt.¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Garnish with sour cream, green onions, avocado, or your favorite toppings, if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
🤷 Cabbage and Ground Beef Skillet: Frequently Asked Questions
First, cut the cabbage in half from top to bottom. Then, cut each half into quarters.
Lay each quarter on its side and cut diagonally to remove the solid white core. Repeat this for all the quarters.
Yes, you should wash cabbage before using it. Remove any wilted outer leaves, rinse the whole cabbage under cold water, and rinse again after cutting it into quarters.
To cook ground beef really fine, break it up as it cooks. Use a potato masher or a fork to stir and mash the beef constantly in the skillet until it is browned and finely crumbled.
DIY Taco Seasoning: Mix together chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper for that irresistible taco flavor. It's easy and tastes just as good!
To keep ground beef from drying out, choose a higher fat content, like 80/20 or 85/15. Cook it just until it's browned and no longer pink, and avoid overcooking.
enjoy a delicious one pot tex mex cabbage and ground beef meal. We make it all the time!
Rita, thanks for sharing this tex-mex beef and cabbage skillet recipe. Always hunting for 30-min meals that the kids will actually eat. Excited to try this one tonight!
Can you recommend a good substitute for ground beef in this recipe? Looking to keep it high protein but lighter. Thanks!
lean beef is great option, but turkey or chicken will work too!
just made this cabbage skillet for my roomies and it was a hit. super easy to make and even better cause we had all ingredients on hand. will def make again 🙂
thank you Cassie!
It was delicious, making it again tonight!
thank you Greg!
Loved that you added substitution suggestions, Rita. For anyone interested, lentils are a great plant-based protein that works well with this kind of dish!
I love this idea!
This recipe's so easy, even I can't mess it up - and that's saying something! Guess it's time to beef up my cooking skills, cabbage patch style!
thank you Derrick!
I loved this salad Rita, everyone asked for a recipe. Perfect for summer!
thank you Samantha!