One Pan Cabbage Beef Skillet (Easy Low Carb Dinner)

Easy cabbage recipes are some of my favorite meals to pull together on a busy weeknight, especially when the ground beef and vegetables all cook in one skillet. This One Pan Cabbage Beef Skillet is loaded with fresh veggies, seasoned ground beef, and a layer of melted cheddar on top. It comes together in about thirty minutes, and it is naturally low carb, so it fits right into a keto lifestyle too.

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I have made versions of this dish for years, usually whenever the garden hands us more cabbage and zucchini than we know what to do with. Brown the beef, saute the veggies, stir it all together, and dinner is on the table before anyone asks what’s for dinner three separate times.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One pan, one mess. Everything cooks together, so cleanup stays quick. (I did cook the beef separately as I wanted to drain the fat off, but it still is a a one-pan recipe)
• Low carb and high protein, perfect if your family is watching carbs.
• Loaded with vegetables, so you are getting a full meal in one skillet.
• Ready in about thirty minutes, even on your busiest weeknights.
• Endlessly flexible. Use whatever veggies you have on hand.

Buonpane Family Garden and Farmer’s Market Tradition

We have always grown a vegetable garden here at our house, four good sized raised beds that we fill every spring with cabbage, zucchini, peppers, and whatever else we are craving that year.

There is something about walking outside and picking dinner right off the vine that never gets old, even after all these years, and this skillet is usually the first place that cabbage and zucchini end up.

My husband’s family also owns a vegetable farm, and every single Sunday for the past forty years, we have made the trip to the farmer’s market together.

We fill our baskets with fresh onions, corn on the cob, cucumbers, lettuce, and other seasonal produce we did not grow ourselves that week. This recipe is the result of the garden and the market both providing in the same week. Nothing goes to waste, and the entire family enjoys a wholesome meal.

One Pan Dinners Are a Weeknight Lifesaver

This is the kind of recipe that saves you on those nights when practice runs late or the whole day just got away from you, and trust me, I have had plenty of those nights myself. You start working on a project and the next thing you know, it is past when you wanted to start dinner.

One pan dinners like this let the ground beef and vegetables cook together in the same skillet, so the flavors blend, and the cleanup stays simple. I know your family will ask for this one again. My family always does, and I have to snap a photo to make sure I can repeat how I combined the veggies for the next week.

Ingredients

• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 ear fresh corn, kernels cut from the cob
• 1 medium zucchini (6 to 7 inches), chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
• 1/2 head of medium cabbage, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Ground beef: Ground turkey or ground chicken both work if you want a leaner option.
• Cabbage: Green or savoy cabbage both work well here. Just chop it into bite sized pieces so it cooks evenly.
• Corn: You also have the option to use frozen or canned corn if fresh corn is not in season. About 3/4 cup will do it.
• Cheese: Any melting cheese works. Try Monterey Jack or a Mexican blend if that is what you have on hand.
• Fire-roasted tomatoes: Regular canned diced tomatoes work too, just without that smoky fire roasted flavor.

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Equipment Needed

• Large skillet or sauté pan (cast iron works beautifully here, the two-handle pan I use)
• Separate skillet for browning the beef, optional
• Cutting board and knife
• Wooden spoon

How to Make One Pan Cabbage Beef Skillet

1. Brown the beef. In a large skillet or a smaller separate skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked, about 7 to 8 minutes. Pro tip: Drain any excess grease so your skillet does not turn watery later.
2. Saute the vegetables. While the beef browns, heat the olive oil in your large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, red pepper, corn, and zucchini, and sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
3. Combine the beef and vegetables. Once the beef is cooked, add it to the skillet with the vegetables and stir everything together.
4. Add the tomatoes and seasoning. Pour in the fire roasted tomatoes, then sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Pro tip: Taste and adjust the seasoning here before the cabbage goes in.
5. Add the cabbage. Stir in the chopped cabbage, cover, and let everything cook for about 15 minutes, until the cabbage is tender and wilted.
6. Top with cheese and serve. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the top, cover for another minute or two until melted, and serve warm.

Susan’s Tips and Tricks

• Chop your cabbage into similar sized pieces so it cooks evenly during that 15 minutes.
• If you like more bite to your cabbage, pull it off closer to 10 minutes instead of 15.
• This is a great way to use up whatever vegetables the garden or the market sent home with you that week.

Variations

• Spicy: Add diced jalapeno or a pinch of red pepper flakes with the seasoning for some heat.
• Fresh tomatoes: Swap the canned fire roasted tomatoes for two fresh diced tomatoes when they are in season.
• Dairy free: Leave off the cheese, or use a dairy free shredded cheese alternative.
• Extra veggies: Stir in mushrooms, green beans, or diced yellow squash if you have them on hand.

What to Eat With This Recipe

This one is already a full meal, so it does not need much alongside it. A few ideas if you want to round things out:

• Classic Greek Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing for a fresh, crisp side that balances out the skillet
• Easy Watergate Salad Recipe with Pistachio Pudding if you want a sweet, fun side dish on the table too.
• Easy Box Cake Mix Lemon Poke Cake, for a light dessert to finish the meal

Frequently Asked Questions

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