This ground beef and cabbage Whole30 Stir Fry is an easy, veggie packed dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week! Quick to make and full of savory flavor. Whole30, paleo, gluten free, and soy free!
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, there is just something about a weeknight stir fry that makes healthy cooking so easy & practical!
This Whole30 stir fry relies on simple and inexpensive ingredients like ground beef, cabbage, and broccolini for a complete meal that is full of veggies and so SO flavorful. Even if you’re not doing a Whole30, this recipe is top notch dinner material that the whole family will devour!
If you haven’t cooked much with cabbage, or made a stir fry with cabbage you are in for a T-R-E-A-T. When cooked (especially over somewhat high heat), the cabbage ribbons melt into a sweet and tender version of their formerly crunchy self that you will devour by the forkful. I honestly believe that it is so underrated and the star of the show here!
Why you’ll love this Whole30 ground beef stir fry
This paleo ground beef stir fry is:
- Savory
- Packed with vegetables
- Flavorful
- Easy to make
- Inexpensive
- Nourishing
- Great for leftovers
- SO dang tasty!
Ingredient notes for this healthy ground beef stir fry
(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full recipe!)
- Aromatics – Sesame oil, diced shallots, and chopped garlic create the flavor base for this stir fry.
- Ground beef – I love using ground beef in a stir fry. It is relatively inexpensive, cooks quickly, and all then nooks and crannies creates more space for the delicious stir fry sauce to cling to. You could swap it for ground turkey, pork, or chicken if that’s what you’re into!
- Cabbage – Green, red, or even napa cabbage would all work for this recipe. Keep in mind that red cabbage will stain the rest of the stir fry a dark purple color when cooked, though.
- Broccolini – I love the tender bite of broccolini, but you could also substitute broccoli florets if that’s what you have on hand.
- Simple Whole30 stir fry sauce – Coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, and Whole30 compliant hot sauce make this super simple (& crazy delicious!) stir fry sauce.
How to make this Whole30 Ground Beef Stir Fry
All you need to make this stir fry is 1 pan, and about 30 minutes. Minimal effort and maximum flavor makes this weeknight paleo friendly dinner a big win!
Here’s the step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Prep the ingredients
I am a firm believer that it’s generally a good idea to prep all your ingredients and have them ready on the counter before you start cooking, but this is especially true for a stir fry, because of how fast they cook.
So start by dicing the shallot, chopping the garlic, pulling the ground beef out of the refrigerator, slicing the cabbage into ribbons, cutting the broccolini, and stirring together the easy stir fry sauce in a small bowl.
How to slice cabbage into thin ribbons:
Cut the cabbage in half and reserve the other half for another recipe. Take the remaining half and lay the flat side flat on a large cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice cabbage around the core into roughly 1/4 inch thick ribbons.
Step 2: Cook the ground beef with the aromatics
Head sesame oil over medium high heat in a large saute pan or wok.
Add diced shallot, chopped garlic, and ground beef. Cook, breaking up beef with a spoon until it is completely browned, and shallots and garlic are soft – about 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Add the cabbage
Add cabbage to the skillet and continue to cook, tossing frequently, so the cabbage wilts evenly.
Step 4: Add broccolini and stir fry sauce
When cabbage is wilted and tender – after about 3-5 minutes – add the broccolini and stir fry sauce.
Cook for just another minute or two, stirring frequently, until broccolini is still bright green but tender, and sauce has reduced slightly.
Step 5: Serve!
Season to taste with salt and pepper, top with sesame seeds and serve!
What other types of protein can I use for this recipe?
If ground beef is not your jam you can easily swap it for another type of ground meat. Ground turkey, pork, chicken, or lamb would all be delicious substitutes.
What to serve with this ground beef stir fry
For a delicious Whole30 compliant and paleo option serve this stir fry with cauliflower rice, over a roasted sweet potato, or veggie noodles. And because it’s a balanced meal on it’s own you can also enjoy it all by itself!
If you’re not doing a Whole30 it is also really delicious with rice or rice noodles.
Is this ground beef stir fry healthy?
Yes! This stir fry is a balanced meal complete with protein, and lots of veggies. You can even eat it with cauliflower rice or veggie noodles for an additional boost of nourishing veggies.
This recipe is Whole30 compliant, paleo friendly, gluten free, and soy free.
How to store, re-heat, and freeze this easy Whole30 stir fry
To store: This ground beef stir fry can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To re-heat: To re-heat this Whole30 stir fry, simply heat gently on the stove, stirring frequently, until warm. Or re-heat in the microwave for a minute or two, until heated through.
To freeze: I do not recommend freezing this stir fry. The veggies will get overly soft and watery and it will lose it’s textural appeal.
Love this healthy stir fry? Here’s some other easy Whole30 recipes to try!
- Healthy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken
- Whole30 Cajun Shrimp with Garlic Aioli
- Whole30 Kale Chicken Caesar Salad
- Super Easy Ground Pork and Pea Stir Fry
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Ground Beef and Cabbage Whole30 Stir Fry {whole30 + paleo + gluten free}
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This ground beef and cabbage Whole30 Stir Fry is an easy, veggie packed dinner that’s perfect for any night of the week! Quick to make and full of savory flavor. Whole30, paleo, gluten free, and soy free!
Ingredients
For the stir fry
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 medium shallots, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 small head of green cabbage, cut into thin strips – about 4–5 cups worth total
- 1 bunch broccolini, ends trimmed, tender stems cut into 1/2 inch pieces and florets left whole, or about 3 cups worth of broccoli florets
- black sesame seeds to garnish
- salt and pepper – to taste
For the stir fry sauce
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Whole30 compliant hot sauce (or to taste – optional)
Instructions
- Start by prepping all of your ingredients before you even turn on the stove. Dice the shallot, chop the garlic, pull the ground beef out of the refrigerator, slice the cabbage into ribbons, cut the broccolini, and stir together the easy stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl. To slice cabbage into thin ribbons, cut the cabbage in half and reserve the other half for another recipe. Take the remaining half and lay the flat side flat on a large cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut out the core of the cabbage. Slice remaining cabbage leaves into 1/4 inch thick ribbons.
- Heat sesame oil over medium high heat in a large skillet or wok.
- Add diced shallot, chopped garlic, and ground beef. Cook, breaking up beef with a spoon until it is completely browned, and shallots and garlic are soft – about 3-4 minutes.
- Add cabbage to the skillet and continue to cook, tossing frequently, so the cabbage wilts evenly.
- When cabbage is wilted and tender – after about 3-5 minutes – add the broccolini and stir fry sauce.
- Cook for just another minute or two, stirring frequently, until broccolini is still bright green but tender, and sauce has reduced slightly.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, and top with sesame seeds.
Notes
For a delicious Whole30 compliant and paleo option serve this stir fry with cauliflower rice, over a roasted sweet potato, or veggie noodles. And because it’s a balance meal on it’s own you can also enjoy it all by itself!
If you’re not doing a Whole30 it is also really delicious with rice or rice noodles.
To store:This ground beef stir fry can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To re-heat: To re-heat this Whole30 stir fry, simply heat gently on the stove, stirring frequently, until warm. Or re-heat in the microwave for a minute or two, until heated through.
To freeze: I do not recommend freezing this stir fry. The veggies will get overly soft and watery and it will lose it’s textural appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: stir fry
- Cuisine: asian
Sheri says
We liked the recipe. It is healthy. We combined the recipe with brown rice penne pasta. It was good. I can’t have rice wine vinegar, so I used fresh lemon and used red crushed pepper for the hot sauce. Thank you for sharing.
Nyssa Tanner says
So happy you enjoyed! Substituting fresh lemon and chili flakes sounds absolutely perfect. Thanks for your thoughtful review! Happy cooking – Nyssa
Lindsey says
I love this stir fry and have made it 3 times already, using ground turkey. I find it balanced and satisfying as is, haven’t tried adding rice or anything extra. It’s definitely become a regular in my rotation and now i know I really like cooked cabbage!
Nyssa Tanner says
Ohh yes! Love hearing that you’re enjoying this one and that it turned you into a cooked cabbage lover 🙂 Such an underrated veg! Hooray!!
Alex says
Another delicious and easy recipe by Nyssa. I didn’t have sesame oil on hand, so I used canola oil instead but it was still great. Next time I will try it with the sesame oil.
Nyssa Tanner says
Fantastic! I’m so happy you loved this one! It’s a weeknight favorite at our house for sure 🙂