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You are here: Home / Main dish / Tasty Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Tasty Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

March 3, 2022 By Joe Boyle 68 Comments

3.3K shares
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Last Updated on June 25, 2025

Ground beef and cabbage are a terrific combination of flavors. Add a couple of unique spices, and you’ve got a simple, healthy casserole dish with great flavor. Using lean ground beef keeps the calories lower, too.

Overhead view of cabbage and ground beef recipe.

 

Jump To Contents:

Toggle
  • Ingredients for the Beef and Cabbage Skillet
  • How To Prepare the Cabbage
  • How to Make Ground Beef and Cabbage
  • Variations to Try
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Final Thoughts
  • Here Are Some More Tasty Recipes
  • Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I thought it would be fun to make a cabbage recipe without corned beef for a change. Don’t get me wrong — I love corned beef and cabbage — but I wanted to try something different. Lean ground beef makes a great substitute, and combined with a tomato-based sauce, it reminded me a little of tomato soup. I even borrowed the spice blend from my Tomato Bisque Recipe for this one.

The result? A unique, delicious, comforting hamburger cabbage recipe your whole family will enjoy.

Ingredients for the Beef and Cabbage Skillet

  • Lean ground beef
  • Small head of cabbage
  • Medium onion
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Beef broth
  • Butter
  • Dried dill
  • Dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • Sour cream
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
Head of cabbage being cut up.

 

How To Prepare the Cabbage

For this recipe, I wanted the cabbage to be the star, so I kept the pieces fairly large. Here’s how I prepped it:

  1. Cut off the stem and remove 4–5 large outer leaves.

  2. Slice the head lengthwise through the core into quarters.

  3. Trim out the tough core.

  4. To steady the wedge for cutting, trim the point if necessary.

  5. Cut each wedge into 4–5 strips, then chop into ½”–¾” pieces, removing any large veins.

Wedges of cabbage being cut up.
Slices of a wedge of cabbage.

Note: Next time, I might try shredding the cabbage with a mandoline for a different texture. Feel free to use whichever method you prefer.

 

Dutch oven on the burner with browned ground beef, diced tomato, and spices.

 

How to Make Ground Beef and Cabbage

Use a large, high-sided skillet or Dutch oven (at least 4 quarts) with a lid.

Brown the beef:
Cook ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon until browned. If there’s excess fat, spoon it off.

Add onion:
Stir in the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.

Add liquids and spices:
Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan’s bottom. Stir in the spices and butter, then bring to a boil.

Cabbage in the dutch oven ready to be cooked.

 

Add cabbage:
Stir in all the cabbage. Reduce the heat to a simmer and partially cover the pan. Steam for about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes so the cabbage cooks evenly.

Sour cream being added to the cabbage and ground beef.

 

Finish the dish:
Once the cabbage is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated (leave about 1–2 tablespoons), stir in the sour cream and combine well. Serve hot.

Variations to Try

Protein swaps: Use ground turkey, chicken, Italian sausage, or add chopped bacon.

Add-ins: Shredded carrots, green bell pepper, green onions, or top with shredded cheddar.

Flavor tweak: Substitute Rotel for diced tomatoes for a little kick.

Close-up view of the hamburger and cabbage dish.

 

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This dish reheats beautifully in the microwave and tastes just as good the next day. To stretch it, toss in some cooked egg noodles before reheating for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will cabbage last in the refrigerator?

If the head of cabbage is raw and uncut, it should last for up to two weeks if wrapped in plastic wrap. If the cabbage has been cut, it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and used within 3 day’s time.

What goes with Ground Beef and Cabbage?

A side dish of garden vegetables like green beans, peas, corn, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts would be perfect with this meal. Also consider a fresh garden greens salad on the side.

Cabbage and ground beef in the skillet ready to eat.

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving a hearty, budget-friendly dish that’s packed with flavor, give this cabbage and hamburger meat recipe a try. It’s simple, healthy, and sure to become a family favorite.

Here Are Some More Tasty Recipes:

  • Crepes St. Jacques
  • Dinner ideas with Hamburger and potatoes
  • Wicked good fish tacos
  • Shrimp and sausage stew
Overhead view of ground beef and cabbage.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe

Healthy recipe that is satisfying but is low in calories and high in nutrition.
4.84 from 36 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef and cabbage, cabbage and hamburger meat recipe, ground beef and cabbage, hamburger cabbage recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 249kcal
Author: Joe Boyle

Ingredients

  • 1 head cabbage, 2 to 2.5 pounds
  • 1 lbs. lean ground beef, 92%
  • 1 med. yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup beef broth, I used Better Than Bouillon beef base
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tbsp. dried dill
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1.5 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
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Instructions

  • Section the head of cabbage and remove the outer leaves and the core. Chop into bite-sized pieces or use a mandoline to shred the cabbage. You should end up with 1 1/2 to 2-pounds of cabbage.
  • Using a 4 quart dutch oven or other pot with a lid, brown the ground beef and break it up into small pieces. Once the meat is browned, remove any fat that might have rendered using a spoon. Then add the chopped onion and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Next, add the beef broth and diced tomatoes and the liquid in the can. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Then stir in the spices and butter. Bring the pot to a boil.
  • Place all of the chopped cabbage into the pot, lower the heat to a simmer and cover with a cocked lid. This will allow the liquids to evaporate. Steam the cabbage for 20 minutes until it is soft, stirring the cabbage and turning every 5 minutes to ensure it is cooked evenly throughout the pot.
  • Once the cabbage is tender, add the sour cream and stir it in until fully dissolved into the dish. Serve the ground beef and cabbage hot.

Notes

  1. Substitute ground beef with ground chicken or turkey. Also Italian sausage could be used.
  2. Additional vegetables could also be added. Green bell pepper, shredded carrot, green onions, or chopped fennel.
  3. Make a spicy dish by substituting Rotel for the diced tomatoes. 
  4. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Reheat in a microwave oven. Leftovers can also be frozen in an airtight container for 4 to 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal
 

Ground beef and cabbage collage for Pinterest.
 
Ground beef and cabbage recipe collage for Pinterest.
 
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Filed Under: Beef, Main dish, meats

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jason D Neel

    May 19, 2025 at 6:06 pm

    5 stars
    I’m on Keto so burger and cabbage are great for me. I love this recipe! I almost found that it has a vibe of being like a vegetable version of stroganoff where the cabbage replaces the noodles. I found it pretty amazing.

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      May 19, 2025 at 8:23 pm

      Thank you Jason, glad you like it.

      Reply
  2. Belinda M Griffin

    April 13, 2025 at 2:34 pm

    When adding 1/2 cup of Better
    Than Bullion do you add water or straight 1/2 cup of the Bullion?

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      April 14, 2025 at 12:23 am

      Hi Belinda, That would be 1/2 cup of water that is mixed with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of bouillon base.

      Reply
      • Belinda M Griffin

        May 25, 2025 at 5:31 pm

        5 stars
        Thank you. My husband and I love your recipe!

        Reply
        • Joe Boyle

          May 25, 2025 at 5:46 pm

          Thank you Belinda! Enjoy!

          Reply
  3. Noelle

    January 12, 2025 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    This dish turned out absolutely amazing. I used tomato bouillon chicken from knorr because it is what I had on hand. I figured it would be good since I was adding my canned tomatoes anyway.
    It’s just perfect. Zippy, healthy, filling and very nice looking.
    Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. Wish I could have posted a picture though. 😋

    Hans and Noelle
    @dustybritchesfarms

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      January 12, 2025 at 8:06 pm

      Hi Noelle,
      Thank you for the nice comment!

      Reply
  4. teresa kohan

    July 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    This was so yummy, simple to make and I was asked for recipe. I froze some left-overs (we were going on a trip).

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      July 10, 2024 at 3:46 pm

      Thank you for the nice comment Teresa.

      Reply
  5. Nicole

    June 19, 2024 at 6:43 pm

    This is one of my husband’s and my favorite meals!! We make this so often and never get tired of it! It is so good! Just finished making it again for dinner tonight. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      June 19, 2024 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you Nicole. Glad you like it!

      Reply
  6. Sibly

    February 17, 2024 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    This was great! I added two shredded carrots and a few chopped mushrooms but other than that followed the recipe. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Joe Boyle

      February 17, 2024 at 10:10 pm

      Thank you for the nice comment Sibly.

      Reply
  7. Jan

    December 12, 2023 at 9:11 pm

    5 stars
    I made it for dinner tonight. My wife say’s it’s the best that I’ve made in 21 years of marriage, so far. This was a winner! I used a whole head of Cabbage, 2 lbs ground burger, 2 green peppers, one onion, I had a pint of home made turkey stock, that I added and a can of diced tomatoes with the juice. Seasoning was spot on. It was very juicy, so I took out about 2 cups of liquid and let the rest evaporate off. I think there was about a cup of juice left, but it was very tasty. I will diffidently be making this again.

    Reply
    • Joe

      December 12, 2023 at 9:21 pm

      Hi Jan,
      Thank you for the nice comment. Glad that you liked the recipe.
      Joe

      Reply
  8. Valerie

    November 28, 2023 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    Another winner! Perfect for a cold autumn day and the flavor profile with the dill and sour cream knocks it out of the park. My husband has asked for this to be on our regular meal rotation (and, since this is the third winner recipe we’ve had from this website, started asking, “Who is this Joe? Are all of his recipes this good?”). lol!

    Reply
    • Joe

      November 28, 2023 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Valerie,
      Thank you for the great comment. Just keep trying recipes!
      Joe

      Reply
  9. Martie

    August 29, 2023 at 9:19 pm

    1 star
    For me, this was like a watery dill soup. I did not like this at all.

    Reply
    • Joe

      August 30, 2023 at 12:17 am

      Hi Martie,

      Sorry to hear that. It would be watery if the broth and tomatoes are not boiled down enough. I let it cook for about 20 minutes before adding the sour cream. I should mention in the recipe that the liquid should be reduced to about 2 tablespoons or less before adding the sour cream. Yes, watery dill soup does not sound appealing. Thank you for bringing this up.

      Joe

      Reply
  10. Bonnie

    August 8, 2023 at 2:33 pm

    4 stars
    Ok, I made this today. Has a good taste with plenty to share. The only thing I found was that it was a little to watery. I think I’ll for go the extra cup of water next time.

    Reply
  11. Sherry

    July 24, 2023 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my! This was the best cabbage dish I have ever made and I have made alot of them! The sour cream and dill were what put it over the top. Good job Joe!

    Reply
    • Joe

      July 24, 2023 at 7:17 pm

      Thank you Sherry and thanks for taking the time to comment.

      Joe

      Reply
  12. Ally

    July 10, 2023 at 8:21 pm

    5 stars
    This is one of the best cabbage dishes I’ve ever had!

    Reply
    • Joe

      July 10, 2023 at 8:45 pm

      Thank you Ally!

      Reply
  13. Diane

    May 4, 2023 at 4:50 pm

    This is such a great recip!. I’ve made it 5 times already. And like American Chop suey it’s much better the next day. Which is why I double the recipe. Don’t have to change anything it’s perfect as written.,

    Reply
    • Joe

      May 4, 2023 at 8:02 pm

      Thank you Diane…glad you like it! Joe

      Reply
  14. Marty

    March 30, 2023 at 9:52 am

    WOW!!! This is great, Joe!!! I added 1 red bell pepper, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1 shredded carrot, 8 oz. of cremini mushrooms, and sprinkled cilantro on top.

    Marty

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 30, 2023 at 9:54 am

      Thanks Marty. Nice additions.

      Reply
  15. Deb

    March 27, 2023 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    Great for today- a cold snowy day in Colorado. I only had about 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes left from a different recipe so I added a little canned pizza sauce. Then decided shredded white Italian blend cheese with spices would taste good before adding the sour cream. Yes to good fat and that is a myth anyway about saturated fat and been disproved by research – just look up The Big Fat Surprise book by Nina Teicholz! This recipe was so simple and delicious! Reminds me of making a deconstructed stuffed pepper dish. Thank for the small touches that make this yummy (like the dill!)

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 27, 2023 at 1:58 pm

      Hi Deb,
      Thank you for the thoughtful comment. I’m glad that you made this simple recipe work with what you have. And I agree. The dill makes the dish yummy. Thank you.
      Joe

      Reply
  16. Jennifer Jeanson

    March 26, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! And yet so simple to make which is even better.

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 26, 2023 at 7:45 pm

      Thanks Jennifer, I’m glad that you tried and liked my recipe.

      Joe

      Reply
  17. Dojo

    March 18, 2023 at 8:33 am

    Healthy? Ground Beef AND Butter?

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 19, 2023 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Dojo,
      This may not be healthy for your diet, and that’s okay. I think that a serving that totals 249 calories with 42% daily value of protein and 18% of fiber and 127% of vitamin C can’t be all bad. And it tastes like comfort food. That’s a win for me.
      Joe

      Reply
  18. Michelle

    March 15, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    This was simple and delicious. I made it exactly as written and we all loved it. Thank you for an easy weeknight meal idea!

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 15, 2023 at 8:37 pm

      Hi Michelle,
      Thank you for the comment and glad that you liked it.
      Joe

      Reply
  19. Phyllis

    March 8, 2023 at 9:00 pm

    4 stars
    Good recipe and will likely repeat, but will leave out sour cream next time. For some reason, the cabbage and sour cream didn’t work for me.

    Reply
  20. Gloria

    March 8, 2023 at 3:28 pm

    5 stars
    This is delicious. Make it every couple months. Family loves it! I use green and red cabbage.

    Reply
    • Joe

      March 8, 2023 at 4:18 pm

      Hi Gloria. Thank you for the nice comment.

      Reply
  21. Daray

    February 14, 2023 at 1:31 pm

    5 stars
    I am LOVING this! I have leftovers for lunch a couple of times already. It is so yummy!

    Reply
    • Joe

      February 14, 2023 at 3:07 pm

      Hi Daray,

      I’m glad that you like the recipe. Thanks for the nice comment.

      Joe

      Reply
  22. Janet

    February 6, 2023 at 2:38 pm

    Can this be frozen & baked later?

    Reply
    • Joe

      February 6, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      Hi Janet,

      Yes, this would be fine to freeze. Make the dish up to the point of adding the sour cream. Let it cool, then place it into a greased casserole dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or other semi-airtight plastic. Reheat it, covered to retain moisture. I would use 375° for 15 to 25 minutes. Finally, stir in the sour cream. I hope this answers your question.

      Joe

      Reply
  23. Aurora

    January 7, 2023 at 7:13 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe Joe, it was amazing! I really loved the notes at the end as well.

    Reply
    • Joe

      January 7, 2023 at 7:36 pm

      Hi Aurora,

      Thank you for the nice comment. Glad you liked the recipe.

      Joe

      Reply
  24. Darleen

    December 28, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    5 stars
    Delish

    Reply
    • Joe

      December 28, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      Thanks Darleen. I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply
  25. Dawn

    December 20, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    I just made this it is delicious amazing and easy too Thanks

    Reply
    • Joe

      December 20, 2022 at 8:24 pm

      Thank you Dawn, I’m glad you liked my recipe.

      Reply
  26. mol

    November 13, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    Loved it. Made a couple modifications because didn’t have everything. Omitted the dill because my guy doesn’t like dill. Didn’t have sour cream and used leftover cream cheese. Used leftover spaghetti sauce instead of tomato sauce. 1st time cooking with cabbage, TY! TY! TY!

    Reply
    • Joe

      November 13, 2022 at 10:47 pm

      Thanks for the comment. Glad that you made it work for you.

      Reply
  27. Emily Ipsen

    November 11, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious AND EASY!! I added carrots and could have added some zucchini
    and potatoes. It’s great…my husband loved it as well. It could be served to a group
    on a cold winter day. I served it in soup bowls and found that the recipe served 5
    generously.

    Reply
    • Joe

      November 11, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      Hi Emily,

      I’m so glad that you liked my recipe. And thank you for taking the time to make a nice comment.

      Joe

      Reply
  28. Pat

    October 26, 2022 at 12:47 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent!

    Reply
    • Joe

      October 26, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      Thank you Pat.

      Reply
  29. Candy

    August 30, 2022 at 3:39 pm

    5 stars
    The dill weed and sour cream MAKE this recipe! Do not leave them out! I thought they both sounded a little strange, and I thought about leaving the sour cream out. I tasted it without and it was good. I put a little in a bowl and added a dab of sour cream and then it was GREAT! So in went a heaping half cup since I had added quite a few grated carrots and some rice I’d cooked in a cup of beef bullion water. I didn’t use the oregano because I wasn’t in the mood for Italian flavor. Sooo good! Thank you. Gonna serve with crescent rolls. Oh, and I tried a little with cheese because I like cheese on everything, but I actually liked it better without! I’ll let people add their own if they want it.

    Reply
    • Joe

      August 30, 2022 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Candy,

      Thanks for trying my recipe and for the nice comment. The way you altered the recipe sounds great.

      Joe

      Reply
  30. Tiffany

    June 30, 2022 at 7:48 pm

    5 stars
    I didn’t have dill but so glad I made this anyways! Absolutely love it, perfect and easy comfort food. Thanks for the recipe Joe❤️

    Reply
    • Joe

      June 30, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      Hi Tiffany,

      I’m happy that you liked my recipe. Easy comfort food is right.

      Joe

      Reply
  31. Kathy Holley

    May 10, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    Excellent. I will definitely make this over and over. Love the hint of dill..

    Reply
    • Joe

      May 10, 2022 at 10:04 pm

      Hi Kathy,

      Thank you for the nice comment. Glad that you liked the recipe.

      Joe

      Reply
  32. Kristin Nelson

    April 16, 2022 at 11:18 am

    5 stars
    I love cooked cabbage! This is perfect comfort food.

    Reply
  33. Amy

    April 7, 2022 at 7:33 am

    5 stars
    Anything with cabbage is good for me! And easy and delicious to make meat free with veggie stock and a can or two of beans in place of beef. Cheap and delicious comfort food!

    Reply
  34. MaryJo

    April 6, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    5 stars
    It may not look super fancy, but this is a tasty dish, with lots of flavor. And leftovers are great for lunch the next day.

    Reply
    • Deborah Hamilton

      March 7, 2023 at 12:21 pm

      I added mushrooms and substituted greek yogurt and cream cheese for the sour cream. Everyone loved it. So good and keto too!

      Reply
  35. Josie

    April 6, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good! Kind of like stuffed cabbage but way easier and the herbs make it so much better! Total comfort food.

    Reply
    • Joe

      April 6, 2022 at 11:31 pm

      Hi Josie,

      Thank you for the nice comment. Glad that you liked it.

      Joe

      Reply
4.84 from 36 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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