Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
This skillet recipe with ground beef, cabbage and potatoes is an easy way to make a simple and satisfying meal quickly.
Ground Beef Cabbage and Potatoes Recipe
With a beefy flavor in every bite, sliced cabbage and tender potatoes coated with a slightly sweet tomato sauce this skillet meal is enjoyable. This is a great meal with or without the potatoes.
Similar to our Hamburger and Cabbage Casserole, fresh ingredients make these old-fashioned meals just as delicious to today as they’ve ever been.
Begin by browning the ground beef and par cooking the potatoes. Then mix all of the ingredients together in a skillet to create a casserole like meal that cooks in 20 minutes.
Also known as a Hamburger Hash, which is a skillet meal using hamburger, cabbage and potatoes this dish is a great way to transform leftover ingredients into a new meal.
Through testing this recipe we learned that the potatoes take longer than any other ingredient to cook, so begin with partially cooked potatoes. Starting with fully cooked potatoes can save time if they are available.
Why This Recipe Works:
- A healthy skillet meal using fresh, unprocessed ingredients is a great way to feed the family.
- This recipe is a great way to use up leftover ingredients or help clean out the refrigerator and pantry.
- There’s lots of fiber and nutrients from using cabbage, potatoes and onions.
- Comes together quickly on a weeknight when the schedule is busy.
If you like this recipe you may also like our French Onion Beef and Rice Casserole, this flavorful Spam Fried Rice, or our Hamburger Noodle Skillet Meal.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Beef – One pound creates the right blend in this skillet meal. We like to use lean ground beef and drain well.
- Potatoes – Peeled and cubed into 1/2″ pieces or smaller. Using 1 to 2 cups of frozen diced hash brown potatoes can save time after defrosting.
- Onion – A white or yellow onion is what we typically use.
- Tomato Sauce – One can adds a light and natural sweetness to all of the ingredients.
- Beef Broth – Provides a depth of flavor and moisture that will steam out as the skillet cooks.
Another easy skillet recipe with fresh veggies is our Sautéed Zucchini and Squash.
How To Make Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Brown ground beef with chopped onion, drain and set aside.
If including potatoes in this ground beef and cabbage skillet the potatoes need to be par cooked first.
We like to begin softening potatoes over medium heat in hamburger grease or a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Cook for about ten minutes.
Then add shredded cabbage and season with salt and pepper.
This is a good time to add garlic powder or other seasonings that you may like. We prefer to stick with basic flavors.
Return cooked and crumbled hamburger to the skillet.
Pour tomato sauce on top.
Stir all of the ingredients together.
Then add beef broth. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Remove the lid and stir once or twice.
The total cooking time is about 20 minutes. Most of the broth will be evaporated and the cabbage will be tender.
Taste to determine if additional seasoning is necessary. Serve immediately while warm.
Recipe Tips & Tricks for making Hamburger and Cabbage
- More than 20 minutes in the skillet over medium heat and the moisture seems to evaporate while the potatoes and meat burn.
- Our original old-fashioned recipe from a neighbor said to layer the ingredients in the skillet, but after multiple tests we found that stirring everything together works best to evenly cook the ingredients.
- To substitute 1 cup of rice for the potatoes be sure there is a total of 30 ounces of liquid between tomato sauce and beef broth.
- Use a large, deep skillet to have enough room to stir all of the ingredients. We enjoy serving with a beautiful olive wood spoon.
- Potatoes can be par cooked in the microwave, skillet, by boiling or use leftover cooked potatoes.
- A couple tablespoons of red wine or balsamic vinegar can also add a nice flavor to this meal.
More Easy Family Meals:
- One Pot Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
- Ground Beef Pot Pie Casserole
- Sloppy Joes for a Crowd recipe
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups potatoes 1/2" or smaller cubes
- 2 small onions chopped
- 6 – 7 cups cabbage shredded, about 1/2 head
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Brown hamburger and onion, drain and set aside.
- Begin to cook potatoes in a teaspoon or two of hamburger grease for 10 – 15 minutes over medium heat. Stir often. The potatoes should be nearly softened, but not all the way.
- Add thinly sliced cabbage and season with salt and pepper.
- Add cooked beef, onions, and tomato sauce to the skillet and stir well.
- Continue to cook over medium heat, add beef broth and cover.
- Stir once or twice while cooking to flip the ingredients on the bottom. Keep covered and cook for 20 minutes until all ingredients are tender. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Potatoes are an optional ingredient that can be par cooked in the microwave, skillet, by boiling or use leftover cooked potatoes.
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This was a simple, healthy, and tasty dish to make. I will surely be making it often.
I’ve always made this when my kids were young and low on funds. I’ve never used tomato sauce, just vinegar.
This was absolutely incredible!! My whole family loved this! I replaced broth water and replaced the tomato sauce with ketchup, it was so sweet and savory. This will be made at least once a week!
I’m an senior this is an easy recipe for me and my room mate, it is really good and look forward to other recipes I have a family reunion coming up have no idea what to cook if you have an easy recipe I would appreciate it.
Thank you! Here’s a list of our favorites: https://plowingthroughlife.com/midwest-potluck-recipes/ Hope you find more recipes to enjoy 🙂
I made this, it is pretty good. I never tried cabbage with tomatoes but I like it. If you wanted to tone down the acid maybe add a little brown sugar. I might try adding a little onion or garlic powder. I am also adding a little more beef boullian. Thanks.
I used O’Brian potatoes and shredded some carrots with the cabbage. Also added a few shakes of Worcestershire. I’ll definitely make this again.
Thanks so much for this note! Love these additions!!