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Home » Quick and Easy Recipes

GROUND BEEF TACO CABBAGE SKILLET

Updated: May 4, 2026 · Published: Feb 19, 2025 by Sana Umer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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This Ground Beef Taco Cabbage Skillet is a weeknight dinner champion! It's a quick, easy, and healthy one-pan meal that's bursting with flavour.

Imagine savoury ground beef seasoned with your favourite taco spices, mingling with tender, slightly sweet cabbage, all cooked together in a single skillet.

It's a delicious and satisfying dish that's perfect for busy weeknights, offering a low-carb alternative to traditional tacos without sacrificing any of the flavor.

This recipe provides a straightforward guide, ensuring your ground beef taco cabbage skillet turns out perfectly every time, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser ready to tantalize your taste buds.

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

  • Quick and Easy: This skillet meal is ready in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

  • Healthy and Nutritious: Packed with protein and vegetables, this dish is a balanced and healthy meal option.

  • Flavorful and Customizable: The taco seasoning adds a burst of flavour, and you can easily customize it with your favourite toppings.

  • One-Pan Meal: Minimal cleanup is required, making this a convenient and easy weeknight dinner.

  • Low-Carb and gluten-free diet: This recipe is naturally low-carb and gluten-free, making it suitable for various dietary restrictions.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper (any colour), chopped
  • 1 head of cabbage, shredded (about 6 cups)
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado, cilantro, lime wedges

Directions:

  • Step 1: Brown the Beef:
    Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (preferably a cast-iron skillet or a large, deep skillet) over medium-high heat.

  • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.

  • Step 2: Add Onion and Pepper:
    Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened about 5-7 minutes.

  • Step 3: Add Cabbage and Seasoning:
    Add the shredded cabbage to the skillet and cook until slightly wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning and water.

  • Bring to a simmer and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.

  • Step 4: Season and Serve:
    Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with your favourite taco toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Serving and Storage:

Serving:

Ground Beef Taco Cabbage Skillet is best served hot, straight from the skillet. It's a perfect meal on its own or can be served with warm tortillas for a more traditional taco experience.

Storage:

  • Refrigerating: Store leftover skillet in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

  • Reheating: Reheat the skillet in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.

Tips for Success:

  • Use a Large Skillet: A large skillet, such as a cast-iron skillet, is ideal for this recipe to ensure the cabbage cooks evenly.

  • Don't Overcook: Don't overcook the cabbage, as it can become mushy. It should be tender but still have a slight bite.

  • Adjust Spices: Adjust the amount of taco seasoning to your liking. You can also add other spices, such as chilli powder, cumin, or cayenne pepper.

  • Customize Toppings: Get creative with your toppings! Add your favourite taco toppings to customize the dish to your taste.

  • Add Lime: A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds a bright and refreshing touch to the skillet.

Variations:

  • Spicy Taco Cabbage Skillet: Add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the skillet for a spicy kick.

  • Chicken Taco Cabbage Skillet: Substitute ground chicken for ground beef.

  • vegetarian diet Taco Cabbage Skillet: Omit the meat and add black beans or pinto beans for a vegetarian option.

  • Cheesy Taco Cabbage Skillet: Add shredded cheese directly to the skillet during the last few minutes of cooking.

  • Creamy Taco Cabbage Skillet: Stir in a dollop of sour cream or Greek yoghurt before serving.

FAQ:

Can I use pre-shredded cabbage?

Yes, you can use pre-shredded cabbage to save time.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the skillet ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat it just before serving.

How do I know when the cabbage is cooked through?

The cabbage is cooked through when it is tender but still has a slight bite.

Can I use a different type of pan?

Yes, you can use any large skillet.

What if I don't have taco seasoning?

You can make your own taco seasoning by combining chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt.

This Ground Beef Taco Cabbage Skillet is a delicious, easy, and healthy meal that's perfect for any weeknight.

The combination of flavorful ground beef, tender cabbage, and taco seasonings is simply irresistible.

Whether you're looking for a quick and satisfying dinner or a low-carb alternative to tacos, this skillet is sure to please.

The ease of preparation and the delicious results make it a true winner, a perfect addition to any busy weeknight menu.

The versatility of this dish allows for endless customization, ensuring it can be tailored to everyone's tastes and preferences.

GROUND BEEF TACO CABBAGE SKILLET

Sana Umer
This Ground Beef Taco Cabbage Skillet is a quick, easy, and healthy one-pan meal. It's packed with flavor, thanks to the taco seasoning and toppings, and is a great way to get more vegetables into your diet. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican-inspired
Servings 6 people
Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 head of cabbage, shredded (about 6 cups)
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
  • Optional toppings: Sour cream, salsa, avocado, cilantro, lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Brown ground beef: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (preferably oven-safe) over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  • Sauté onion and garlic: Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
  • Add taco seasoning and tomatoes: Stir in the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes (undrained). Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  • Add cabbage: Add the shredded cabbage to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is wilted and tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add cheese: Stir in the shredded cheese until melted and distributed throughout the skillet.
  • Serve: Serve the Ground Beef Taco Cabbage Skillet hot, topped with your favorite taco toppings, such as sour cream, salsa, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Notes

  • Cabbage: You can use green or red cabbage, or a combination of both.
  • Taco Seasoning: You can use store-bought taco seasoning or make your own.
  • Cheese: Cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend cheese are good choices for this recipe. You can also use other cheeses that melt well, such as Monterey Jack or pepper jack.
  • Toppings: Get creative with your toppings!
  • Spice Level: Adjust the amount of taco seasoning to your liking. You can also add some chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce for extra heat.
Keyword cabbage skillet, easy meal, ground beef skillet, healthy dinner, Low-Carb, one-pan dinner, Taco skillet

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About Sana Umer

I'm Sana Umer — the home cook behind every recipe on For Foodie Friends. I'm a Pakistani-American mom of two based in the US, and I've been cooking seriously for about a decade now, mostly because feeding a family every day is the fastest way to learn how to actually cook.

I'm completely self-taught. I learned by watching my mother in Pakistan, by burning a lot of food in my early years, and by paying attention to which recipes worked and which ones needed fixing. I don't specialize in just one cuisine — I cook the Pakistani dishes I grew up with, the American desserts my kids request, weeknight dinners, holiday roasts, and everything in between.

Every recipe is personally tested in my own kitchen, every word is written by me, and every photo is taken of food I actually made.

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Hi, I'm Sana Umer — the home cook, recipe tester, and writer behind For Foodie Friends.

I'm a Pakistani-American mom based in the US. I learned to cook in two kitchens — my mother's in Pakistan, where I grew up watching whole spices bloom in oil, and my own kitchen now, where I cook for my husband and kids.

Every recipe on this site has been tested in my own kitchen, often more times than I'd like to admit, before it ever made it here. I cook a little bit of everything: the Pakistani comfort food I grew up with, the American desserts my kids beg for, weeknight dinners that need to come together fast, and the holiday spreads that take all day.

If a recipe is on this site, it earned its place. No ghostwriters, no AI shortcuts, no copy-paste from somewhere else — just real recipes from a real kitchen, written to actually work the first time you make them.

Welcome to my corner of the internet.

— Sana

More about me →

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