Ground beef and cabbage skillet recipe, Tex Mex Style with Mexican Cheese Blend! This low carb flavorful meal is ready in under thirty minutes!
Ground Beef and Cabbage
Do you have an cast iron skillet? It’s the most versatile pan in the house. There are some healthy benefits too (ten reasons to try cast iron cookware). Use it to cook up your ingredients on the stovetop, and the same skillet can go straight in the oven!
There is a bonus too! You will get a good arm workout lugging that skillet around!
No joke. Cast iron skillets are HEAVY, so factor less time at the gym.
This skillet also retains the heat nicely, so your food will stay warmer longer. That’s important for cooks. How many times have you finally sat down to eat with the family and your food is already cool?
Ingredients Needed For This Beef and Cabbage Skillet Meal
This is a simple flavorful meal that is easily customized to turn into your own masterpiece. Start with these ingredients:
- ground beef
- cabbage
- butter
- taco seasoning
- shredded cheese
- minced onion
- salt and pepper
Ground Beef and Cabbage Stovetop to Oven Recipe
and straight to the table to be plated up…nice and warm!
I seasoned the beef with my homemade taco seasoning mix, and instead of dicing up some onion I used a teaspoon of dried onion, and lots of cheese topped the whole dish!!
Simple, simple, and so flavorful! Most evenings dinner turns into leftovers for lunch, buuuh
There is a BUT coming…
Once we filled our bowls I put the skillet back in the oven and forgot to turn off the oven. Sigh. Between the skillet retaining heat like a mini oven and the extra cooking time, I was left with a charred cabbage beef skillet meal!
Good thing this recipes calls for half a head of cabbage. The other portion will be cooked up right away!
Optional Ingredients
As mentioned earlier, this recipe is easily adaptable to what you have in your pantry as well as your personal taste. Consider adding the following:
- diced green chili
- beans (if you aren’t limiting your carbs)
- spicy tomatoes like Rotel
- sliced olives
- guacamole
- avocado cream sauce
Try these other skillet recipes!
- Beef and Pepper Skillet Simple ground beef recipe with instant brown rice for a quick 30 minute meal.
- Salisbury Steak Supreme Ground beef steaks with a brown gravy sauce.
- Pork Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce – This meal is made with caramelized onions, baby bella mushrooms and finished with a dash of heavy cream.
Give this low carb Mexican Beef Cabbage Soup a try too!
Tex Mex Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet Recipe Topped with Spicy Mexican Cheese Blend

Ground beef and cabbage with a Tex-Mex flair! This stovetop to oven recipe is simple to make and completely customize-able. Want more heat, add some jalapenos or diced chilies.
Ingredients
- 1/2 head green cabbage, sliced in shreds
- 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 tablespoons Taco Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 1 1/2 cups Mexican Cheese Blend
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 388
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
Please Pin to your Low Carb and Keto Boards
[email protected]
I use my cast iron skillet for so many things and need to use it to make this recipe. This is making me hungry.
Sandra Shaffer
You can whip this up in no time, Janette! Give this a try 🙂
Debra C.
That skillet looks just delicious and your bonus? Hahaha! Love that too!! Seriously though I’m sure cooking it in the cast iron skillet makes the perfect vessel to bring this all together – what a yummy recipe!!
Kavey at Kavey Eats
I think cabbage is becoming seriously underrated as a vegetable so I’m loving your recipe making such fantastic use of it with beef in this skillet dish. Looks so good!
debi at Life Currents
This looks super yummy! A great fusion of Irish and Mexican. I also like to use dried onions instead of taking the time to chop fresh ones sometimes. I mean, some days I just don’t have that kind of work in me! Thanks again for the yummy recipe!
Michelle
Looks like I have a new recipe to try! Love how easy it is!
Julie
I love good cabbage recipes! When I buy one it’s a lot to use for John and I and I’d love to repurpose some of it as more than just a side dish.
Deanna
This looks soooo good!!!!!!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Justine
Yummy and hearty, love it!
Michaela Kenkel
This is terrific sounding!! I can’t wait to try it!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
I always end up with a half head of cabbage sitting in the fridge, thanks for a nice way to use it. I love Tex Mex meals.
Reg Deneau
Do not forget to serve with some taco sauce or sour cream!
Christie
This looks SO good! I’m a total fan of cabbage and try to eat it every week. It’s so healthy and good for you! And no kidding about the skillets! I have several. Try moving a stack to get to the one on the bottom!
Jenny | Honey and Birch
I love my cast iron skillet!! And I’ve also forgotten to turn off my oven on an occasion or two…
Jennifer A Stewart
I love beef and noodle skillets and ate them all the time growing up. They were a staple that I could make myself. Now that I need to cut out some carbs I love the idea of using cabbage as a replacement.
Wendy Strickland
I made this but added a can of petite diced tomatoes right after blending in the taco seasoning – it was delicious !
Sandra Shaffer
Oh, tomatoes are a great addition. I’m so glad you enjoyed this dish!
Barb
I made this tonight. It was delicious! I used a full package of taco seasoning and a can of Rotel. My only complaint, no leftovers for tomorrow ?
Sandra Shaffer
Yummy! Bummer about the lack of leftovers 😉
Vicky
Oh good, I was wondering if a can Rotel would up this a bit. Thanks for sharing. Did you drain the Rotel, or just dump it all in?
Sandra Shaffer
I would use it all! The extra juice will evaporate a bit.
Dawn Wulf
Thank you for the recipe! Would you by chance have the nutritional breakdown/serving size? Very yummy recipe!
Sandra Shaffer
Hi Dawn! I didn’t, but you can get s better idea with your exact ingredients through My Fitness Pal or Happy Forks – https://happyforks.com/analyzer Hope this is helpful!
Angie
Great keto recipe for me! Mexican Crack Slaw! Luv it!
Sandra Shaffer
And it’s so simple to make! So glad you enjoyed this dish, Angie!
Angie
Great keto recipe for me! Mexican Crack Slaw! Luv it! Thank you!
alex
This is the 2nd time I’m making this…the first time with chicken and now with mince (ground beef)! it’s so delicious! Thanks for a great recipe.
Sandra Shaffer
Ohh, I’m going to try the chicken version! So glad this is going into your recipe rotation 🙂
Jan
Better way to soften the cabbage is to put 1/4-1/2 up water in the pan. Then the cabbage. Cover tightly and steam on medium 5-10 minutes. Stir. Cover tightly again and steam another 5-10 minutes. Yummy recipe. Used raw onions and whole packet of Taco Seasoning Mix.
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks for the tip, Jan! I’ll have to give it a try 🙂
Melunda
I’m making this tonight. I have the cabbage & meat prepped. Just waiting for the family to be ready to eat, then I will stir it all together & pop it in the oven. It smells awesome! I added chili peppers & fresh jalapenos to mine!
Sandra Shaffer
Sounds wonderful! Love the extra spicy touch! Enjoy 🙂
Lisa
Sounds yummy!!
Can I use the bagged cabbage(Cole slaw mix) instead of chopping a head of cabbage?
Sandra Shaffer
No problem! It’ll cook super fast because the shreds are usually very thin. Just watch closely so it doesn’t get mushy! Enjoy 🙂
Becky
Just made this again for the second time. Since the garden is in full swing added freash zucchini. It was again delightful. BIG THANKS
Sandra Shaffer
Yum! Zucchini is a great addition! So glad you are enjoying this recipe!
Vicky
I made this tonight, adding a can of Rotel tomatoes, and then served it with a dollop of sour cream, OMG seriously yummy! Thank you for posting this recipe!
Sandra Shaffer
Yummy! Wonderful. Glad it was a hit.
Elizabeth
Got this recipe from Vicky. Trying it tonight. We serve meals to a group member v children and wanted to check it out first. Put in a can of Rotel tomatoes and will give it a dollop of sour cream.
Emily
I made this and added diced red pepper, tomato and avocado and it was sooo good!
Sandra Shaffer
I sometimes add advocating too! So good!
Bobbie Oldham
Made this tonight. I hate hamburger and only tolerate cabbage but this was pretty good. Hubby loved it. Leftovers tomorrow he is putting on taco shells. I’m eating it plain but adding sour cream.
Sandra Shaffer
Love the taco leftover idea! Glad this was a hit. Thank you for commenting!
Nathan T.
I used half beef and half ground Italian sausage topped with salsa and sour cream. I also added some chopped garlic to the meat. I just started a Keto diet and this was delish can’t wait to make it again.
Sandra Shaffer
Awesome, Nathan! Eating keto style is easy when the food is delicious!
Tammy
Does this recipe freeze well?
Sandra Shaffer
Hi Tammy, I haven’t tried to freeze this, but I think it will be fine!
Chelsea
I’ve made this several times and we don’t get tired of it!! What are your thoughts on doubling it? Cook it up in a big pot and put in a casserole dish? I know it’s more dishes for me, but I always wish we had more leftovers!
Sandra Shaffer
I think doubling this recipe is fine if your skillet is large enough! Just it it up in a couple of days so the cabbage isn’t mushy!
Heather
So I made this today for lunch and it was amazing I cooked the meat first and just used the oil from that to cook the cabbage second because I didn’t read the directions correctly and it was amazing. Eating it my I brainstormed everything else I could do with this as base, I can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Sandra Shaffer
I’m so glad to hear this recipe is a hit! Isn’t it easy to make? Yes, play with your food 😉
Hal Mapes
1st time I followed the recipe, it was OK. 2nd time I added 1 tsp Cumin and 1/4 lb Pork Chorizo. It was much better! I’ll make it again!
Lynda King
What is considered a serving size?
Sandra Shaffer
Hi Lynda, I didn’t measure out each serving, but I would guess about 1 1/2 cups.
Debbie
I made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge success!! My family loves their food spicy so I added 2 fresh seeded jalapenos and hot sauce. It was amazing!
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks, Debbie! So glad to hear your family enjoyed this recipe. Turn up the heat!
Olivia
I think this is dinner tonight! I’m going to mix it up though and add black beans in with the meat and black olives and tomatoes on top when done. ?
Sandra Shaffer
Sounds wonderful, especially those black olives! Enjoy 🙂
Tina
Such a quick and easy dish to cook! It was delicious and Will become a staple meal in my household. Dinner in less than 30 minutes, yes please!
Sandra Shaffer
So glad to hear this was a a hit! It’s a fun recipe to play with by adding different ingredients too!
Jennifer McKeon
My family loved this recipe! I added rotel tomatoes to my dish, and look forward to adding other favorites ingredients each time I make it. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Sandra Shaffer
That’s a great addition. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this recipe.
Jina
I made this tonight and it was delicious. My husband ate three servings. Thank you for a dish that is Keto friendly and good for those spouses that are not on the path with me. I definitely will be making this again.
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks for sharing your success with this recipe, Jina! Yay for easy and tasty recipes the whole family will love!
Myles
WOW..made this tonight. Real easy and fast to put together. Great taste !! Will be making this again and again.
Sandra Shaffer
Sometimes simple recipes are all you need to hit all those tastebuds. So glad you enjoyed this cabbage beef recipe.
Lee Ann B.
I love this and pretty much make it at least once a month. I absolutely make the taco seasoning recipe that’s included in the recipe. To me it makes a big, positive difference in the taste. Easy and so delicious.
Sandra Shaffer
So glad this skillet meal made your menu plan! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Ticia
Did anyone else get a layer of grease at the bottom of the pan- made this twice.
Amanda Cooper
Made this last week for my picky husband who is eating low carb. We both loved it! I used pre packaged already shredded cabbage to make the prep easy and I used diced onions instead and we topped it with sour cream. It was very filling and I didn’t even miss carbs with the meal. Will be making this again for sure!
Sandra Shaffer
So good to hear! Thanks for commenting!
Laura Coomey
Omg! So delicious….everyone loved it
melanie
I loved it. I always used bagged finely shredded cabbage (I’m lazy). I added carrots because I needed to use the ones that I had. I topped it with sour cream , salsa and olives, because, why not go all the way . Also its 112 outside, so I just put the lid on for awhile until the cheese melted, no need to use a oven.
Thanks so much!
Melody
I made this last night using a cabbage my hubby grew in his garden. We loved it. So easy and quick. Tonight I used the leftover cabbage the same way it’s used in this recipe – sautéed it with the butter and salt and pepper for 3-4 minutes – delicious.
Sandra Shaffer
Oh boy, I bet it tasted amazing with your homegrown cabbage! Thank you for letting me know you enjoy this recipe!
Billie DeLappe
My Husband is diabetic and this will be a great recipe for us to to watch carbs on. Looks so good!!! Thank you for the idea.
Sandra Shaffer
This is an easy recipe and I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on this skillet recipe. Hope you and your husband loves it!
Gina ferrara
This is excellent. I was nervous with cabbage n all. But it rocks,!,
Sandra Shaffer
This is great, Gina! Thanks for letting me know you tried this recipe 🙂
Lauren
This recipe has quickly come a favorite in our dinner rotation. I see the calories listed but is there additional nutrition information I can use to track for Keto?
Linda
Thank you for this recipe! One of m6 favorite meals…so easy, but sooooo good!
Sandra Shaffer
I’m so glad you like this ground beef and cabbage recipe, Linda. Thank you for stopping by!