Go Back
–+ servings
Two white bowls filled with cooked Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage, garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, placed on a bright yellow cloth with an orange flower beside them.

Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage

A quick, savory, and slightly sweet low-carb dish with tender ground beef and crisp-tender cabbage, ready in just 20 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Chinese, Low Carb
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef lean, for main protein
  • ½ head fresh cabbage chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil for sautéing beef and vegetables
  • 8 cloves garlic minced, for aroma
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced, for flavor
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar Swerve or sugar substitute, for sauce sweetness
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce for sauce
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce for sauce richness
  • 1 cup beef broth for cornstarch slurry and sauce
  • 3 teaspoon cornstarch for thickening sauce
  • ⅓ cup green onions diced, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds optional, for topping

Method
 

  1. Chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add ground beef and cook 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Push beef to the side of the skillet. Add minced garlic and ginger to the center and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Add chopped cabbage to the skillet, mixing it with beef, garlic, and ginger. Sprinkle red pepper flakes over the mixture. Cook about 5 minutes until cabbage softens slightly.
  6. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and brown sugar.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together beef broth and cornstarch until smooth.
  8. Pour cornstarch slurry into the sauce mixture and stir to combine.
  9. Pour sauce over beef and cabbage in the skillet. Stir to coat evenly and cook 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens.
  10. Add diced green onions and cook 1 additional minute.
  11. Optionally, sprinkle sesame seeds over the top before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 26gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 1947mgPotassium: 662mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 269IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 4mg

Notes

This low-carb Mongolian-inspired dish is fast, flavorful, and satisfying. Sweet and savory sauce coats tender beef and crisp cabbage, making it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!