Looking for a comforting, healthy, and easy-to-make meal that fits your keto or low-carb lifestyle? The Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet is your answer. This one-pan dish delivers all the classic flavors of traditional cabbage rolls without the time-consuming rolling and stuffing. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe is ready in about 35 minutes and requires minimal cleanup.
Why You'll Love This Keto Cabbage Skillet
This recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy the taste of cabbage rolls without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a low-carb, one-skillet meal that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare. Here’s why it's a must-try:
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 35 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: Ideal for those following a keto or low-carb diet.
- One-Pan Meal: Minimal cleanup, as everything cooks in a single skillet.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable with different meats, cheeses, and seasonings.
- Budget-Friendly: Uses inexpensive ingredients like ground beef and cabbage.
- Family-Friendly: Even picky eaters will enjoy this savory and delicious dish.
Ingredients You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to create this flavorful keto cabbage skillet:
- Ground Beef: 1 1/4 lb. of 85% lean ground beef. Ground turkey or pork can also be used.
- Cabbage: 1 large head of cabbage, chopped into bite-size pieces, or a 16 oz. bag of coleslaw mix. Red cabbage can be mixed in for added color and flavor.
- Onion: ½ small red onion, diced (optional).
- Bell Pepper: Diced bell pepper (optional). Pre-diced bell peppers can be used for convenience.
- Diced Tomatoes: One can of diced tomatoes (ensure it's gluten-free if needed).
- Tomato Sauce: 8 oz. of low-carb tomato sauce.
- Beef Broth: 1/3 cup beef broth, plus extra for turning the skillet into a soup.
- Worcestershire Sauce: 1 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce.
- Olive Oil: 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, split into two portions.
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere’s). Adjust to taste.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your choice) for topping. Can be omitted for a dairy-free version.
- Fresh Parsley: 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley for garnish.
- Garlic: Minced garlic.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet:
- Prepare the Beef:
- Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat.
- Add one portion of olive oil to the hot skillet.
- Add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned, stirring frequently (about 5-7 minutes).
- Remove the browned beef mixture from the skillet and drain any excess grease.
- Combine Ingredients:
- Return the skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat.
- Add the remaining olive oil and all other ingredients (cabbage, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, pepper, and other seasonings).
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 15 minutes.
- Simmer and Reduce:
- Remove the lid and simmer on medium heat until the liquid in the skillet has reduced, stirring frequently.
- Add Cheese:
- Once the cabbage is cooked to your liking and the liquid has reduced, turn off the burner.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.
- Place the lid back on for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve:
- Serve the Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet on its own or over rice for those who prefer it.
Tips and Variations
- Meat Options: Use ground turkey, ground pork, or a mix of any of these meats instead of ground beef.
- Vegetable Additions: Add an orange bell pepper for flavor and color. Omit if following a strict low-carb diet.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of Creole seasoning to your preference. Some brands may be spicier or saltier than others.
- Dairy-Free: Omit the cheese or use a plant-based alternative to make this dish dairy-free.
- Add Rice: For those not on a keto diet, serve over jasmine rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
- Make it a Soup: Transform this skillet meal into a soup by adding 3-4 cups of beef broth after cooking the ingredients.
- Freezing: Double the recipe and freeze half for future meals. Cool the mixture, place it in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat with additional beef broth.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Skillet is a versatile dish that can be served in various ways:
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- As a Main Course: Enjoy it as a hearty and satisfying main dish.
- Over Rice: Serve over rice for those who need a carb. Jasmine rice is a great option.
- With a Side Salad: Pair with a simple leafy green salad for a complete meal.
- As a Soup: Add extra beef broth to transform it into a delicious cabbage roll soup.
Health Benefits of Cabbage
Cabbage is a nutritional powerhouse, making this skillet recipe not only delicious but also good for you. Here are some of the health benefits of cabbage:
- Low in Calories and Carbs: One cup of raw cabbage contains approximately 22 calories and 5 carbs, with 2 grams of fiber.
- High in Fiber: Promotes digestive health and helps you feel full.
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: Cabbage is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate.
- Antioxidants: Contains antioxidants that help protect against cell damage.
- Versatile: Can be used in a variety of dishes, both as a main ingredient and as a side.
Making it Gluten-Free
To ensure this Cabbage Roll Skillet is gluten-free, simply check that your seasoning mix, canned tomatoes, and cheese are all certified gluten-free. You can also swap out the cheddar for your favorite gluten-free cheese or a plant-based alternative if needed. This recipe is naturally gluten-free when these simple adjustments are made, so everyone can enjoy this comforting and delicious dish.
How to Store and Reheat
- Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Let it cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. It’ll keep for up to 3 months.
Turn it into a Soup
Did you know you can transform this skillet meal into a soup? You sure can! Just make it the same way the recipe calls for then when your done adding your ingredients and cooking for a bit add a about three to four cups of beef broth. That is in addition to the beef broth that is already in the recipe. We have turned this into an unstuffed cabbage roll soup if we have had leftovers. We find that it is a great way to stretch the leftovers and we love soup. So what better way to use up those leftovers! What’s better than having one recipe one night then transforming it into another recipe another night?! We have been known to double this skillet recipe just so that we can have leftovers for meals like cabbage roll soup!
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