Elevate your weeknight dinner routine with this sensational **Keto Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** stir-fry. Far from your ordinary meal, this recipe stands out as a flavorful, low-carb marvel that you’ll be eager to share with friends and family. Bursting with savory, slightly sweet, and perfectly spicy notes, this dish sizzles with an irresistible aroma that will transport your kitchen straight to your favorite Asian takeout spot, all while keeping you firmly on track with your ketogenic lifestyle.
Quick & Flavorful: Your New Favorite Mongolian Ground Beef Recipe
Life can be hectic, and sometimes, you just need a meal that’s quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying – from mixing to frying to eating, all within 30 minutes. Before embarking on my keto journey, a hearty plate of fried rice was my go-to for such occasions. While I’ve explored delicious alternatives like fried cauliflower rice (which is surprisingly good!), this **Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** stir-fry offers a fresh, exciting twist that truly shines.
What makes this dish particularly special and a fantastic low-carb alternative is the clever use of green cabbage. When thinly sliced, it mimics the texture and appearance of traditional noodles, soaking up all the rich, umami flavors of the sauce. If you’re a fan of Chinese stir-fried noodles but want to keep your carb count in check, you are absolutely going to adore this simple yet profoundly satisfying recipe. It’s not just a meal; it’s a delicious solution to your low-carb cravings.
Stick around as we delve into essential cooking tips, explore various ways to customize this recipe to suit your preferences, and discover the secrets to achieving that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy in every bite.
Choosing Your Protein for Mongolian Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry
For this particular recipe, I opted for ground beef due to its incredible convenience. It requires no prior marinating or intricate slicing, making it one of the quickest and easiest proteins to prepare for a lightning-fast stir-fry. Its rich flavor also stands up beautifully to the robust Mongolian sauce, ensuring a hearty and satisfying meal.
However, the beauty of stir-fries lies in their versatility. If you’re looking for a leaner option, ground chicken or ground turkey make excellent substitutes, offering a lower cholesterol and fat content. Keep in mind that poultry has a milder flavor, so I recommend adding an extra teaspoon of chili garlic sauce to ensure the dish retains its characteristic kick and depth. This small adjustment will prevent the flavors from feeling diluted.
Craving a more traditional Mongolian beef experience? You can absolutely use sliced steak. The key is to select a tender cut, such as sirloin steak, flank steak, or even ribeye, and slice it against the grain into thin strips. This ensures the beef cooks quickly and remains incredibly tender in the stir-fry. Avoid tougher cuts like stew meat, as they require longer cooking times to break down and become tender, which isn’t ideal for a quick stir-fry.
Mastering Keto Beef and Cabbage: Tips for a Perfect Dish
This **Spicy Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** recipe is a dream come true for anyone following a ketogenic diet. Each generous serving contains approximately 7 grams of net carbs, making it an ideal meal that not only keeps you feeling full and satisfied but also fits seamlessly into your daily macro goals. It’s proof that low-carb eating can be incredibly flavorful and convenient.
One of the best aspects of this stir-fry is how easily it can be customized. Beyond experimenting with different types of meat, you can also play around with various low-carb vegetables and seasonings to truly make it your own. Don’t hesitate to use any color of bell peppers you prefer – red, yellow, or orange will add vibrant color and a touch of sweetness. For those who love an extra fiery kick, consider incorporating thinly sliced jalapeño or poblano peppers into the mix, adjusting the quantity to your heat tolerance.
The ginger in this dish is crucial for its distinctive Asian flavor. While ginger paste offers convenience, for a more pronounced and vibrant ginger flavor, I highly recommend grating or finely mincing some fresh ginger. The difference in aroma and taste is truly remarkable. Similarly, if you don’t have sesame oil on hand, or prefer a neutral flavor, both avocado oil and olive oil are suitable alternatives for sautéing, though sesame oil adds a unique toasted nutty depth to the final sauce.
When preparing the cabbage, ensure it’s cut into thin, long strips. This “noodle-like” shape is not just for aesthetics; it also helps the cabbage cook evenly and quickly, absorbing the sauce beautifully. Remember to avoid overcooking the cabbage; it should be crisp-tender, not mushy, to maintain that satisfying bite.
Pairing Perfection: What to Serve with Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry
The rich, complex flavors of this spicy **Keto Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** make it taste like something straight from an authentic Asian restaurant. Naturally, I love to serve it alongside my favorite low-carb Chinese-inspired dishes to create a complete and cohesive meal that’s both delicious and diet-friendly.
If you’re planning an Asian-themed dinner, a fantastic accompaniment is a vibrant keto bok choy stir fry with soy sauce eggs. This side dish perfectly complements the Mongolian beef with its similar umami profile and the refreshing crunch of bright green bok choy. It adds another layer of texture and nutrition without piling on the carbs.
And of course, no Chinese dinner is complete without soup! Don’t forget to whip up a batch of keto egg drop soup – it’s a comforting and classic staple that’s incredibly easy to make and light on carbs. For a refreshing starter or a unique side instead of a traditional salad, consider preparing some low-carb tuna sushi in a bowl. It delivers all the delightful flavors of sushi, but in a convenient, deconstructed format with significantly fewer carbohydrates.
Beyond these specific suggestions, you can also serve this Mongolian beef stir-fry over a bed of fluffy cauliflower rice, spiralized zucchini noodles (zoodles), or even shirataki noodles for an extra boost of fiber and volume. Or simply enjoy it on its own as a hearty, satisfying bowl. Garnishes like extra chopped green onions, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice can brighten the flavors and add visual appeal.
Meal Prep Made Easy: How To Store Cooked Mongolian Beef
One of the many reasons this **Spicy Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** recipe is a meal prep superstar is that it often tastes even better the next day! As it rests in the refrigerator, the rich flavors of the savory sauce have more time to fully infuse into the ground beef and crisp-tender vegetables, creating a more cohesive and deeply satisfying dish. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy delicious, homemade Asian food even on your busiest days.
For optimal freshness and flavor, store your leftover Mongolian beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. This makes it perfect for packing in lunchboxes or enjoying as a quick dinner after a long day.
Looking to plan even further ahead? This stir-fry also freezes beautifully. Simply transfer the cooled dish into a freezer-safe storage bag or an airtight freezer-safe container, ensuring as much air is removed as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can be kept frozen for up to six months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. The texture and flavor will still be wonderfully intact, making it a truly convenient option for quick, healthy meals any time.
Keto Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage Recipe
Ready to make this incredible dish? Here is a comprehensive list of all the ingredients you’ll need, along with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. You’ll also find helpful pictures to guide you through the process. The precise measurements for each ingredient are provided in the printable recipe card below.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 7 net carbs per serving
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Onion chopped
- Red bell pepper chopped
- Green bell pepper chopped
- Green cabbage cut into thin long noodle shapes
- Sesame oil
- Minced garlic
- Ginger paste
- Chili garlic sauce
- Soy sauce
- Swerve brown sugar substitute
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions:
1. Add the ground beef, chopped onions, and bell peppers to a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Sauté, breaking up the beef, until the meat is thoroughly browned and the vegetables have softened to your liking. Once cooked, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, Swerve brown sugar substitute, minced garlic, ginger paste, and chili garlic sauce until well combined. This is your flavorful Mongolian sauce.
3. Return the skillet to the heat (if removed). Add the thinly cut green cabbage into the skillet with the browned beef and softened vegetables. Stir everything together to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and continue to sauté until the cabbage reaches your desired tenderness – typically crisp-tender is preferred to retain some bite.
4. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over all the ingredients in the skillet. Stir gently to coat everything. Continue to sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and fully meld with the beef and vegetables. Serve immediately, garnished generously with fresh chopped green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for extra flavor and visual appeal.
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Spicy Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage Noodles
It’s a stir fry that stands out as a recipe you’ll want to share. Keto Mongolian ground beef and cabbage sizzles with incredible flavor.
dinner, Main Course
Asian
Mongolian Ground Beef
Ingredients
-
1
pound
Ground Beef -
1/2
Onion
chopped -
1/2
Red Bell Pepper
Chopped -
1/2
Green Bell Pepper
Chopped -
3
cups
Green Cabbage
cut into thin long noodle shapes -
1
tsp
Sesame Oil -
3
tsp
Minced Garlic -
2
tsp
Ginger Paste -
3
tsp
Chili Garlic Paste -
1/4
cup
Soy Sauce -
3
tbsp
Swerve Brown Sugar Substitute -
1/4
cup
Chopped Green Onions
Instructions
Add the ground beef, onions, and pepper to a skillet over medium high heat. Saute until the meat is browned and the vegetables have softened. Drain the excess grease.
Whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, Swerve, garlic, ginger paste and chili garlic sauce in a small bowl.
Place the cabbage into the skillet, and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover the skillet and saute until the cabbage is done to your liking.
Pour the sauce over the ingredients, and saute for another 3-5 minutes before serving garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Recipe Notes
Calories: 340 Net Carbs: 7 Net Carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
More Delicious Keto Ground Beef Recipes to Explore
If you thoroughly enjoyed this **Keto Mongolian Ground Beef and Cabbage** stir-fry, you’ll be delighted to know that ground beef is an incredibly versatile and budget-friendly protein that forms the base for countless easy and delicious low-carb recipes. It’s perfect for meal prepping, quick dinners, and satisfying comfort food, all while keeping your carb intake in check. Don’t let your keto journey be bland; explore these other fantastic ground beef creations:
- Low Carb Ground Beef Chili Salad: A hearty, flavorful salad that redefines healthy comfort food.
- Keto Ground Beef Pizza Casserole: All the classic pizza flavors you love, layered into a convenient and low-carb casserole.
- Keto Ground Beef Stuffed Poblano Peppers: A smoky, savory, and satisfying dish that’s bursting with flavor.
- Cheesy Keto Ground Beef Casserole With Spinach and Mushrooms: A creamy, cheesy, and utterly comforting casserole packed with nutrient-rich veggies.
- Keto Ground Beef Florentine Scramble: A perfect low-carb breakfast or brunch option that’s quick, protein-packed, and delicious.
Each of these recipes offers a unique way to enjoy ground beef while maintaining a keto-friendly diet, proving that healthy eating can be both easy and incredibly tasty. Happy cooking!