Viral Dirty Cabbage

This Viral Dirty Cabbage is the dinner you make when the fridge is looking a little sad and you still want something that tastes amazing. Ground beef gets browned until it’s crispy around the edges, then tossed with sweet red pepper, tomato paste, and soy sauce before a big pile of cabbage cooks right down into it. Every bite of cabbage soaks up all that savory, slightly smoky flavor. Spoon it over jasmine rice, add a drizzle of chili crisp, and you’ve got a cozy, budget-friendly bowl you’ll want on repeat.

Why This is Delish

Cabbage doesn’t usually get anyone excited, but this recipe changes that. The beef gets crispy, the tomato paste caramelizes into something rich and deep, and the cabbage turns tender but keeps a little bite. It’s cheap, it’s all made in one pan, and it uses ingredients you probably already have. It’s also super flexible: eat it on its own for a lighter meal, or pile it over rice when you want something heartier. Plus, it gives you the perfect excuse to break out the chili oil crisp!

How to Make Viral Dirty Cabbage

Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onin powder and chili flakes. Cook for 6–8 minutes, until browned and slightly crispy around the edges.

Add the diced red bell pepper and the white parts of the green onions. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the pepper softens. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring frequently until fragrant.

Stir in the tomato paste, coating the ground beef and vegetables evenly. Cook the tomato paste for 1–2 minutes, until it deepens in colour and begins to caramelize slightly. Deglaze with broth and soy sauce. Season with black pepper and salt. Stir to combine, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low.

Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet, working in batches if needed. Cover with a lid and cook down until the cabbage softens around 3-4 minutes. Skip this step if you are cooking with a large sauce pan. Toss everything together until the cabbage is well coated in the beef and tomato mixture.

Allow the cabbage to cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften and reduce in volume.

Remove the lid and continue cooking for another 3–5 minutes, allowing any excess liquid to reduce. The cabbage should be tender but still have a little bite, and the beef should be coated. Add another splash of broth if the mixture becomes too dry.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Remove from the heat and garnish generously with the remaining chopped green onions.

Serve warm on its own or over a bowl of jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Variations That Spice Viral Dirty Cabbage Up

• Swap the ground beef for ground pork, turkey, or chicken.
• Add shredded carrots or sliced mushrooms with the bell pepper for even more veggies.
• Top each bowl with a jammy or crispy fried egg.

Substitutions For Your Dietary Needs

• Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make it gluten-free (and double-check that your broth is gluten-free too).
• Swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos for a soy-free version.
• Skip the rice and serve it on its own or over cauliflower rice for a lower-carb meal.

Recipe Hacks & Tips

• Let the beef sit undisturbed for a minute or two at a time. That’s how you get the crispy edges.
• Don’t overcook the cabbage. Tender with a little bite is the goal, not mushy.
• If your beef releases a lot of fat, drain a little off before adding the veggies.
• Make sure to save the green parts of the green onions for the end. They add a fresh pop.

Serve These Delicious Dishes

• Marry Me Melting Cabbage
• Viral Blanket Dumplings, Two Ways
• Viral Jennifer Aniston Salad

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep the rice separate if you can. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth, or in the microwave until warmed through. The cabbage will soften a bit more the next day, but the flavor gets even better.

Common Questions

Viral Dirty Cabbage

Crispy ground beef, sweet red pepper, and tender cabbage tossed in a savory tomato-soy sauce. This viral dirty cabbage is a cheap, cozy one-pan dinner that’s perfect on its own or over jasmine rice with a drizzle of chili crisp.

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Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:25 minutes mins

Total Time:40 minutes mins

Yields: 4 Servings

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Ingredients

• 1 pound medium ground beef
• ½ medium green cabbage cored and roughly chopped (about 6–7 cups)
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• ¾ cup low-sodium chicken or beef broth plus more as needed
• 3 green onions thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• ¼-½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for heat
• Cooked jasmine rice for serving
• Garnish with chili oil crisp from my book!

Equipment

• Large Skillet or Dutch oven with lid
• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Wooden Spoon or spatula
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Colander

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onin powder and chili flakes. Cook for 6–8 minutes, until browned and slightly crispy around the edges.
• Add the diced red bell pepper and the white parts of the green onions. Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the pepper softens. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring frequently until fragrant.
• Stir in the tomato paste, coating the ground beef and vegetables evenly. Cook the tomato paste for 1–2 minutes, until it deepens in colour and begins to caramelize slightly. Deglaze with broth and soy sauce. Season with black pepper and salt. Stir to combine, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet, working in batches if needed. Cover with a lid and cook down until the cabbage softens around 3-4 minutes. Skip this step if you are cooking with a large sauce pan. Toss everything together until the cabbage is well coated in the beef and tomato mixture.
• Allow the cabbage to cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften and reduce in volume.
• Remove the lid and continue cooking for another 3–5 minutes, allowing any excess liquid to reduce. The cabbage should be tender but still have a little bite, and the beef should be coated. Add another splash of broth if the mixture becomes too dry.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Remove from the heat and garnish generously with the remaining chopped green onions.
• Serve warm on its own or over a bowl of jasmine rice. Enjoy!