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Egg roll in a bowl with ground beef, cabbage, carrot, and sesame seeds in a large skillet

Egg Roll in a Bowl

A quick, healthy one-pan dinner packed with ground beef, cabbage, carrot, garlic, and a savory sesame soy sauce. All the bold flavors of a takeout egg roll without the wrapper, ready in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef 85/15 recommended
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp fine sea salt or to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper or to taste
  • 0.5 medium onion finely diced
  • 1 medium carrot julienned or coarsely grated
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 cups green cabbage thinly sliced, or substitute store-bought coleslaw mix
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 0.25 cup low-sodium soy sauce use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 0.5 tsp granulated sugar omit for keto or gluten-free
  • 1 tbsp green onion chopped, optional garnish
  • 0.25 tsp sesame seeds optional garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Spatula
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Grater or food processor

Method
 

  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula until browned and no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Stir in the diced onion and grated carrot. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent and the carrot begins to soften.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  4. Add the sliced cabbage, ground ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss everything together and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until the cabbage is tender but still has a slight crunch. Do not overcook or the cabbage will become watery.
  5. Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning with more soy sauce or salt if needed. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if using. Serve warm.

Notes

Use a store-bought coleslaw mix to replace the fresh cabbage and carrot for faster prep. For gluten-free, use tamari or coconut aminos and skip the sugar. Do not overcook the cabbage — it should be tender with a slight crunch. Swap ground beef for ground chicken, turkey, or pork. Serve over steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or in lettuce cups for a low-carb option. Top with a fried or soft-boiled egg for extra protein.