This high-protein turkey and cabbage skillet offers a fantastic solution for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner.
It’s packed with flavor, easy to prepare, and fits perfectly into a low-carb eating plan, making it a go-to for busy families. Each serving provides about 25 grams of protein.
If you’re searching for delicious low-carb Asian-inspired recipes that don’t compromise on taste or nutrition, this skillet meal is an excellent choice. It delivers all the savory goodness you crave with minimal fuss, ensuring a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
High-Protein Turkey and Cabbage Skillet
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This high-protein turkey and cabbage skillet offers a fantastic solution for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. It’s packed with flavor, easy to prepare, and fits perfectly into a low-carb eating plan, making it a go-to for busy families. Each serving provides about 25 grams of protein. If you’re searching for delicious low-carb Asian-inspired recipes that don’t compromise on taste or nutrition, this skillet meal is an excellent choice. It delivers all the savory goodness you crave with minimal fuss, ensuring a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Prepare Your Vegetables: Start by chopping your yellow onion, mincing the garlic cloves, and grating the fresh ginger. Thinly slice or shred your head of cabbage. Having everything prepped and ready before you start cooking will make the process much smoother.
2. Brown the Ground Turkey: Heat the olive oil or sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the turkey is fully browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
3. Saute Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the browned turkey. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften and become translucent. Then, stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
4. Add the Cabbage: Gradually add the thinly sliced cabbage to the skillet. It might seem like a lot at first, but it will quickly wilt down. Stir the cabbage into the turkey and onion mixture, cooking for 5-7 minutes, or until the cabbage has softened to your desired tenderness. Some people prefer it with a slight crunch, while others like it very tender.
5. Introduce the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari), rice vinegar, and sriracha (if using) with the black pepper. Pour this sauce mixture over the turkey and cabbage in the skillet.
6. Simmer and Combine: Stir everything well to ensure the sauce evenly coats all the ingredients. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to slightly reduce.
7. Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle generously with fresh chopped cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Cuisine: asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Protein: 25
Keywords: low-carb, high-protein, weeknight, skillet, turkey, cabbage, asian-inspired, healthy, quick, easy
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight warrior, designed for those who want a wholesome, flavorful meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for busy parents, individuals looking to maintain a low-carb diet, or anyone who appreciates a simple yet satisfying dinner. The combination of lean ground turkey and crisp cabbage, seasoned with Asian-inspired flavors, creates a dish that feels both comforting and light. It’s an ideal option when you need something quick after work, or when you’re meal prepping for the week ahead. Serve it as a stand-alone meal or alongside a simple side salad for a complete and balanced dinner.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking is the key to a smooth and stress-free experience. Most of these items are pantry staples, and any fresh produce can be easily found at your local grocery store. This recipe is designed to be flexible, so don’t hesitate to make simple substitutions based on what you have on hand.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or sesame oil
- 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean or leaner)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 head green cabbage (about 2 pounds), thinly sliced or shredded
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional, for a little heat)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap ground chicken for ground turkey if that’s what you have available. If you’re sensitive to soy, tamari is an excellent gluten-free alternative to soy sauce. For a different flavor profile, you could try adding a dash of fish sauce for extra umami. If fresh ginger isn’t on hand, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger can be used, though fresh offers a more vibrant flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount of sriracha to your personal spice preference, or omit it entirely if you prefer no heat.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
The bulk of the prep time involves chopping the onion, mincing garlic, grating ginger, and thinly slicing the cabbage. Once that’s done, the cooking process is very fast, as ground turkey cooks quickly and cabbage wilts down in minutes.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Follow these straightforward steps to create your delicious turkey and cabbage skillet. The visual cues will help you know exactly what to look for at each stage.
- Prepare Your Vegetables: Start by chopping your yellow onion, mincing the garlic cloves, and grating the fresh ginger. Thinly slice or shred your head of cabbage. Having everything prepped and ready before you start cooking will make the process much smoother.
- Brown the Ground Turkey: Heat the olive oil or sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the turkey is fully browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the browned turkey. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften and become translucent. Then, stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add the Cabbage: Gradually add the thinly sliced cabbage to the skillet. It might seem like a lot at first, but it will quickly wilt down. Stir the cabbage into the turkey and onion mixture, cooking for 5-7 minutes, or until the cabbage has softened to your desired tenderness. Some people prefer it with a slight crunch, while others like it very tender.
- Introduce the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari), rice vinegar, and sriracha (if using) with the black pepper. Pour this sauce mixture over the turkey and cabbage in the skillet.
- Simmer and Combine: Stir everything well to ensure the sauce evenly coats all the ingredients. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to slightly reduce.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle generously with fresh chopped cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This turkey and cabbage skillet is incredibly versatile, making it easy to adapt to different tastes and occasions.
- Make it Kid-Friendly: If your kids aren’t keen on spice, omit the sriracha entirely. You can also serve it with a side of plain rice or noodles to make it more appealing to younger palates. A sprinkle of a mild cheese, like mozzarella, on top might also entice them!
- Vegetable Swaps: Feel free to add other quick-cooking vegetables like shredded carrots, bell peppers, or snow peas along with the cabbage for added color and nutrients. Just add them in with the cabbage step.
- Protein Alternatives: While ground turkey is fantastic, ground chicken or even finely diced firm tofu (pressed and crumbled) would work wonderfully in this recipe.
- Party or Buffet Serving: This dish holds up well, making it a great option for a casual buffet. Keep it warm in a slow cooker on a “warm” setting, or serve it directly from a large serving dish. Offer a variety of toppings on the side, such as extra sriracha, chopped peanuts, or crispy fried onions.
- Optional Toppings and Dips: Elevate your serving with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, or a dollop of a creamy peanut sauce on the side. A sprinkle of chopped green onions adds a fresh, mild onion flavor and vibrant color.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time.
- Overcrowding the Skillet: Adding too much turkey or cabbage at once can steam the ingredients instead of browning them, leading to a less flavorful and potentially watery dish. If you have a smaller skillet, cook the turkey in batches, or add the cabbage in stages, allowing it to wilt down before adding more.
- Under-Seasoning: Asian-inspired dishes often rely on a balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors. Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust the seasoning (soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha) before serving. A little extra soy sauce or a dash more vinegar can make a big difference.
- Overcooking the Cabbage: While some prefer very soft cabbage, overcooking can make it mushy and lose its pleasant texture. Keep an eye on it and cook only until it reaches your desired tenderness, usually 5-7 minutes after adding it to the skillet.
- Not Draining Fat from Turkey: Ground turkey can release a fair amount of liquid and fat, especially if it’s not extra lean. Draining this off after browning prevents the dish from becoming greasy and ensures the other ingredients can properly sauté and absorb the flavors.
- Burning the Garlic and Ginger: Garlic and ginger cook quickly and can burn easily, leading to a bitter taste. Add them after the onion has softened and cook only for about a minute until fragrant, then immediately add the cabbage or sauce.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This turkey and cabbage skillet is excellent for meal prep and stores beautifully, making your future mealtimes even easier.
- Storing Leftovers: Allow the skillet to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.
- Reheating: To reheat, simply place the desired portion in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat it gently in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth if it seems a little dry.
- Making Ahead: You can prepare the entire dish in advance and store
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
