Description
Craving takeout flavor without the takeout fuss? This Egg Roll in a Bowl packs all the savory, garlicky goodness of your favorite crispy egg rolls into one cozy, low-carb skillet dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes. Tender browned ground pork, caramelized cabbage, carrots, and green onions are tossed in a sweet-and-salty soy garlic sauce for a big, satisfying bowl of comfort. Serve it as a quick weeknight dinner, a simple meal prep lunch, or a lighter option in your rotation of easy recipe ideas when you need fast food ideas, quick dinner ideas, or healthy-ish dinner inspiration that still tastes like a treat.
Ingredients
1 pound ground pork (or ground beef or ground turkey)
1 tablespoon neutral oil (only if using lean meat)
3 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
3 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
16 ounces coleslaw mix with cabbage and carrots
1 cup shredded carrots (if not included in coleslaw mix)
2 large eggs lightly beaten (optional)
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil divided
4 green onions thinly sliced
1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
2 cups cooked white rice for serving (optional)
2 cups cooked cauliflower rice for serving (optional, low carb)
Instructions
1. Heat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. If using very lean meat, add the neutral oil. Add the ground pork (or beef or turkey) and cook, breaking it into crumbles with a spatula, for 6 to 8 minutes until browned, cooked through, and crisp in a few spots.
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, and crushed red pepper flakes if using, and stir to coat the meat.
3. In the same skillet, pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and brown sugar or honey. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the mixture bubble for 1 to 2 minutes so the sauce slightly thickens and coats the meat.
4. Add the coleslaw mix and extra shredded carrots (if using) directly into the skillet. Toss with tongs or a large spoon until all the cabbage is coated in the sauce. The pan will look very full at first but the vegetables will cook down.
5. Continue cooking the cabbage mixture over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is tender but still slightly crisp and some edges are beginning to caramelize.
6. If you are adding eggs, push the meat and cabbage mixture to one side of the skillet to create space. Pour the beaten eggs into the empty side and scramble them, stirring constantly, until just set. Fold the scrambled egg into the rest of the mixture.
7. Turn off the heat. Drizzle the Egg Roll in a Bowl with 1 to 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil and gently stir to distribute. Taste and adjust seasoning with a splash of soy sauce, a bit more vinegar, or extra red pepper flakes if desired.
8. Sprinkle the sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds over the top. Serve the mixture in bowls as-is for a low-carb meal, or spoon over cooked white rice or cauliflower rice for a heartier bowl. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
For the best flavor, let the meat brown deeply before adding the garlic and sauces—those crispy bits on the bottom of the pan add rich, savory taste to the whole dish.
This recipe is very flexible: swap in ground chicken or turkey, toss in extra veggies like bell peppers or snap peas, and adjust the spice level with more or less crushed red pepper or sriracha to suit your family’s preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 980
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 17
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 185
Keywords: egg roll in a bowl, easy dinner, quick dinner, low carb, skillet meal, ground pork recipe, cabbage recipe