Fitness / August 28, 2024

Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Savory, light, and delicious, this Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry will be everything you’re looking for.

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There are so many dishes that I loved growing up that I had to step away from once I started to lead a healthier lifestyle. One of those were stir-fries. Whether it be a classic lo mein or a fried rice, I had to leave them behind because of the high starch and carbohydrate content. It was a sad day, but I felt it was all for the best.

But what if I could, as they say, have my stir-fry and eat it, too? You could say I was having stir-fry withdrawals when I found this recipe for chicken and cabbage stir-fry—all the flavor of the classic dish without all the guilt (i.e., starch and carbs) that is associated with noodles and rice.

The simplicity of this one-pan meal is part of its appeal. Cooking all your ingredients in one pan allows the flavors to blend and makes for easy cleanup. The rich base and no starchy, carb-heavy base allows you to enjoy your stir-fry the way you always have.

Is This Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry Healthy?

Chicken and cabbage stir-fry is gluten-free, paleo, and low-carb. White meat is low in fat and high in protein. It also helps reduce cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease. Cabbage is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber, plus it helps with digestive health while keeping your blood clotting as it should. You also have onion and garlic, which are both anti-inflammatory and assist in lowering blood sugar and the risk of cancer. This recipe is easy to make vegan by substituting your chicken with a vegan protein like soy or jackfruit and replacing your butter with a plant-based alternative or oil.

What is the difference between cabbage and lettuce?

There are many differences between these leafy greens. In fact, cabbage and lettuce are not even part of the same genus! Whereas lettuce belongs to the lactuca genus, cabbage is part of the brassica genus with vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts. As well, cabbage has a peppery flavor and pungent odor while lettuce is watery and bland with little to no odor. Cabbage leaves tend to be thick, hard, and tough, giving a crunch when raw and caramelizing when cooked. Lettuce is more fragile, owing to its high water content.

INGREDIENTS

2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green cabbage, cored and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Sauté

Cook the chicken, season, and set aside.

Sauté

Cook onion, then add cabbage.

Combine

Add garlic, paprika, and chicken back to skillet.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How do I prep and store this stir-fry?

If you are planning on doing meal prep, you can chop and prepare all your vegetables, and sauces, and store them all separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator until you are ready to stir-fry them, no more than three days ahead of time. If you are storing leftovers, let your stir-fry cool to room temperature then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Can I use alternative proteins or red cabbage?

You can easily substitute your green cabbage with napa or red cabbage. As for your protein I recommend sticking with poultry breast meat like turkey to keep it as healthy as possible.

Can I make my stir-fry spicy?

Absolutely. In fact, adding dried red chili flakes to your recipe will give a bump of heat that will also help increase your metabolism and add flavor to your dish.

Serving Suggestions

As a single-pan meal, you do not generally need much more to serve with it; however, if you do feel like you need more for your meal, I would suggest a nice egg drop or miso soup as an appetizer. The chicken and cabbage stir-fry also pairs nicely with a white wine of your choosing.

Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Savory, light, and delicious, this Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry will be everything you’re looking for.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings servings

Calories 256kcal

Author Anneliese Duprey

Ingredients

2 large chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium onion chopped
1 medium green cabbage cored and chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon paprika
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until cooked through, 5-7 minutes, stirring often. Remove chicken and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté the onion for 3 minutes until translucent.
Add the chopped cabbage to the skillet and cook uncovered, stirring often, for 10-15 minutes until the cabbage is soft or to your desired tenderness.
Mix in the minced garlic and paprika, cooking for an additional minute until fragrant.
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, stir well, and cook until heated through. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the stir-fry hot.