🥢🥬 Egg Roll in a Bowl
All the delicious flavors of a crispy egg roll—savory seasoned beef, crunchy cabbage, carrots, garlic, ginger, and sesame—served in one easy skillet meal.
This Egg Roll in a Bowl is a fast, satisfying dinner that’s packed with vegetables and bold Asian-inspired flavor. Everything cooks in one pan, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without the fuss of rolling and frying egg rolls.
⏱️ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Difficulty: Easy
Method: One-Pan / Stovetop
🛒 Ingredients
- 1½ lbs (680 g) ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
- ½ cup (60 g) carrots, shredded or finely julienned
- 16 oz (450 g) coleslaw mix, shredded cabbage and carrots
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
For Extra Flavor
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, optional
- 1 teaspoon honey or brown sugar, optional
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Ingredients
Dice the onion and prepare the garlic and carrots.
If your coleslaw mix contains large pieces of cabbage, you can roughly chop it into smaller pieces for easier eating.
Have all your seasonings and sauces ready because the dish comes together quickly once cooking begins.
2. Cook the Ground Beef
Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
Add the ground beef and cook for approximately 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks.
Continue until the beef is browned and cooked through.
If there is a large amount of excess fat, carefully drain it.
3. Add the Onion and Garlic
Add the diced onion to the skillet.
Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds, until fragrant.
Be careful not to burn the garlic.
4. Season the Beef
Add:
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ground ginger
- Red pepper flakes
Stir thoroughly so the spices coat the beef and onions.
Cook for about 1 minute to toast the spices and release their aroma.
5. Add the Carrots
Add the shredded carrots.
Stir into the beef mixture and cook for approximately 2 minutes.
The carrots should begin to soften while retaining a little texture.
6. Add the Coleslaw Mix
Add the entire bag of coleslaw mix to the skillet.
At first it may look like there is too much cabbage, but it will shrink significantly as it cooks.
Toss everything together.
7. Add the Sauce
Pour in:
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Optional oyster sauce
- Optional honey or brown sugar
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
Stir thoroughly to combine.
8. Cook Until Tender
Cook for approximately 5–8 minutes, stirring frequently.
The cabbage should become tender but still have a little bite.
For a softer, more traditional cooked-cabbage texture, continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Add more soy sauce for saltiness, rice vinegar for brightness, or red pepper flakes for additional heat.
9. Finish and Serve
Remove the skillet from the heat.
Sprinkle with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Serve immediately while hot.
🥢 Serving Suggestions
Egg Roll in a Bowl is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Steamed white rice
- Jasmine rice
- Brown rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Fried rice
- Steamed edamame
- Asian cucumber salad
For extra flavor, drizzle individual servings with spicy mayo or sriracha.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Don’t overcook the cabbage: Keeping a little crunch gives the dish a texture similar to a fresh egg-roll filling.
Use a large skillet: The cabbage needs plenty of room to cook evenly.
Adjust the heat: Add more red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili oil if you like spicy food.
Use ground pork: Ground pork is a classic alternative and works beautifully in this recipe.
Make it saucier: Add another tablespoon of soy sauce and a splash of chicken broth if you prefer a more moist filling.
Toast the sesame seeds: A quick dry-toast in a skillet makes them much more aromatic.
🌶️ Easy Variations
Spicy Egg Roll in a Bowl
Add 1–2 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the skillet.
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Replace the ground beef with 1½ lbs ground chicken.
Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl
Use ground pork for a richer, more traditional egg-roll flavor.
Shrimp Egg Roll in a Bowl
Add peeled, chopped shrimp during the final 4–5 minutes of cooking.
Low-Carb Egg Roll Bowl
Serve over cauliflower rice and use a low-sugar soy sauce or tamari.
Extra-Veggie Version
Add sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, snap peas, or water chestnuts.
🧊 Storage
Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
This recipe is excellent for meal prep because the flavors become even more developed after resting.
🔥 Reheating
Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
For larger portions, reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat until hot.
Add a small splash of water or broth if the mixture seems dry.
❄️ Freezing
Egg Roll in a Bowl can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Allow it to cool completely, then portion into freezer-safe containers.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
The cabbage may become slightly softer after freezing, but the flavor remains delicious.
🥢🥬 Final Result
This Egg Roll in a Bowl delivers all the comforting flavors of your favorite egg roll without the wrapper, deep frying, or extra work.
You get savory ground beef, tender-crisp cabbage, sweet carrots, aromatic garlic and ginger, nutty sesame oil, and just the right amount of spice in every bite.
One skillet, no wrappers, maximum flavor! 🥢🔥🥬✨