Egg Roll In A Bowl Recipe

Egg Roll in a Bowl is a deconstructed version of the traditional egg roll, without the deep-frying and the wrapper. It’s a low-carb, quick, and nutritious meal that brings all the flavors of an egg roll to your plate without the added effort of rolling or frying.

This easy one-pan dish is perfect for weeknights when you’re short on time but craving something flavorful and satisfying. Packed with seasoned ground pork or chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, and a savory soy-based sauce, it’s a well-balanced meal full of protein and vegetables. Plus, it’s versatile—you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your dietary preferences, such as making it keto, paleo, or Whole30-friendly.

Step 1: Brown the Ground Meat

1. Heat the Sesame Oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat. Sesame oil gives the dish a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the rest of the ingredients.
2. Cook the Ground Meat: Add the ground pork (or your preferred meat) to the skillet. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks, ensuring it browns evenly. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. If your meat releases too much fat, drain some of it, but leave a little for flavor.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

1. Add Onion, Garlic, and Ginger: Once the meat is browned, push it to one side of the skillet. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and fresh ginger to the empty space in the pan. Sauté the aromatics for about 2-3 minutes, until the onions soften and the garlic and ginger are fragrant.
2. Combine with Meat: Stir the onions, garlic, and ginger into the browned meat, allowing all the flavors to meld together.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables

1. Add Cabbage and Carrots: Add the shredded cabbage and carrots to the skillet. Stir everything together so that the vegetables mix with the meat and aromatics. The cabbage will cook down significantly as it releases moisture, but it retains a nice crunch if you don’t overcook it.
2. Cook for 5-7 Minutes: Let the cabbage and carrots sauté with the meat mixture for about 5-7 minutes. You want the vegetables to soften slightly but still maintain some of their texture. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Step 4: Add the Sauce

1. Add Soy Sauce and Vinegar: Pour the soy sauce (or coconut aminos) and rice vinegar over the mixture. Stir everything well, ensuring that the sauce evenly coats the meat and vegetables. The soy sauce adds saltiness and umami, while the rice vinegar gives the dish a slight tang that brightens the flavors.
2. Add Sriracha (Optional): If you like your Egg Roll in a Bowl spicy, add a teaspoon of sriracha at this stage. You can adjust the heat level by adding more or less depending on your preference.
3. Cook for Another 2-3 Minutes: Let the flavors meld together for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should lightly coat the cabbage and meat without making the dish too wet.

Step 5: Scramble the Egg (Optional)

1. Optional Egg Scramble: If you want to add a scrambled egg for an extra layer of flavor and authenticity, push the mixture to one side of the skillet and crack an egg into the empty side. Stir it constantly until it’s scrambled and fully cooked, then mix it into the rest of the dish.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

1. Top with Green Onions and Sesame Seeds: Before serving, sprinkle the chopped green onions and sesame seeds over the top of the Egg Roll in a Bowl. These add freshness and a bit of crunch.
2. Serve Hot: Serve your Egg Roll in a Bowl immediately, either on its own or over rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles for a heartier meal.

Tips for Success

• Use a Wok or Large Skillet: The large surface area helps the ingredients cook evenly and prevents overcrowding, which can cause the vegetables to steam rather than sauté.
• Shred the Cabbage Evenly: For the best texture, make sure to shred the cabbage thinly and evenly. If you want to save time, you can also use a pre-shredded coleslaw mix that includes carrots.
• Don’t Overcook the Vegetables: The key to a good Egg Roll in a Bowl is the balance of textures. The vegetables should retain some crunch to mimic the filling of a traditional egg roll.
• Add Flavor Layers: Don’t skip on garlic and ginger; they add depth to the dish. Fresh ginger works best, but ground ginger can be used in a pinch.
• Adjust Seasoning to Taste: Taste as you go and adjust the soy sauce, vinegar, and spices based on your flavor preferences. Some like it saltier, while others may prefer a tangier or spicier version.

Variations

• Keto-Friendly Version: To make this dish keto-friendly, simply use a sugar-free soy sauce or coconut aminos and omit any ingredients with added sugars, such as hoisin sauce. Serve it over cauliflower rice instead of regular rice to keep the carb count low.
• Vegetarian or Vegan: Replace the ground meat with crumbled tofu, tempeh, or a plant-based meat alternative. You can also add more vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or snap peas to bulk up the dish. Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for a soy-free version.
• Paleo and Whole30: Use ground chicken or turkey, and substitute the soy sauce with coconut aminos. Omit the sriracha if it contains non-compliant ingredients or replace it with a Whole30-friendly hot sauce.
• Extra Crunch: For added texture, toss in some chopped water chestnuts, shredded jicama, or toasted cashews toward the end of cooking.
• Spicy Egg Roll in a Bowl: To kick up the heat, increase the amount of sriracha or add red pepper flakes. You could also drizzle some chili oil on top when serving.
• Egg-Free Option: If you want to avoid eggs altogether, just leave out the optional scrambled egg step and enjoy the dish as is.

Serving Suggestions

Egg Roll in a Bowl is a complete meal on its own, but here are some serving ideas to enhance the experience:

• Over Rice or Cauliflower Rice: Serve the egg roll mixture over steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a more filling meal.
• With Noodles: For a noodle-based version, you can mix in cooked ramen noodles, soba noodles, or shirataki noodles for a low-carb option.
• In Lettuce Wraps: For a fun, handheld version, serve the egg roll mixture in lettuce wraps. Butter lettuce or romaine leaves work best for this.
• As a Topping: Use the egg roll mixture as a filling for tacos or on top of baked sweet potatoes for a creative twist.
• With a Side Salad: Pair it with a light, refreshing cucumber salad or a seaweed salad to balance the richness of the egg roll flavors.

Conclusion

Egg Roll in a Bowl is a quick, healthy, and versatile recipe that delivers all the delicious flavors of a traditional egg roll in a simpler, low-carb format. Whether you’re following a specific diet or just looking for a satisfying weeknight meal, this dish is perfect for everyone. Its adaptability makes it easy to tweak the ingredients to fit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll have a go-to meal that’s sure to impress!

Yield: 4

Egg Roll In A Bowl Recipe

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Egg Roll in a Bowl is a deconstructed version of the traditional egg roll, without the deep-frying and the wrapper. It's a low-carb, quick, and nutritious meal that brings all the flavors of an egg roll to your plate without the added effort of rolling or frying. This easy one-pan dish is perfect for weeknights when you're short on time but craving something flavorful and satisfying. Packed with seasoned ground pork or chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, and a savory soy-based sauce, it’s a well-balanced meal full of protein and vegetables.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground pork (or ground beef, turkey, or chicken)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
• 1 (14 oz) bag coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sriracha or hot sauce (optional for heat)
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional for garnish)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the Ground Meat:

• In a large skillet, heat sesame oil over medium heat.
• Add the ground pork (or your choice of meat) and cook for about 5-7 minutes until browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
• Drain any excess fat if necessary.

2. Add Aromatics:

• Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is soft and fragrant.

3. Add Coleslaw Mix:

• Add the bag of coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until the cabbage softens slightly.

4. Season the Mixture:

• Pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha (if using). Stir everything together to combine.
• Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften to your desired texture.

5. Garnish and Serve:

• Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

Notes

Low Carb: This dish is naturally low-carb and keto-friendly. You can serve it as is, or with a side of cauliflower rice for a more filling meal.

Meal Prep: Egg Roll in a Bowl stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Customize: Add additional vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini to bulk it up, or use different sauces like hoisin or teriyaki for a flavor twist.