# Egg Roll in a Bowl

> To make egg roll in a bowl, brown 450 g lean ground pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains and it reaches 71°C (160°F). Stir in garlic, ginger and green onions, add 600 g thinly sliced cabbage and 2 shredded carrots and cook for 4-5 minutes. Toss with soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil. It takes 30 minutes.

Source: https://savourrecipes.com/recipe/egg-roll-in-a-bowl
Author: Yasmin Haddad | Published: Nov 8, 2026
Categories: Healthy Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes
Collections: Quick Weeknight Dinners, Meal Prep Recipes
Tags: High Protein, Low Calorie, 30-Minute Meals, One Pan, Meal Prep

Egg roll in a bowl takes the filling of a pork egg roll (ground pork, shredded cabbage and carrot, ginger, garlic and soy sauce) and stir-fries it in one pan with no wrapper and no deep-frying. The pork browns first, then the cabbage goes in over high heat for just 4-5 minutes, so it wilts but keeps some crunch instead of turning watery. Dinner takes 30 minutes and comes to about 320 calories and 26 g of protein a serving.

## Key facts

- Prep time: 15 mins
- Cook time: 15 mins
- Total time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 servings
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
- Method: Stir-frying
- Calories: 320 per serving

## Ingredients

### Stir-fry

- 1 tbsp neutral oil, such as canola or peanut oil
- 450 g lean ground pork, about 90% lean, 1 lb
- 4 green onions, also called scallions; white and green parts sliced and kept separate
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 600 g green cabbage, about 1/2 medium head or 8 cups, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 medium carrots, about 120 g, grated or cut into matchsticks
### Sauce

- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce, or gluten-free tamari (see tips)
- 1 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1-2 tsp sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
### To serve

- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

## Equipment

- Large skillet or wok (30 cm / 12 inch)
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Sharp knife or mandoline
- Box grater
- Small bowl

## Instructions

1. **Mix the sauce.** Stir the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and sriracha, if using, together in a small bowl. Have it next to the stove, because the last few minutes of cooking move quickly.
2. **Brown the pork.** Heat the neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the pork, press it into an even layer and leave it for 2-3 minutes, until browned underneath. Break it into small crumbles and cook for 4-5 minutes more, stirring now and then, until no pink remains and the juices run clear. Ground pork is safe to eat once it reaches 71°C (160°F). Lean pork leaves very little fat in the pan; if you used regular ground pork, spoon off all but about 1 tbsp of the fat.
3. **Add the aromatics.** Stir in the white parts of the green onions, the garlic and the ginger and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
4. **Wilt the cabbage and carrots.** Turn the heat to high. Add half of the cabbage and toss it with the pork for about 1 minute, until it starts to collapse, then add the rest of the cabbage and the carrots. Cook for 3-4 minutes more, tossing often, until the cabbage is wilted but still has a little crunch. Do not cover the pan; a lid traps steam and makes the cabbage watery.
5. **Season and serve.** Pour the sauce over the pan and toss for 1 minute, until everything is coated and any liquid in the pan has cooked off. Taste and add a splash more soy sauce or sriracha if you like. Spoon into bowls and top with the green onion tops and sesame seeds.

## Tips

- Slice the cabbage about 5 mm thick. Thin, even ribbons wilt in a few minutes; thick pieces stay raw in the middle while the outside goes limp. About 700 g (1 1/2 lb) of bagged coleslaw mix can replace the cabbage and carrots.
- Keep the heat high and add the cabbage in two batches. A crowded pan steams the cabbage and leaves liquid in the bottom of the bowl.
- The soy sauce goes in last because salt draws water out of cabbage. Adding it at the end keeps the stir-fry glossy instead of soupy.
- For a gluten-free bowl, use tamari labelled gluten-free in place of the soy sauce and check the label on the sriracha or chili sauce. Regular soy sauce is brewed with wheat.
- Serve it on its own or over steamed rice or cauliflower rice. The nutrition shown is for the stir-fry alone.

## Variations

- Ground chicken or turkey: use the same weight and cook until no pink remains and it reaches 74°C (165°F). Add an extra teaspoon of oil, since poultry is leaner than pork.
- With egg: push the cooked stir-fry to one side, crack 2 eggs into the empty space, scramble until set with no runny egg left, then toss them through.
- Sriracha mayo: stir 3 tbsp mayonnaise with 1-2 tsp sriracha and a squeeze of lime, then drizzle over the bowls. It adds about 70 calories per serving.
- More vegetables: add 150 g sliced mushrooms or a thinly sliced red bell pepper with the first batch of cabbage, or a handful of bean sprouts with the sauce.

## Storage

- Fridge: Refrigerate within 2 hours in airtight containers for up to 4 days. The cabbage softens as it sits but still reheats well.
- Freezer: It can be frozen for up to 2 months, but the cabbage turns soft and releases liquid as it thaws. Thaw overnight in the fridge and pour off any liquid before reheating.
- Reheat: Reheat in a skillet over medium-high heat or in the microwave, stirring once or twice, until steaming hot and 74°C (165°F) in the centre.

## Nutrition per serving (estimate)

| Calories | Protein | Carbohydrates | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 320 | 26 g | 15 g | 18 g |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is egg roll in a bowl?

Egg roll in a bowl is the filling of a pork egg roll (ground pork, cabbage, carrot, garlic, ginger and soy sauce) stir-fried in one pan and eaten from a bowl without the wrapper. Because nothing is deep-fried, a serving of this version comes to about 320 calories. It is also called unstuffed egg roll or crack slaw.

### Is egg roll in a bowl gluten-free?

Not as written, because regular soy sauce is brewed with wheat. Swap in tamari labelled gluten-free and check the label on the sriracha or chili garlic sauce, and the rest of the ingredients (pork, vegetables, rice vinegar, sesame oil and seeds) are naturally gluten-free.

### Can I use ground chicken or turkey instead of pork?

Yes. Use the same 450 g and brown it the same way, adding an extra teaspoon of oil because poultry is leaner. Cook it until no pink remains and it reaches 74°C (165°F), then continue with the cabbage and sauce.

### Why is my egg roll in a bowl watery?

Cabbage is mostly water, and it releases it when it steams instead of stir-frying. Cook it over high heat in a large pan, add it in two batches, leave the lid off, cook it only until wilted (about 4-5 minutes) and add the soy sauce at the end so the salt has less time to draw out liquid.

### Is egg roll in a bowl good for meal prep?

Yes. Cool it and refrigerate it within 2 hours in airtight containers for up to 4 days, then reheat it in a skillet or microwave until steaming hot and 74°C (165°F). The cabbage softens a little each day, so cook it until just wilted if you are packing it for later.

### How many calories are in egg roll in a bowl?

Made with 90% lean ground pork, each of 4 servings has about 320 calories, 26 g protein, 15 g carbohydrate and 18 g fat, before any rice or optional toppings. Regular ground pork adds roughly 100 calories per serving unless you drain off the fat.

## Disclaimer

- Nutrition information is an estimate based on the listed ingredients. It changes with the brands, portion sizes and swaps you use.
- Read ingredient labels for allergens and for diet claims such as gluten-free or vegan. Products and their ingredients can change.
- Cooking times are a guide, since ovens, air fryers and slow cookers all run differently. Use a food thermometer and cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe internal temperatures in government food safety guidance.
- This recipe is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. If you have an allergy, a health condition or a special diet, check with a qualified health professional.
