It takes everything you love about a crispy, savory egg roll — the seasoned meat, the tender cabbage, the garlic-ginger aroma — and transforms it into a warm, cozy pasta dish that feels like a hug in a bowl. No deep frying. No complicated steps. Just simple ingredients coming together in the most satisfying way.
I still remember the first time I made a version of this on a busy weeknight when I had almost nothing in the fridge. A little ground meat, half a bag of coleslaw mix, a box of pasta, and a bottle of sauce. That was it. What came out of that pan surprised me — not just because it worked, but because it tasted like something I would have ordered from a restaurant after a long day.
Now it’s one of those easy dinner recipes I come back to again and again. It’s fast, budget-friendly, and incredibly comforting. And somehow, it always disappears faster than I expect.
This quick and easy one-pot meal brings all the classic flavors of an Asian egg roll straight to your dinner table, but with a fun pasta twist. It’s budget-friendly, takes less than 20 minutes, and is highly customizable!
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
12 oz (340 g) pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or egg noodles)
1 lb (450 g) ground pork (or lean ground chicken/turkey for a lighter option)
1 bag (14 oz / 400 g) coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option)
Instructions
1 Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2 Brown the Meat: In a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, add the ground meat. Cook until completely browned and no longer pink (about 5–7 minutes), breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. If using pork, drain any excess grease.
3 Add the Veggies: Toss the entire bag of coleslaw mix directly into the skillet with the meat. Pour the soy sauce over the top. Stir-fry for about 3–4 minutes until the cabbage starts to wilt but still keeps a bit of its crunch.
4 Combine and Serve: Add the cooked, drained pasta into the skillet. Toss everything together well so the pasta absorbs the flavors and the soy sauce coats every ingredient. Cook for an additional minute until heated through, then serve warm!