This Keto Beef and Broccoli recipe is a quick and easy 15-minute version of a Chinese take-out meal. This easy keto dinner recipe is cheaper and easy enough to make at home. It’s also healthier than most take-out meal options. With juicy tender beef and crisp broccoli brought together in a rich soy sauce, this quick keto dinner recipe is as colourful and healthy as it is delicious.
Clean Keto Recipe
Are you feeling slightly overwhelmed by the holidays and looking for something easy and healthy? If so, then this keto beef and broccoli recipe is the perfect solution for a quick keto dinner.
Beef and broccoli are one of those dishes that should be on your fixed weekday dinner menu because it’s so easy to make, healthier than takeout, and extremely delicious.
This healthy beef and broccoli stir fry is extra saucy and quick to prepare. Plus, compared to take-out which is loaded with sugar and carbs, this easy keto dinner recipe only has 5 grams of net carbs per serving!
Just like my 15-minute Keto Korean Ground Beef as well as my Keto Asian Chicken Noodle Salad, I love taking high-sugar dishes and converting them into low carb, gluten-free, sugar-free healthy versions! Filled with crispy broccoli, this clean keto recipe is definitely one of my favourites!
This keto dinner recipe comes together quickly with very little effort. Serve it on its own, over some riced cauliflower or some 4-Ingredient Beet Noodles, this healthy beef and broccoli stir fry is delicious as either dinner or as leftovers for lunch the next day.
Ingredients
The great thing about this easy beef and broccoli is that you probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.
- Steak - Use a thin steak such as a flank steak. To help cut the steak into thin slices, place the steak in the freezer for about 30 minutes before slicing. If you do not have flank steak, you can use any cut of steak but it may lead to a "tougher" texture.
- Black pepper - The black pepper helps to bring out the flavour of the steak
- Soy Sauce - If you want to keep this recipe Whole30 and Paleo, use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce
- Sweetener - I used Lakanto Golden but any sugar substitute will work. For Whole30, you can use Date Paste and for Paleo, use coconut sugar. I also added 1 tablespoon of sugar-free honey (ChocZero just came out with commercial sugar-free honey) but you can use liquid allulose or omit this ingredient entirely.
- Ginger and Garlic - You can't beat the flavour of fresh ginger and garlic. However, if you do not have either of these ingredients, you can replace them with about 1 teaspoon of dried spices.
- Sesame oil - I LOVE toasted sesame oil! It gives this dish such an extra punch of flavour so I do not suggest omitting it.
- Xanthan gum - Xantham gum is whisked into the sauce ingredients to create a nice and thick sauce that will coat the beef and broccoli. You can replace the xantham gum with cornstarch (about 1 tsp) but it will add some extra carbs to the dish.
- Broccoli - I used a bag of broccoli florets which I then broke into smaller bite-size pieces.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Making this keto beef and broccoli is super easy! Plus, since it is definitely a clean keto recipe, you can feel good about eating it!
In a large microwaveable bowl, add the broccoli and cover the bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the microwave and set it to the side.
Whisk together all the sauce ingredients, except for the xantham gum. Keep whisking and sprinkle the xantham gum into the sauce until the sauce thickens. Set the sauce to the side.
Pepper the steak slices and add them to a hot wok or skillet. Cook on high heat for a couple of minutes or until the center of the beef is slightly pink.
Add the sauce to the wok and cook on high heat, stirring constantly, until it begins to boil. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat and stir in the broccoli.
Enjoy!
Hint: I like to quickly heat the sauce ingredients in the microwave for about 30 seconds to help dissolve the sweetener as well as make whisking in the xanthan gum easier.
Substitutions
This keto beef and broccoli has simple ingredient swaps to help you stay within your dietary restrictions.
- Whole30- instead of soy sauce, use coconut aminos and date paste instead of the sugar substitute.
- Paleo - use coconut aminos instead of the soy sauce, regular honey and coconut sugar instead of the sugar substitute
- Carnivore - to decrease carbs, even more, double the beef and only add half the amount of broccoli.
Variations
One of the best things about this clean keto recipe is not only how easy it is to make but also how easy it is to modify to suit your dietary needs!
- Spicy - add some drops of sriracha sauce or chili garlic sauce
- Stir-Fry - use a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables instead of the broccoli
Equipment
Although you do not need a wok for this recipe, it definitely helps. According to Cook's Illustrated, one obvious benefit of cooking in a wok is that its high, sloping walls allow you to easily move food around the surface without spilling it over the sides. Its tall sides create two distinct heat zones that work in tandem to cook food efficiently and evenly.
If you do not own a wok, you can use a large frying pan. If you use a frying pan, I would suggest undercooking your meat slightly as compared to the recipe.
Storage
This quick keto dinner recipe is great the same day and even up to 3 days later. I love portioning out a container worth for my lunch the next day!
Top tip
Do NOT overcook your beef otherwise, it will turn out tough and chewy. Also, make sure that the broccoli is cut into small pieces to ensure that it gets covered in the delicious sauce!
Quick and Easy Keto Beef and Broccoli
This Keto Beef and Broccoli recipe is a quick and easy 15-minute version of a Chinese take-out meal. This easy keto dinner recipe is cheaper and easy enough to make at home. It’s also healthier than most take-out meal options. With juicy tender beef and crisp broccoli brought together in a rich soy sauce, this quick keto dinner recipe is as colourful and healthy as it is delicious.
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak, sliced thinly
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp brown sugar substitute
- optional - 1 tablespoon sugar-free honey (or maple syrup, liquid allulose or tapioca fiber syrup)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ¼ tsp xanthan gum
- 4 cups chopped broccoli florets
Instructions
- Place the flank steak in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Add the broccoli to a microwave safe bowl and add 1 tablespoon of water. Cover and cook on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and pour broccoli in a strainer. Run cold water over the broccoli and leave it in the sink to drain.
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, sweetener, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and whisk in xanthan gum. Set aside.
- Remove the steak from the freezer and thinly slice the steak. Season with pepper.
- Spray a skillet or wok with cooking spray and heat the pan on high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring constantly, until beef is medium to medium-well done (slight pink in the center). Remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside.
- Add the sauce and the broccoli to the pan. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the beef and sauce to the broccoli and allow the sauce to come to a boil. Boil for 1 minute to thicken the sauce.
- Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Stove-top
- Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1.8
- Fat: 6.3
- Carbohydrates: 6.8
- Fiber: 1.8
- Protein: 19
What type of beef is best for Chinese stir fry recipes?
My personal favorite cut for beef and broccoli is flank steak, and the second best is skirt steak. I wouldn’t use a fancy cut such as a strip because it’s quite expensive and the result is not as good.
How do I tenderize a tough cut of meat?
You can always add ½ teaspoon of baking soda (not powder) to about ¼ cup soy sauce and marinate the meat for 30 minutes before cooking.
Can I use different vegetables?
You can use 1 cup of sliced carrots, sliced red peppers, snap peas, or snow peas to replace half of the broccoli.
Can I make this beef and broccoli spicier?
If you prefer spicy beef and broccoli, add a splash of chili oil or sriracha to spice up your dish.
John
One of my family favorites ?