Keto Beef and Broccoli

Name: Keto Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup tamari (or soy sauce); 1/4 cup beef broth; 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tbsp Swerve Brown; 1 tbsp allulose (or BochaSweet); 4 cloves garlic; 1 tsp minced ginger; 1/2 tsp glucomannan (or xanthan gum); 1 1/2 lb flank steak or top sirloin (thinly sliced); Salt and pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil (divided); 10 ounces fresh broccoli (cut into small florets); 1 medium green onion (sliced); 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

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Keto Beef and Broccoli is a classic dish with rich umami flavors. This easy one-pan meal comes together in 30 minutes and has only 3.3g net carbs per serving.

Keto Beef and Broccoli over cauliflower rice in a black bowl.

My family loves take-out, and they particularly love anything with an Asian flair like Chinese food. It’s tricky for me, however, as most Asian-American dishes aren’t exactly kind to my blood sugar.

So I often try to replicate their favorite Asian food here at home, and I like to think that I am pretty successful. They love my Keto Pad Thai with cabbage noodles, and the Chicken Yakitori Skewers are part of our regular rotation.

And this Keto Beef and Broccoli makes all of us happy. It satisfies the kids’ cravings for that classic Chinese takeout. And with a fraction of the carbs, I can indulge without worry.

Top down image of keto beef and broccoli in a cast iron skillet.

Why you need to try this recipe!

There is so much to love about this easy keto stir-fry. It takes only 30 minutes to make, start to finish. It also uses a single pan so there is less to clean up when dinner is done.

Dare I suggest that it’s about as easy as picking up the phone and ordering from a restaurant? Okay, maybe not quite that easy but it’s close!

Best of all, it has the bold umami flavor you look for in your take-out meals, but none of the sugar or starch. Serve it over some cauliflower rice and you won’t feel like you’re missing out at all.

Ingredients you need

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Ingredients for Keto Beef and Broccoli on a white wooden table.

For the sauce:

Tamari: Tamari is a form of soy sauce, but it has a richer flavor and is completely gluten-free. It adds more of that distinctive umami than something like coconut aminos and has fewer carbs too.
Beef broth: Using bone broth instead of water in the sauce deepens the flavor.
Sesame oil: Use toasted sesame oil, if you can find it.
Sweetener: I use two sweeteners here. Swerve Brown gives it a classic flavor and allulose helps it become thicker. You actually don’t have to use sweetener at all, but most Chinese versions do take a little brown sugar.
Garlic and ginger: Minced fresh garlic and ginger are the cornerstones of Asian cooking. You can use powdered garlic and ginger but the flavor isn’t the same.
Glucomannan: This keto-friendly thickener helps the consistency of the sauce, rather than using cornstarch. You can use xanthan gum in the same amount, if you prefer.

For the stir fry:

Stir fry beef: Flank steak or top sirloin are good cuts of meat for Beef and Broccoli, as they are tender and cook quickly. Whichever you choose, make sure to slice it thinly against the grain.
Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli for this stir-fry and make sure to cut the florets on the small side for even cooking. Frozen broccoli gets to mushy too quickly.
Garnish: Green onion and toasted sesame seeds.
Oil for the pan.

Step by step directions

A collage of four images showing the steps for making keto beef and broccoli.

1. Prep the sauce: Whisk all of the ingredients in together until well combined. Set aside until ready to use.

2. Stir fry the broccoli: Add some oil to a large skillet and sauté the broccoli until it turns bright green and starts to become tender. Remove to a plate.

3. Stir fry the beef: Add more oil to the pan and add the beef. Cook until nicely browned all over. If your skillet is smaller than 12 inches, you may need to work in batches.

4. Add the sauce: Pour the sauce into the pan, add the broccoli, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the sauce is thickened and the broccoli is tender.

Chopsticks holding up keto beef and broccoli above a bowl.

Expert tips and FAQ

It’s important to slice the beef thinly and against the grain, so that it cooks quickly and evenly. For the best results, slice the steak when it is still partially frozen but is not rock solid. If you purchase the beef fresh, you can put it in the freezer for 45 minutes or so, to firm up.

Broccoli can take a while to become tender in stir-fries, so sautéing it first helps jump start the cooking process. That way, the beef doesn’t become overcooked while you wait for the broccoli to soften.

If you can’t get allulose or BochaSweet, you can use all Swerve in the sauce. Just be aware that it won’t thicken as nicely.

Is beef and broccoli high in carbs?

Conventional recipes for beef and broccoli call for both cornstarch and sugar, so they are not appropriate for low carb diets. However, this Keto Beef and Broccoli has no added sugar or starches and only 3.3g net carbs per serving.

Is broccoli okay on the keto diet?

Broccoli is a non-starchy vegetable and is an excellent choice for the keto diet. Per cup, it has 6g of total carbs and 2.4g of dietary fiber. It also has other important nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium.

What cut of meat is used for beef and broccoli?

Choose tender, lean cuts of beef that you can slice thinly, such as flank steak or top sirloin. Always slice against the grain of the meat.

Top down image of a bowl of keto beef and broccoli over cauliflower rice with a pair of chopsticks.

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