Keto Beef and Broccoli
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My keto beef and broccoli recipe combines juicy flank steak with tender broccoli in an umami-forward sauce. Ready in under 15 minutes and only 3 grams of net carbs!
I typically cook at least one stir-fry a week for my family, and my keto broccoli and beef recipe is always highly requested.
They love it because it’s flavorful and doesn’t taste low-carb. I love it because the prep time is practically non-existent and gives Chinese takeout a run for its money!
Unlike other keto dinner recipes, this one was one of the easier ones to get right. I did have to test the sauce a few times to replicate the signature umami flavor and thickness (without cornstarch!), but the end result speaks for itself: juicy steak strips, crisp broccoli, and a sauce you’d literally lick off the plate.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- It’s healthy. We’re talking lean protein, fiber, and a few Asian staples for the low-calorie sauce.
- It’s fast. If I can have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes, it will become a weekly staple.
- It makes for great leftovers. Let the flavors mesh overnight, and you’ve got the perfect leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
- And it’s easy to customize. Swap the protein, use different veggies, or add cauliflower rice to make a heartier dish.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“This was so good! I will be keeping the recipe in the rotation for sure!” – Deanna
Key Ingredients
Here’s what goes into my low carb beef and broccoli, along with kitchen notes. The complete list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
- Flank steak. Sliced against the grain and into bite-sized pieces. I don’t recommend pre-sliced strips, as they often discard the steak’s outer portions, which give the stir-fry so much extra flavor.
- Soy sauce OR liquid aminos. If you are gluten intolerant or have a soy allergy, use liquid aminos. It has the same flavor as soy sauce.
- Lemon juice. Adds extra acidity, helping hold the flavors in the beef and broccoli florets.
- Coconut oil OR canola oil. To cook the meat in. Only a small amount will be used to balance out the sesame oil flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar. Gives the beef an extra boost of flavor, especially when paired with soy sauce.
- Minced garlic. Garlic from a jar is fine and is easier than mincing it yourself.
- Salt and Pepper. To taste! I always add salt AFTER stir-frying everything, as adding salt to your meat before frying can reduce the sodium absorption.
- Toasted Sesame oil. The star ingredient that makes this beef and broccoli stir-fry better than any other out there! Use very good-quality sesame oil, as it has a very distinct flavor.
- Broccoli. Fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
How to make keto beef and broccoli
Step 1- Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. Pour over the steak and toss to coat.
Step 2- Cook the meat. Add one tablespoon of sesame oil to a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated steak and half of its sauce. Sear for 5 minutes, turning halfway through.
Step 3- Cook the broccoli. Add the second tablespoon of sesame oil, then the broccoli and the remaining sauce. Cook for 10 minutes until the broccoli is tender. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the broccoli is cooked.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Use other cuts of beef. If you don’t have flank steak, you can use sirloin steak instead, but I suggest marinating the beef for 30 minutes first to help break down the fibers.
- Make sure the pan is hot. The best way I’ve found to get caramelized beef is to only add it once the pan is nice and warm.
- Give it some heat. Add hot sauce, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Swap the protein. Use ground beef, sliced chicken breast, tofu, or shrimp.
- Add more vegetables. Like onions, peppers, cauliflower, or some fresh ginger. These are all lower in carbs, so the net carbs won’t change by much.
- Garnish. Sprinkle some sesame seeds, cashews, or pumpkin seeds on top before serving.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled stir fry in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Microwave portions for 30-40 seconds or until hot, or reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water.
Frequently asked questions
There are just 3 grams of net carbs per serving.
Cooked broccoli is best enjoyed crisp and tender, so pre-cooking it will result in soft and brittle broccoli. If the broccoli isn’t cooked to your liking, you can continue simmering on low until it reaches your desired texture.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
“This low carb beef and broccoli is an excellent high-protein and high-fiber dinner idea that doesn’t rely on sugar-laden or excessively thickened sauces for flavor. If you aren’t watching your carbs, serve with brown rice.” – Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Keto Beef and Broccoli
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds flank steak
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/2 cup soy sauce can use liquid aminos
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 cups broccoli chopped
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Slice the steak against the grain, in bite sized strips. Place in a mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together your coconut oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar and mix well. Pour over the steak to ensure the sauce covers all the meat.
- Heat a non-stick pan with one tablespoon of sesame oil. When hot, add your marinated steak and half the sauce it is in. Sear for 5 minutes, turning halfway through, for the steak to cook on both sides.
- Add the second tablespoon of sesame oil, and add the broccoli and the rest of the sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, until the broccoli is tender. Reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the broccoli is cooked to your desired texture.
- Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- Tips: See my recipe tips for the best keto broccoli beef.
- Leftovers: Keep in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for 6 months.
Nutrition
More low carb dinners to try
If you love this takeout fakeout recipe, here are some others you may also enjoy:
Live what you do! You always give me simple delicious ideas
Thanks for the kind words Cindy!
Great!
Thanks Valerie!
How long should it be marinaded? Could it be all day while at work? Thank you!
Hi Dannielle- I actually don’t recommend marinating it for too long, because it penetrates a little too much into the meat (because it’s cut into strips) and will yield a super salty stir fry. You can prep the marinade first, then give the strips a quick toss in them before cooking 🙂
I make this weekly!
Love to hear that, Gayle- it reheats and freezes really, really well. My partner used to request this during his meal prep days!
Delicious! I added some steamed riced cauliflower and sliced onion. Great Keto meal! I’d post a photo and video if I knew how, lol! Thanks for the recipe!
This is my go to recipe when I don’t feel like cooking! Sometimes I’ll add heart of palm noodles and it is DIVINE.
This was delicious!!
Quick, easy, high protein.
Thanks, Shimone- glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing! One of my favorite keto recipes so far! Served over cauliflower rice.
I’m usually a picky eater, and I hardly know how to make food; it’s the worst combo to live with. I expected the soy sauce to overtake the beef; normally, I hate soy sauce, but you can hardly taste it. Best food I have ever made so far!
Aw, thanks so much NK! I’m sure you’re not giving yourself enough credit! 🙂 Yes, the soy sauce does look like alot, but it’s to coat the broccoli too 🙂
I loved how simple this recipe was to prepare and cook. Husband and children liked it, too! I will make it again.
Love to hear that, Lee Ann- I’m so glad the family enjoyed it 🙂
I am very picky with tastes from recipes and I can say that this is delicious! I tried it with the beef and the beef was chewy. So I would upgrade the beef or buy chicken. Either way, the flavor was delicious and I put. At the end I added a cup of cauliflower rice in the same pan. Was great!
Love love love ❤️ Made it with minced meat and it was amazing
Love to hear that, Daniela! How funny- my original recipe called for ground beef, before I tweaked it to be using steak strips! Thanks for the lovely comment and star rating!
I made the recipe as directed, but I found it to be too salty. I will try reduced-sodium soy sauce in the future.
Hi Dee- thanks for the feedback. Are you letting the steak strips soak for longer than needed? This can make the beef salty. but yes, using low sodium soy sauce is a great option.
Best keto beef and broccoli ever!
Lemon juice is referred to in the introduction but does not appear in the actual recipe. Where was lemon juice added and how much was used?
This tastes even better than takeout- give yourself more credit, boy!
Aw, Mandy- you are too sweet. I appreciate your kind words and review!
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together your coconut oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, LEMON juice, and apple cider vinegar and mix well. Pour over the steak to ensure the sauce covers all the meat.
This was so good! I will be keeping the recipe in the rotation for sure!
I Love Asian foods. I am anxious to give this a try. Looks soooooo Yummy
best keto beef and broccoli that tastes better than any restaurant!
So delicious and so easy to make. This is the second time making this. I get my Flank steaks at Sams Club. They seem to be the best prices.
I made this . Its very good.
Made this with venison meat. It was really good. I didn’t have enough soy sauce on hand, so I made up the difference with teriyaki & worcestershire sauce. My husband isn’t focused on carbs, so I made a small batch of wild rice to add to his serving. Will definitely make this again.
Made it for dinner last night, and my Sauce-Snob husband raved! I only had a reduced sodium Soy Sauce on hand, but it worked fine. I loved how simple this was to make. It’s definitely going to be on the menu again at my house! Thank you!
I omitted the garlic as I’m sensitive and subbed coconut aminos for the soy sauce. It tastes amazing. I’m so impressed. I love so many of your dessert recipes and keto bread recipes, this one most definitely did not disappoint. So much flavor. I will say I probably only had a cup or two of broccoli and about 1.5lb of beef so I have some extra sauce… but I’ll just marinate the hamburger steaks I have with the leftover. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Arman. Always love experimenting with the recipes you have!!
GREAT Flavoring! 5 stars for sure.
We are on the keto diet, so I modified the recipe a bit. Loved it!
I had a similar express broccoli beef at a restaurant recently and found myself craving it and wondering if I could recreate it today. Thanks, Arman for sharing!
Hey great work Arman. I had never tried Broccoli Beef from Panda. But after reading your blog and seeing the snap of the majestic food, I tried. Oh Boy! It was great. And now I am going to really try it out just like how you had done. Thanks man…I am simply going bazinga over this…Never thought beef would go this well with broccoli.
No worries at all- Glad you enjoyed it, Edgar!
Is there any way you could give nutritional data? Carb gr? Fat? Sugar? Calories per serving ?
Hi Rachel! I don’t count calories but if you plug the info into a nutrition calculator it should provide it for you 🙂 Enjoy!
This looks like something I would love! I’ll be giving it a try soon.
Thanks Linda! It’s so simple and easy to whip up 🙂
Back in my carnivorous days, I used to order take out chinese and it was always Beef with Broccoli. Of course, I never actually ate the beef, just the the broccoli, but I liked the flavor or maybe it was just all the salt.
Oh man, we need to bottle MSG and drink it. Shots?
Considering it is definitely a tough dish to photograph, I think that you did a fantastic job!!!
Cheers, buddy! Meat just does not photograph well but tastes bloody epic.
No way, I can’t believe someone in SF suggested Panda Express to you when you were really a stone’s throw away from Chinatown!
Where’s my bowl of rice so I can dip into this??
I KNOW.
..We ended up going to China Town for dinner to a Japanese Izakaya which was run by Chinese. Fail.
LOL at the easy, breezy, beautiful Covergirl line 😀 😀
Lolol I think you’re the only one who got it.
I haven’t had any red meat in awhile but now I am a cravinggggggggggggg – bring on the cow, I will bring my knife!
Dude. Order. Now.
I have never eaten at panda express. I don’t think I have actually even seen a panda express before. This sounds like such an easy recipe and my husband would love it!
Definitely give it a go- I promise it’s super simple and delicious!
I definitely crave sugar the more I eat sugar! I try to save sweet treats for late in the day, so there is less of the day left to crave sweets, haha.
That is wise planning, Liz!
Since I’m by myself for Christmas, I’m thinking about grabbing some Chinese takeout on my way home from work – but now I don’t have an excuse not to make it at home. We’ll see though. I do love broccoli beef! I think I’ve only eaten at Panda Express once that I can remember.
I’m by myself too (Well for half a day). Let’s eat Asian take out and pretend we’re eating turkey. OR whole foods.
Haha, I love that you have the gluten-free label on there! Really helps me out :p
But this is amazing and looks exactly like the meals that my grandma would make me as a kid… albeit healthier. Will try this one day when I’m craving something from my childhood
Definitely give it a go. #Asianpride.
i’ll take this over panda express any day. I actually fear that place now –> um, MSG laden and plus I got food poisoning. ARMAN takeout please!
Definitely. Arman Panda coming right up.
Yum! I haven’t had Asian take-out in forever, but there’s a great place near my work that I’ll go every now and then and order their beef and broccoli.
I definitely find myself craving more sugar after having sugar. I don’t eat sweets all the time, so I do notice that the second I have one cookie I suddenly want another!
YES! Well, maybe I did eat cookies for weeks but that was totally under the guise of recipe testing….
I totally see your sister eating Sweet an Sour without chicken. LOL.
This looks so good, Arman. I am always a little disgusted by our Chinese Take outs, cause normally, everything is just drenched in that slimy Sweet and Sour Stuff.
I didn’t have ground beef in forever, must change!
Definitely get some ground beef! And stupid Niki….totally something she would do.
Man id feel like a covergirl eating this! Love the healthy take on it. I think Ive been to Panda Express once but either way I know your version kicks way more ass. I was reading thru the ingredient list and awesome. All stuff that will make me feel like a rockstar. saving this one for sure.
Thank you! Hope you give it a go!
Yummmm, Arman!! Did I mention I eat beef now? Like… a lot. And I am also avoiding sugar these days after being a former sugar addict (especially a fruit addict), so I will literally make this is week, tag you in a photo and boom!! Can’t wait to try. Miss ya. PS Panda Express kinda sucks soooo I have faith this is way better.
Dude. I eat kale now. Granted, it’s fried to a crisp but it’s still cale.
I MISS YOU MORE. Also, post Christmas you bet I’m on the sugar free challenge.
For some reason, whenever I see ground beef, I only ever think tacos. Weird, right? But this looks delicious.
I can’t say I’m a Panda Express fan, but I do love mongolian chicken from a local takeout place.
Thanks Kay! Haha, I can see that association but this was quicker than skirt steak…
Oh Mongolian chicken is epic. So little chicken. So so good.
Love the ingredients and totally trying this. Asian style paleo friendly recipes are kind of a block for me for some reason! I have also prefaced a few of my recipes with how un-photogenic a food is. I think you made this look awesome, but I totally hear you! My chipotle chicken salad looks inedible in photos 🙂
Inedible and visually unfortunate recipes are the best tasting 😉
Ohh the classic broccoli beef. The overdose of salt and sugar all at once. Thank you for this healthier recipe!!
The Halal Guys food cart in NYC is by far my favorite take away food. If you haven’t tried their food yet (it has to be the one on 53rd and 6th), you haven’t experienced the city. More reason for you to come back to America!!!
Nooo…we need to stick to our roots and add the extra msg 😉
I can’t believe you didn’t tell me the specific address. Add this to our list too. Geez, Al, we’re going to get fat. Cannot wait.
I personally think that it is the food that is the hardest to photograph is the best tasting. As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters.
I think more dishes should have broccoli in them.
YES. OH man, I made a bacon cheeseburger concoction and was dying to post it…but then no one would make it. haha.
i reaaaaaally like the sound of this!
Thanks buddy! Hope you and the little guy have a great Christmas 🙂
I haven’t actually eaten this dish at Panda Express but have cetainly been tempted by it. I love broccoli and beef and have never had it with ground beef, only shaved roasted beef. I am gonna try this! Thanks.
Hmmm…I can’t say I’ve ever eaten at Panda Express, but this looks delicious, Arman!
DON’T eat at Panda Express. You’ll lose any respect you had left for me after I proclaimed love for Starbucks…
Nothing beats Thai takeout! I love pad thai and tom yum soup!!! I can’t do chinese takeout though. Gives me the worst stomachache ever! Which, sometimes, the stomachache is worth it!
I could swim in Tom Yum Soup! (When it’s cooled down).
I loooooove Chinese takeout when I’m seriously craving something salty (aside from pizza, of course!). Yikes about the sugar…
Oh man, the amount of salt I eat. I love salt on oatmeal, pancakes…yep, all the sweet foods!
I totally used to eat beef and broccoli years ago when we got Chinese take-out (when I still ate red meat, haha!) Chinese food was always the best!
So good….especially when it’s extra greasy and filled with MSG!
I love chinese food but I hate all the sugar! Eating sugar definitely leads to more cravings though. I’ve noticed that things are way too sweet most of the time and crave fruit for sweetness! I would love to learn how to make authentic chinese food. Not just the sugary Americanized version!
I’ll steal some of my dad’s recipes- He’s Chinese Malaysian and his cooking is amazing! 🙂
Mmmm this beef dish looks yummy- and so much more appealing than the one at Panda Express. I’m all for the sweet & savoury combo but having 20g+ of sugar in an otherwise savoury meal is just absurd! I’m so with you about craving more sugar after eating sugar. I remember when I did Whole 30, I completely lost the craving for my otherwise daily dose of chocolate…and suddenly fruit started tasting “too” sweet! As for my favourite Asian take-out, obvi sushi gets my vote!
I know, right! and that’s for an 85 gram serving. So one mouthful!
Sushi totally gets it’s own stream!