This keto ground beef and broccoli stir fry recipe is not only delicious but can be made in 15 minutes! Just add some cauliflower rice for a great low-carb weeknight dinner. This recipe contains only 5.1g net carbs per serving.
Introduction
Craving Chinese takeout but want to avoid the hidden carbs and sugars? This keto-friendly ground beef and broccoli recipe is the perfect solution. It's a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to traditional takeout, satisfying your cravings without derailing your ketogenic diet. This recipe uses ground beef instead of steak because it’s easier to cook up when you are short on time and in a hurry.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is a winner on all fronts: it’s quick to make, family-friendly, tastes fantastic, and is keto-friendly. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in under 20 minutes. Plus, it’s a one-pot meal, making cleanup a breeze!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground Beef: 85% ground beef is recommended for flavor and some fat content without excess grease. However, you can use any ground beef.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets are preferred, but frozen can be used.
- Olive Oil: For cooking the ground beef and broccoli.
- Cauliflower Rice: A low-carb alternative to traditional rice.
- Better than Bouillon: Beef-flavored bouillon adds a rich, savory flavor to the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: Adds flavor to the dish. For a gluten-free option, use tamari. If you are avoiding soy, then use liquid aminos.
- Lakanto Golden Sweetener: A brown sugar substitute or other sweetener.
- Minced Ginger and Garlic: Adds aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Pine Nuts: Optional, for added flavor and texture.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Some other low carb ingredients that are recommended to have in your pantry are Better than Bouillon chicken and beef bases, and jars of minced ginger.
Simple Stir-Fry Sauce
The stir-fry sauce is simple but very tasty. Add hot water to the Better than Bouillon (beef flavored) and whisk until dissolved. If you don’t have Lakanto golden, use some other brown sugar sweetener, or just plain sweetener.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Broccoli: Microwave the broccoli florets for about 4 minutes, until tender-crisp.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add oil to a large skillet and heat to medium heat. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper, and brown the meat.
- Make the Sauce: While the meat and broccoli are cooking, mix the bouillon, water, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and Lakanto golden sweetener to make the sauce.
- Combine and Simmer: When the meat just starts to brown, add the cooked broccoli and sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes until the meat is cooked through. Cook time may vary.
- Prepare Cauliflower Rice: While the stir fry is simmering, make your cauliflower rice. Add florets to a food processor and pulse until it looks like rice. Microwave for about 5 minutes.
- Serve: Serve the ground beef and broccoli stir fry over cauliflower rice.
Tips and Variations
- Vegetables: While broccoli is the star of this dish, feel free to add other low-carb vegetables like bell peppers, sugar snap peas, or thinly sliced carrots. Steam them in the microwave ahead of time as you did the broccoli.
- Soy Sauce Substitute: A substitute for soy sauce is coconut aminos. If you use this note it has some carbs to account for that. It also has some sweetness so you might want to cut back on the brown sugar sweetener.
- Spice it Up: If you want to add a little heat, try adding some hot pepper flakes. A little sesame oil over top will give it a nice flavor as well. You just want to use a little sesame oil and add it at the end if you use it.
- Nuts and Seeds: If you have leftovers or are cooking for 1, you can easily freeze this buy adding it to a freezer airtight container. And while this keto beef and broccoli is great over rice it is also delicious as is. I could eat a bowl of this for a low carb dinner, especially with the pine nuts!
- Cheese: For a cheesy version, stir in your favorite shredded cheese like Colby/Jack, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or Cheddar after adding the sauce and broccoli.
Serving Suggestions
This keto beef and broccoli is delicious as is, but it's also great served over cauliflower rice.
Make it a Casserole
- Prepare: Preheat oven to 375 F. Cut any broccoli florets larger than 2 inches into smaller pieces, and add all broccoli to large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until tender, about 5 minutes. Let them drain and steam out on paper towels.
- Make Beef-Tomato Mixture: If wet, pat ground beef dry with paper towels. Add beef to large pan over medium heat. Crumbling beef with stiff utensil, cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Keeping everything in pan, stir in tomato sauce, celery, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne. Simmer for at least 10 minutes to thicken sauce, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and let moisture steam out.
- Assemble Casserole: Directly in 8×8 inch baking dish, add broccoli, beef-tomato mixture, and half of cheddar cheese, carefully stirring together until well-mixed. Evenly top with remaining cheddar cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake & Cool: Bake uncovered at 375 F until casserole begins bubbling up sides and starts to brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many carbs are in broccoli? Broccoli is considered a keto-approved vegetable. In one cup of broccoli florets, there are approximately 2 grams of net carbs.
- Is beef and broccoli from a Chinese food restaurant keto-friendly? No, many entrees from Chinese food restaurants are not keto-friendly as they often contain high amounts of carbs and sugar in their sauces, with ingredients like cornstarch or flours used as thickeners.
- Can you freeze beef and broccoli? Yes, you can freeze prepared and cooked keto beef and broccoli. Store it in a freezer-safe container or bag, and it will keep well for 1-2 months.
- What are some good substitutions for soy sauce in this recipe? If you need a substitute for soy sauce, you can use tamari for a gluten-free option, or liquid aminos for a lower sodium alternative. Coconut aminos is another great option that is soy-free and has a slightly sweeter taste.
- How should I store leftovers of keto beef and broccoli? Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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