Flavor packed Whole30 and Paleo Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry that’s easy to make, ready in 20 minutes, uses takes one pan, and only calls for 10 ingredients!
We’ve been making this paleo beef & broccoli stir fry since my last Whole30 in April and it’s about time I’ve got it up on the blog! Super easy, flavor packed, and comes together in less than 20 minutes. And who doesn’t love some classic Chinese food?! While this might not be the real deal you can find in Chinatown, it is pretty dang delicious and isn’t loaded with MSG, strange thickeners, and hidden flours.
Chinese was a staple for us growing up during the cooler months. My mom loves it and once the weather got cold, we would probably get it a couple times a month either on the weekend or when she didn’t feel like cooking. I never ordered beef & broccoli though – I was more of a sweet & sour chicken kind of gal. I mean it was pretty much chicken nuggets haha.
But Michael loves a good beef and broccoli and introduced it to me awhile back. While it’s not something I would order out, I love making it at home! It’s packed with protein, veggies, and a savory sauce with a little kick that I want to pour all over everything. And I know exactly what is going into it.
Paleo Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry (Whole30)
This Whole30 & paleo beef & broccoli calls 10 ingredients total. Beef & broccoli are obviously the main ingredients and then you need 7 other ingredients to make the sauce. It makes the whole dish super flavorful while being super easy to make. This is what you need:
- flank steak
- broccoli
- coconut aminos
- sesame seeds
- lime juice
- fresh garlic
- fresh ginger
- red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper
I tested this recipe quite a few times and there are some key factors in making the best beef & broccoli. First, make sure you cut your beef very thin. I suggest popping it in the freezer for 10 minutes so it is easier to slice. Then make sure to liberally season your beef with salt and pepper to make sure it has some flavor. Since it is sliced so thin, you only need to cook it for 30 seconds or so per side. Make sure not to overcrowd it – I cooked mine in a few batches. It will come back in the pan at the end so keep that in mind as well. No one likes overcooked beef.
After you cook the beef and remove it from the pan, you cook the broccoli in the same juices and a little of the sauce. Once that is cooked to your preference, you make the sauce. This is where your patience comes in. You need to let it reduce and simmer for 3-4 minutes. You will be able to tell when you can run a spatula through it and leaves a trail. You then add back all the ingredients, give it a good stir, and you have your easy beef & broccoli!
It takes a few steps, but I promise it’s worth it! If you have a family of 4, I would suggest doubling it. Michael and I can eat almost the whole recipe it’s that good. Serve it with some cauliflower rice or white rice (if you aren’t doing the Whole30) and it makes an easy balanced meal. It’s also great as leftovers and makes an easy meal prep dish to prep on the weekends!
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Paleo Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry (Whole30)
Ingredients
- 1 pound grass fed flank steak, thinly sliced*
- 2 heads broccoli, florets removed (7 cups/465 grams)
- 3/4 cup coconut aminos
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon spicy sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional toppings: sesame seeds, green onions
Instructions
- In a small bowl, make the sauce by combining the coconut aminos, lime juice, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Liberally season the sliced steak with salt and pepper. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and let it get hot. Add slices of beef, without overcrowding, and cook 30 seconds per side. Remove from pan and repeat with remaining beef (I had to do this in 3 batches).
- Leave the beef juices in the pan and add chopped broccoli. Add about 2-3 tablespoons of the sauce and cover with a lid. Cook for 3-5 minutes until tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add remaining sauce to the pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium low and cook until thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 3-4 minutes. Add back in beef and broccoli and stir to combine and heated through, about 1 minute. Serve with cauliflower or white rice, top with optional toppings, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This recipe is my favorite one of Kelly’s and my hubby agrees! so so delicous
It’s one of my husband’s favorites too! So glad you guys like it!!
This is delish! I didn’t have any sesame seed oil so subbed olive oil with sesame seeds ha somehow I think the flavor would be slightly different but it is still an awesome quick meal! I also added chicken only because I neeeded to use it up.
Love that you made it your own Kim! Thanks for trying it and glad you enjoyed!
So simple and quick. But tons of flavor. Love the kick if the red pepper flakes. Husband cleaned his plate!
So glad y’all liked it! I’m all about the spicy kick too! Thanks for trying Kari!
If I don’t have fresh ginger, would ground ginger work? If so, how much would you recommend?
Yes, that should work just fine! Dried herbs/spices are usually more concentrated so it’s recommended to do about 1/3 the amount. The fresh ginger is about a tablespoon, so I would use a teaspoon. Let me know how it goes!
We loved this recipe! Doubled it for lunch leftovers. I actually steam my broccoli in the microwave for 3 minutes or so, leaves it nice and crisp, just like take-out!
Oh I love that tip Laura! So glad y’all liked it, thank you for trying!!
This was SOOO good! I did not have spicy sesame oil so I did half sesame oil / half hot sauce. I also don’t think I tolerate cauliflower all that well so I put the beef and broccoli over garlic mashed potatoes. Topped it with sesame seeds and green onions. Thanks for making Day 8 of my Whole30 darn good!
That is a genius idea with the hot sauce! So glad you liked it and thanks for trying it Mandy!
Where do all the carbs come from?
The coconut aminos have about 3g carbs per tablespoon so that adds up some. Then the broccoli contributes some.
Just made this tonight. I have to say it was wonderful and better than what I would get for takeout. And better for me!! I was worried I wouldn’t have enough sauce but there is no need to worry. Two containers are waiting for lunches!!
Yay for leftovers for lunch! So glad you liked it Renee, thanks for trying it!
This is one of my family’s go to recipes! It’s quick, simple and absolutely delicious.
The tip about freezing the beef for a few minutes is a tots game changer!
We typically serve with cauliflower rice and double up the sauce. It reheats and freezes well
So glad y’all love it Megan!! I’m happy to know it freezes well too! Thanks for trying it!
This was SO GOOD & so simple! My boyfriend also enjoyed it! It was our first time doing Whole30 & I used a lot of these recipes! Will definitely make again!
So glad you both liked it Ashley!! Thank you for trying it!
Do you think this would taste decent with ground beef instead of flank steak?
Yes, I think so! The flavor would be a little different as ground beef is a little fattier, but still delicious! I would just drain some of the juice out of the pan if there is a lot from the beef. Hope that helps.