Asian flavors do not have to be complicated ones, and this dish uses a simple sauce loaded with umami, that deep, rich, savory flavor. Keto ground beef and broccoli pairs meaty chunks of beef with tender-crisp broccoli.
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This is genuinely different from my sliced Beef and Broccoli, this version uses ground beef and comes together as a real one-pot meal.
Fresh broccoli needs a quick blanch first, frozen broccoli is already blanched, so just thaw it and go.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Ground Beef and Broccoli
Brown the beef without breaking it up too much, you want to preserve the big, meaty chunks, not crumble it fine.
Blanch fresh broccoli first, boiling it briefly in salted water, then draining and shocking it in ice water, to keep it bright green and tender-crisp. Skip that step with frozen broccoli, it is already pre-blanched, just thaw it. Brown the beef in the sesame and avocado oil, then add the onion, garlic, and ginger, cooking until translucent, draining off any excess oil. Mix the fish sauce, coconut aminos, and brown sugar substitute in a separate bowl until fully dissolved. Add that sauce and the beef broth to the pan, bring to a boil, then simmer 5 minutes. Turn off the heat before thickening with xanthan gum, resist using more than a quarter teaspoon. Do not overcook the broccoli, it is already blanched, so it just needs a quick toss to reheat through.
Fish sauce is optional but genuinely elevates this dish with a subtle depth. Ground pork, chicken, or turkey all work in place of beef, and a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of Sriracha adds heat. Use coconut aminos over soy sauce for strict keto, since soy has some inflammatory properties.
What You’ll Love About Ground Beef and Broccoli
- Flexible on protein, ground pork, chicken, or turkey all work too.
- A genuine one-pot meal, loaded with meaty chunks and umami flavor.
- Ready in about 25 minutes, real weeknight speed.
Ingredients
- Broccoli – Fresh is best but frozen works too.
- Ground beef – Lean or 80/20 both work well.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger – fresh, not powder
- Sesame oil
- Avocado oil
- Fish sauce – Look for a brand that’s sugar-free.
- Coconut aminos – Or soy sauce.
- Brown sugar substitute – I love So Nourished brand but you can use your favorite
- Beef broth – Look for low-sodium or no salt added
- Salt
- Xanthan gum – Optional.
How to Make Ground Beef and Broccoli
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
If using fresh broccoli, blanch it in a pot of boiling salted water, then drain and shock in ice water. Set aside. Skip this step for frozen broccoli, just thaw it.
Add the sesame and avocado oil to a large skillet. Add the ground beef and brown, about 5 minutes, without breaking it up too much. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Drain off excess oil.
Mix the fish sauce, coconut aminos, and brown sugar substitute in a small bowl until fully dissolved.
Add the sauce to the beef along with the beef broth. Bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and thicken with xanthan gum if desired.
Add the broccoli to the beef mixture and toss well to combine. Heat through and serve, topped with green onions and sesame seeds.
Make It A Meal
Serve over your favorite cauliflower rice, or eat it just as it is. For more Asian-inspired keto dinners, Keto Beef and Broccoli, Keto Chicken Stir Fry, and Egg Roll in a Bowl are all worth adding to the rotation.
Storage
This freezes well. Chill it overnight in the fridge, then wrap tightly in freezer-safe containers or plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave. The broccoli will lose some crunch and be a bit more watery once thawed, still tasty though.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Any home cook of any skill level can master this recipe. Plus, it’s a quick fix, ready in under 30 minutes.
Absolutely! Simply put a layer of cauliflower rice into the bottom of a bowl. Spoon on a hearty portion of the ground beef and broccoli dish, top it with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, and enjoy!
Yes! This recipe is totally keto-friendly. Use coconut aminos if you’re doing strict keto (soy sauce has inflammatory properties), or use more commonly available soy sauce. Broccoli is high in fiber and low in natural carbs, and if you use So Nourished brown sugar substitute, you’ll be all set for a low net carb meal.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Ground Beef & Broccoli
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- 1/2 cup sliced onions
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon So Nourished brown sugar substitute
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
- salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum optional
- sliced green onions for garnish
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Blanch the broccoli (bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the broccoli florets and bring back to a boil, drain, chill in an ice water bath) and set aside.
- Add the sesame and avocado oil to a large skillet. Add the ground beef and brown the beef. About 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook an additional 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent. Drain off the excess oil.
- Mix the fish sauce, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), and brown sugar substitute to a small bowl. Mix well to combine.
- Add the sauce to the beef along with the beef broth. Bring to a boil and turn down the heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and thicken with xanthan gum (optional).
- Add the blanched and drained broccoli to the beef mixture, and toss well to combine. Heat it through and serve, topped with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Brown the beef without breaking it up too much, to preserve the big, meaty chunks.
- Blanch fresh broccoli briefly, or skip that step entirely with frozen, which is already pre-blanched.
- Add xanthan gum sparingly, off the heat, resisting more than a quarter teaspoon.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
WANT EVEN MORE KETO DELICIOUSNESS?
I’m always trying new recipes, but the following are some of my all-time favorites:
- Grilled veggies
- This Southern chicken casserole
- Meaty and cheesy Parmigiana
- Beefy minestrone soup
And if you need help counting carbs, this net carb calculator will help!
What a great one pot meal, just perfect for weeknight dinners. I love broccoli and this beef and broccoli combination looks so tasty.
Yummy! This looks amazing and flavorful. Perfect for dinner tonight. My family is going to love this keto recipes! Excited to try this.
I love beef and broccoli! So glad to find a keto version!
This is the perfect dish for when you want something easy and delicious but is low carb.
You had me at under 30 minutes! Such a flavor-packed meal. I love that you can make it with frozen broccoli.
Perfect for a quick and tasty dinner! Love it!