Sugar-free broccoli beef is the perfect recipe to make healthier take out at home. This simple recipe is also gluten-free and soy-free and works great for a variety of different diets. This quick and easy stir-fry is sure to be a hit with your family and kids. Simple enough to make for weeknight dinner!
When creating this recipe I was a little worried that the absence of sugar or any kind of sweet replacement was going to make it taste nothing like the delicious take-out we get at the little Chinese restaurant in our town. But believe me, you won’t even remember that sugar exists when you put this flavor explosion in your mouth. What really knocks it out of the park is the heavy use of ginger. It’s quickly become my favorite spice to put in everything and for good reason!
I don’t know how I managed to cook without it most of my life. When you stop focusing on making everything sweet, a whole other magical world of flavors opens up.Ginger combined with a little of the fish sauce gives this that umami taste that makes Chinese food so addicting and delicious.
We’re ditching the brown sugar soup that broccoli beef usually gets cooked in. This recipe is great for any doing any kind of sugar-free diet or just people looking to secretly feed their family and kids healthier meals without them realizing. Healthy does not mean that you have to sacrifice taste. If anything since I have started cooking my meals at home from scratch I’ve found so many new things I didn’t know I would love.
I’m so excited for you all to try this sugar-free broccoli beef! I served it on a bed of cabbage, but you can have it over cauliflower rice or brown rice also. Or be totally crazy and just eat it by itself! This recipe is written to be gluten-free and soy-free also. If you are not avoiding those food groups feel free to make it with the more traditional ingredients. You should make it however it best suits you!
Don’t forget to share your pictures with me using #thesimplesupper!
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out my Blood Orange and Ginger Chicken drumsticks that taste just like orange chicken take-out without the sugar!


Sugar Free Broccoli Beef
Sugar-free broccoli beef is the perfect recipe to make healthier take out at home. This simple recipe is also gluten-free and soy-free and works great for a variety of different diets. This quick and easy stir-fry is sure to be a hit with your family and kids. Simple enough to make for weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- 1/3 Cup Coconut Aminos or Soy Sauce
- 2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Ginger (Ground)
- 1 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Arrow Root Powder or Corn Starch
- 1 Tbsp Water
- 1 Head Broccoli About 4 Cups
- 1 lbs Beef Bottom Round Sliced into thin strips
- 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Instructions
-
In a bowl add coconut aminos/soy sauce, garlic powder, ginger, fish sauce, and apple cider vinegar. In a small bowl mix the arrow root powder/corn starch with water and mix until it is a paste. Then add to other bowl and mix well. This will make about 1 cup of stir fry sauce.
-
Prepare beef by slicing into thin strips. About 1/2" by 2" long. Pour 3/4 cup of the stir fry sauce over the beef in a bowl. Set aside.
-
Cut broccoli into equal sized florets. You will want to have about 4 cups of chopped broccoli or a whole head.
-
Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When skillet is hot (3-5 minutes) add all of the beef strips. Try to spread them in an even layer on the skillet so they can cook evenly.
-
Cook the beef for 3-5 minutes without stirring until the bottom side has browned. Then stir to cook the other side of the beef.
-
At this point add the broccoli on top of the beef and cover skillet with a lid. The broccoli should begin to steam with the juices from the sauce and the meat. Leave alone for 5-7 minutes.
-
At this point the broccoli should be softened and the meat should all be browned. If the broccoli is still too crunchy, continue to let it cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Stir to coat broccoli and beef in the thicken sauce that should be forming in the bottom of the pan.
-
Once cooked through remove from the heat and serve immediately. Pour additional stir fry sauce over broccoli and beef. Serve with cauliflower rice or sauted cabbage.
Recipe Notes
For those that are not avoiding soy or gluten you can use reduced sodium soy sauce and corn starch in place of the coconut aminos and arrow root powder, respectively.
This recipe only makes 4oz of meat per person which is the standard serving size. If you or the people you are cooking for are big eaters I would double the recipe.
This looks amazing!! We need your grocery list! Give the people what they want!! 😉 Pinned for later!
Hahah! I am working on it! And seriously, this is the best broccoli beef I’ve ever had.
OH ! I can’t wait to try this! I am looking to reduce my sugar intake– or keep it low after the cleanse! And Matt loves ginger so I know it will be an easy sell to him! Maybe I’ll make this this weekend!
The recipe’s amounts are off. The liquids and spices are supposed to equal a cup, but they equal a little under a half cup. So I doubled it, cooked it up as directed, and the amino place is too strong. Should I have diluted it with water instead?
*Amino flavor
Hi Blaire! I’m sorry that you had some trouble making this. I will recreate this and try to get it updated with the corrected amounts. Thanks for letting me know!
Can I sub seasoned rice vinegar for the apple cider vinegar?
Yes! Equal amount of rice vinegar will work!