I’m combining two of my favorite things today. My instant pot and Chinese food! This Whole30 instant pot beef and broccoli is about a million times healthier than the beef and broccoli you would normally get in your takeout order. It also happens to be a quicker option too, with only 30 minutes needed to put this on the dinner table! Got your attention now didn’t I? Thought so!
I remember when I first got my instant pot this summer and was terrified of it. I remember writing in the first recipe I posted here about how it looked like a spaceship (haha!) and that I was so nervous to use it. Compared to my slow cooker that has two buttons for low and high, this contraption felt like I needed an engineering degree to figure out. But, alas, I managed, and now I couldn’t imagine life without it. Bonus: my kitchen hasn’t exploded (yet).
If you’ve been hesitating on getting one for yourself, I’m here to tell you it’s worth it. Not only for easy 30 minute meals from start to finish, like this beef and broccoli or my chicken taco soup, but even for batch cooking! I love using it at the beginning of the week to cook a bunch of chicken breasts to dice or shred, pork, taco meat or roasts so I have a go-to protein for the week.
For this instant pot beef and broccoli, you can use flank steak or a beef chuck roast. If you use a chuck roast, make sure to trim any extra fat prior to cooking. Those cuts of beef typically are a bit fattier, but they’re also cheaper so it’s a good budget option!
Instead of a typical soy sauce (Paleo = no soy), I use coconut aminos. You can pretty much get coconut aminos anywhere nowadays. Target and Walmart even. My favorite brands are Big Tree Farms and just the Thrive Market brand because it’s way cheaper and I go through this stuff like water sometimes. I DID tell you I was a huge fan of Chinese food at the beginning of this, remember?
I did link to Big Tree Farms on Amazon, but just to show you what I’m yappin’ about. It’s way cheaper on Thrive Market per bottle (like half the price) so just a heads up there. Thrive Market gives you 20% off your first 3 orders as well, so you can maximize your savings there too.
The other ingredients used in this simple Whole30 instant pot beef and broccoli recipe are sesame oil, which is a staple for creating the well known Asian flavor in dishes. Along with using arrowroot flour as the thickener instead of cornstarch. Some other options for thickening sauces are tapioca starch, coconut flour or gelatin.
For my tips on cooking with gelatin, check out this post!
This Whole30 instant pot beef and broccoli is great served with cauliflower rice, broccoli rice or just on it’s own! You can make it for a quick weeknight dinner, or use it for your next meal prep. It makes plenty of servings to get you some delicious lunches for the week! Enjoy!
Instant Pot Beef & Broccoli Tutorial Video
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PrintInstant Pot Beef and Broccoli: Whole30, Paleo and 30 Minutes!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- 1.5 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2–3 crowns broccoli broken into florets
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (I use Primal Kitchen) or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
- 1/2 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Sesame seeds to garnish
- Chopped green onions to garnish
Instructions
- Turn instant pot onto “sauté” mode and add avocado or olive oil.
- Once oil is sizzling, sear sliced beef (about 30 seconds-1 minute on each side) in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd or over cook. Transfer to a plate once browned
- Once all beef is browned and on the plate, add minced garlic to the instant pot and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute
- Add in the beef broth, ginger, coconut aminos, sesame oil, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Add beef and juices from plate to the instant pot, close the lid, and set to “sealing”
- Select manual and set the time for 10 minutes
- While beef and sauce is cooking, place broccoli florets in a microwave safe dish filled 3/4th’s with water. Microwave for 3 minutes until lightly steamed for al dente broccoli. Drain water and set aside. Mix in with the beef after cooking. *See notes for additional way to cook the broccoli
- Once beef is done, do a quick release, and put the instant pot back into “sauté” mode
- Slowly add in arrowroot flour, using a fork to whisk into the liquid as you add it. Add in broccoli and continue stirring as the sauce thickens
- Remove beef and broccoli with a slotted spoon and arrange in a large serving dish or meal prep containers. Allow the remaining liquid to continue simmering and thickening
- Once it’s thick and bubbling, pour sauce over beef and broccoli
- Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions or additional red pepper flakes
Notes
Optional way to cook broccoli: Once done the beef is done, do a quick release, remove lid, place in broccoli. Close the lid again, set to 0:00 on manual, and set to “sealing” to steam broccoli. This will cook the broccoli more thoroughly as opposed to lightly steaming it for more fork tender broccoli. Then continue with step 7.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 418
- Sugar: 5
- Fat: 23
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Protein: 38
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Solamente Dave says
Love this recipe. My daughter is on an AIP diet and, being that this recipe is already Whole 30, I can make it for her with just a few adaptations. Quick, easy, and it tastes better than our local Chinese restaurant’s. The tip about the broccoli for 0:00 at the end really makes it INCREDIBLY easy.
Caitlyn says
So easy and super delicious! The step by step directions are amazing!
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you so much for your feedback – I really appreciate it! <3 - B
Krystin says
This is an awesome recipe, very salty so I halved the aminos. Cooked the broccoli in the IP on 00.00 on low pressure and immediately depressurize, and cooked the beef for only 5 minutes as ours was pretty thin. We did not use the sauce afterwards to cut down on salty taste.
nikki says
Has anyone tried this with venison? Maybe a venison roast since it is fairly lean?
Samantha says
This was so good. Easy weeknight meal and it felt like PF Chang’s.
Cindy says
OMG this was so delicious. I can’t wait to make this again. My whole family loved it! It tasted better than in the Chinese restaurants! I’m so glad I found your site and can’t wait to try more recipients on your site!
paleobailey says
Oh I’m so glad to hear this, Cindy! Thank you so much for giving it a try and for taking the time to come back and let me know! I really appreciate it! <3 - B
Alice says
I may be missing something, but how does putting the broccoli in at the end for ZERO minutes steam it??
paleobailey says
Instant pots work by cooking food under heat and intense pressure, so by adding the broccoli and then bringing the instant pot up to pressure, and then releasing it, the broccoli gets tender and “steamed” while the pressure is building, without overcooking it and pressurizing it to mush like it would if you pressure cooked it for the entire time. There are other options for steaming it written out if you don’t want to do that.
KB says
For the duo evo plus, I don’t have a “manual” setting – do you know if the equivalent is “pressure cooker”? Also the default “saute” seemed really high – do you have to change the temperature setting? Thanks!
paleobailey says
Yes it would be the same as pressure cook 🙂 And I’m not sure about changing that. I don’t have that model, sorry!!
KB says
Thats OK! Do you know the saute setting/temp for the model you use? I can figure out how to change it, just not sure what it should be to cook this correctly. I was worried about burning it/overcooking the meat and broccoli, so the sauce didn’t really thicken, and I wasn’t sure how to fix that. It still tasted great even with thinner sauce! haha!
paleobailey says
I’m not sure. I can’t find the temp of what they cook at on saute on online. I don’t think you’d burn anything though. It would only be on saute to thicken the sauce for a few minutes, and you could stir it while it thickens to prevent anything like that. Another option would be to use a slotted spoon to remove the meat and broccoli, and then thicken it and then just pour the sauce over the beef and broccoli 🙂 And good!! I’m glad you liked it! :))
Virna says
This is one of my favorite whole 30 recipes! Super easy and love that it can be made in the Instant Pot. The beef is extra tender. I put the broccoli in after the pressure cooking part and the broccoli is always fork tender. Highly recommend
paleobailey says
I’m SO happy to hear this! Thank you so very much for taking the time to come back and let me know! <3 – B
Miranda says
Best Whole30 recipe ever. I make this at least once a month. We used to order chinese delivery 1 friday a month and now we make this recipe!
paleobailey says
LOVE this!! Oh this makes me so happy to hear. Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know! <3 - B
Allyson E.S. Bold says
Sooo good. And super easy
paleobailey says
Thank you so much, Allyson! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Christina Nelson says
Best Whole30 recipe I’ve ever had! Make it at least once a month even not on Whole30. So quick and easy. I also prep marinade and meat and freeze it ahead of time for an easy meal to have on hand.
paleobailey says
Oh this is so awesome!! Thank you so, so much for taking the time to let me know, and for making my recipes! <3 - B
Elizabeth says
This was my first recipe using my new instant pot. It tasted better than our favorite beef and broccoli take out. My family couldn’t believe it! Thanks for the great recipe and for giving me the courage to use my instant pot.
paleobailey says
This is so amazing!! Thank you SO much for the feedback and for coming back and letting me know! The IP used to freak me out too haha! Thanks again <3 - B
Lexi says
Omg! Amazing!! So quick, so easy and came out PERFECT. Next time I’ll add even more veggies because the I would eat this sauce in anything!
paleobailey says
Woo! This is awesome! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know! <3 - B
Elizabeth says
Have you ever used frozen pre-chopped broccoli? Any recommendations/accommodations I should make for frozen vs fresh? With two littles always under my feet, the less prep time the better, even if it is just 10 minutes worth of chopping ! ?
paleobailey says
Hey there! I haven’t, but I would just take it out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter from the start of when you begin cooking the beef, and then at the end dump it in and put it on saute mode to let it cook / heat in the sauce. You MAY need to add more thickener for the sauce, being frozen broccoli can sometimes hold a bit more excess liquid than fresh but it’s no biggie and would still totally work!
Lori says
Fan flipping Tastic!!
paleobailey says
Thank you so much!!
Miranda says
BEST BEST BEST Whole30 recipe.. and I’ve done 6 rounds so I know haha! We just love this recipe, thank you so much!!
paleobailey says
SO amazing!! Thank you so much for this – it’s a huge compliment, and I so appreciate it! <3 - B
Emily says
Really good. On repeat for months now. I do like to add a little extra spice. Sometimes that’s even a bit of hot sauce after cooking.
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you like it! The hot sauce sounds like a great addition too!
Heidi says
I messed a lot of steps up and thought I’d surely ruined it but it still turned out to be the best food I’ve ever made. My boyfriend said, “Is this even Whole30 approved?? It’s POPPIN!” Lol. Thank you so much for this!!!
paleobailey says
Amazing!! This is the best! I’m so happy to hear it 🙂 Thank you!!
Mia says
Absolutely one of the best Whole30 recipes ever
paleobailey says
SO SO happy to hear this! Thank you!!