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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Abby says
One of my favorite paleo recipes! This is one of go to’s for healthy weeknight dinners! My whole family loves it and it tastes just as good or better than takeout!
paleobailey says
Oh thank you so much, Abby! I’m so glad your family enjoys it!! <3 - B
Angela says
This recipe is amazing. Really honestly the easiest, best thing I’ve made in a while
paleobailey says
So glad you enjoyed 🙂 Thank you!!
Taylor says
Have made this recipe a few times with beef and it’s always great! For a lower calorie option this time we did chicken and served it over cauliflower rice. We did still use beef stock even though we used chicken and it was great.
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you enjoy it!! Making it with chicken sounds awesome – I’ll have to try that next time, too! Thank you!!
Leslie pocklington says
Bailey we absolutely loved this recipe! When I saw it, I ran out and bought an instapot!
It’s so scary, as you said,to start using the “spaceship”!
What my husband and I both struggled with was how to change the setting from sauté to “sealing”.
Does it stay on sauté when you push the vent button in?
It’s stayed on sauté so we pushed the stew button without knowing what else to do LOL
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
The saute button is on the front of the instant pot where the settings are. To “seal” the instant pot, there’s a toggle on the lid that can be moved to seal or vent. The toggle has to be moved into the sealing position so that the instant pot will come up to pressure. Then to release the pressure at the end of cooking, you flip the toggle to the venting position.
To change the settings from sauting to pressure cooking, you press cancel first, and then I just press manual high pressure and adjust the time. I think the stew setting is 35 minutes, but even if you use any of those options, you can always adjust the time up or down still!
Hope that helps! It does get easier and more instinctual to use!!
<3 - B
Jami says
Love love love this!! By far, the most requested meal by my guys, including a teenager!!! ??? So yummy and easy to make and the taste is fantastic.
paleobailey says
Oh wow! I’m so happy it’s a hit with your family! Thank you so much, I really appreciate your feedback!! <3 - B
Emily says
Winner winner beef and broccoli dinner! Takeout fake-out at its finest! It comes together quicker than I can call in and pickup real takeout. The flavors are spot on. We’ll be fighting for the leftovers tomorrow. This has a solid spot in our dinner rotation from here on out!
paleobailey says
I’m so happy to hear this!! Thank you so much, Emily! <3 - B
Mallory says
we make this *every* week and it’s always sooo good. easily a big enough portion for two people to eat from twice. i love the broccoli cooking suggestion of throwing it on top and letting the IP do its magic! perfect every time and we love this meal.
paleobailey says
LOVE this!! Thank you so much, Mallory! I’m so glad you enjoy it so much! <3 - B
Courtney says
Thank you so much for this one! This meal is in constant rotation at our house, and our go to for food drop off or having friends over for dinner. Everyone loves it!
Definitely do the broccoli separately, it comes out much better when not mushy from the instantpot (imo).
Here’s all you really need to know – we can’t order this dish at restaurants anymore. It tastes SO much better and we know how much better it is for us!
paleobailey says
Wow!! This is SO great to hear! Thank you so much, Courtney!! It’s one of our favorites too, so I’m so, so glad you love it as well! <3 - B
Emily Lovell says
This recipe is SO. GOOD. it’s become a staple in our dinner rotation! It comes together relatively quickly and the leftovers (if you have any- we usually don’t) they are even better the next day. Bailey is my go to for healthy recipes that come together easily and taste amazing!
paleobailey says
Oh I’m so glad you love it!! Thank you, Emily! This is so great to hear, and I really appreciate it <3 - B
Christi Flaker says
My favorite beef and broccoli recipe! Love the tenderness of the meat that the IP provides. Have tried broccoli in IP and steamed separately both options are great just depends if you want firmer or softer broccoli. Flavor is amazing!
paleobailey says
I’m so glad to hear this, and so appreciate your feedback! It’s one of our favorites too, so I’m happy you enjoy it as much as we do 🙂 Thank you, Christi! <3 - B
Jessica says
100% amazing. It was a total hit in my house. Thanks for the great recipe!
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much!! <3 - B
Sue P says
This was perfect as is. Flavors we’re spot on, would definitely make again.
paleobailey says
Thank you, Sue! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
KT Z says
Hi Bailey- we love your recipes and find them easy to execute and VERY delicious! I love to cook so I can do complicated, but when something is simple and good, that’s my favorite. This is your sweet spot!
This specific recipe was better than any Chinese restaurant and was cooked by my husband nonetheless, with very little experience in the kitchen. We did roast the broccoli in the oven and then added it after everything was done. It was still crunchy, our preference is I eat the yummy veggie!
This is going to be a keeper for us and on our rotation at least monthly. It’s also a great option when coming home from work because it comes together pretty quickly! Thank you!
paleobailey says
Oh thank you SO much! This is so great to hear! And thank you so much for taking the time to let me know what you think – it’s so appreciated! 🙂 – B
Christine L Morrison says
We loved this and used cauliflower rice.
paleobailey says
Thank you! So happy to hear this!
Angie says
Loved it! Followed the recipe except added peppers to the sauce for another veggie!
Tina says
I made this for dinner tonight. It was delicious and we all loved it so that’s a win!
Kylie says
ANOTHER killer recipe from yours. Thank you. The sauce for this recipe was so packed with flavour. My husband and kids all asked me to double the recipe next time. There was definitely no left overs!
Tamara says
Hi! The video says to add vinegar, but I can’t find that in the ingredient list. Can you please clarify? Thank you!
paleobailey says
Hey, Tamara! Thanks so much for pointing that out! It’s a typo on the video. I think it was supposed to say “spices and aminos”. Sorry for the confusion!!
Julie Hansen says
I made this for my family of 4 tonight, even though I’m the only one following Whole30. They loved it! I did add cashews for some crunch. The meat was super tender. I’ll definitely add this to my recipe book so I remember it in the future. Thank you for the recipe.
Elisha says
I’ve just got to say, I’ve NEVER cooked a paleo meal that my entire family would eat.. my oldest is on the autism spectrum so textures are a huge deal. He LOVED this meal! I gave them rice on the side while I had cauliflower rice, and my husband, our 9yr old, 6 yr old, 2yr old devoured this meal! Im still in shock haha! Thank you!