Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
High-Protein Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
Low carb • Sugar-free garlic butter steak bites and zoodles — 25 minutes, two bowls
This is high-protein garlic butter steak bites with zucchini noodles, not a pasta skillet. Hot-seared steak cubes and a quick garlic butter toss with zoodles land in one bowl, steak on one side and noodles on the other, like the photo. Twenty-five minutes. No wheat noodles, no sugar sauce.
Two bowls. One bowl is one serving. Do not crowd the steak or it steams instead of browning.
Why you’ll love this skillet
- 38g protein per bowl — steak is the plate
- 6g net carbs — zucchini noodles, not pasta
- About 25 minutes, one pan
- Browned cubes, glossy zoodles, like the photo
- No boxed mix, no sugar
- The steak stays pink inside if you sear hot and fast
Health notes
- Protein: High. Steak carries the bowl.
- Lower carb than steak and pasta: Zucchini instead of wheat noodles. Close to keto-zero at 6g net.
- Two bowls: Macros are per bowl, not the skillet.
- Wheat noodles or a sweet stir-fry sauce will jump the carbs. Keep the sauce butter, garlic, and a splash of soy.
Key element — sear the steak first, then a short zoodle toss
Crowded steak steams gray. Sear the cubes in a hot dry pan until browned, set them aside, then toss the zoodles in the same garlic butter for 2 minutes so they stay glossy, not soggy, like the photo.
Ingredients
Skillet (2 bowls)
- 12 oz sirloin or ribeye, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 medium zucchini, spiralized
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
- Pinch of chili flake, optional
Swaps
- Strip steak: Same 12 oz if you are out of sirloin.
- Yellow squash noodles: Same amount if you want a milder bowl.
- Wheat noodles or sweet sauce: Skip them. That is how carbs jump.
Instructions
| 1 | Dry. Pat the steak cubes dry. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. |
| 2 | Sear. Heat oil in a large skillet on high. Sear the cubes 1 to 2 minutes per side until browned. Do not crowd. Set aside. |
| 3 | Butter. Drop heat to medium. Add butter and garlic. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant. |
| 4 | Zoodles. Add zucchini noodles and soy sauce. Toss 2 minutes until just glossy. Do not stew them. |
| 5 | Finish. Return the steak. Toss 30 seconds. Split into 2 bowls with steak on one side and zoodles on the other, like the photo. Add parsley. One bowl is one serving. |
Pro tips
- Pat the steak dry. Wet cubes will not brown.
- High heat, small batches. Crowding steams the meat gray.
- Two minutes on the zoodles. Longer and they go watery.
- Salt the zucchini lightly after spiralizing and blot if they weep.
- Rest the steak 1 minute off the heat so the juices stay in the cube.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per bowl (1 of 2) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 380 |
| Protein | 38g |
| Net carbohydrates | 6g |
| Total carbohydrates | 8g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Total fat | 22g |
| Sodium | 520mg |
Estimates with sirloin, zucchini noodles, butter, and garlic. Wheat noodles or a sweet stir-fry sauce will raise carbs. This is a high-protein, lower-carb skillet, close to keto-zero.
Variations
Mushroom
Sear 1 cup sliced mushrooms after the steak, then add the garlic butter.
Lemon
Finish with 1 tsp lemon juice and extra parsley.
Spicy
Add 1/2 tsp chili flake with the garlic.
Chicken
Swap the steak for 12 oz cubed chicken breast. Sear until cooked through.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eat now | Best | While the steak is browned and the zoodles are glossy |
| Refrigerator | Up to 2 days | Reheat the steak in a hot skillet. Zoodles soften |
| Freezer | Skip the zoodles | Freeze steak bites only |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about this skillet
1. Protein per bowl?
2. Net carbs per bowl?
3. How many bowls in the skillet?
4. Why sear the steak before the zoodles?
5. Why skip wheat noodles and sweet sauce?
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