Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
Low carb • Sugar-free steak cubes and zoodles in garlic butter — 20 minutes, four plates
These are garlic butter steak bites with zucchini noodles, not a flour-noodle stir-fry. Seared steak cubes and spiralized zucchini toss in garlic butter, like the skillet in the photo. Twenty minutes. No pasta, no sugar sauce.
Four plates. Dry the steak. Cook the zoodles last so they stay in ribbons.
Why you’ll love this skillet
- 31g protein per plate — dinner that is not empty
- 4g net carbs — zucchini, not wheat noodles
- About 20 minutes, one pan
- Brown steak cubes, glossy zoodles, parsley, like the photo
- No boxed mix, no sugar
- It reheats without turning to mush if you keep the noodles short
Health notes
- Protein: Steak. That is what lands 31g.
- Lower carb than steak and pasta: Zucchini noodles. Not keto-zero. 4g net is the zucchini and garlic.
- Four plates: Macros are per plate, not the skillet.
- Wheat noodles or a sweet stir-fry sauce will jump the carbs. Stay with zucchini and butter.
Key element — hot sear, dry steak, short zoodle time
Crowded steak steams. Pat the cubes dry and sear in a hot pan so they brown, like the right side of the photo. Cook the zucchini last, 2 minutes only. Long cooking turns the noodles into water and the butter sauce into a puddle.
Ingredients
Skillet (4 plates)
- 1 1/2 lb sirloin or ribeye, cut in 1-inch cubes
- 4 medium zucchini, spiralized
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos or tamari
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes, optional
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
Swaps
- Chicken: Use 1 1/2 lb chicken breast cubes. Same sear time.
- Yellow squash: Mix with the zucchini.
- Pasta or sweet sauce: Skip them. That is how carbs jump.
Instructions
| 1 | Dry. Pat the steak cubes dry. Salt and pepper. Pat the zoodles with a towel if they are wet. |
| 2 | Sear. Heat oil in a wide skillet over high heat. Sear the steak in two batches 2 to 3 minutes per batch until brown. Set aside. |
| 3 | Garlic butter. Lower the heat. Add butter and garlic. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant, not brown. |
| 4 | Noodles. Add zoodles, coconut aminos, and chili flakes. Toss 2 minutes until just glossy. |
| 5 | Finish. Return the steak. Toss 30 seconds. Parsley on top, like the photo. One quarter is one serving. |
Pro tips
- Pat the steak dry. Wet cubes will not brown.
- Do not crowd the pan. Two batches beat one steamed batch.
- Zoodles last. Two minutes keeps the ribbons, like the photo.
- Do not scorch the garlic. Bitter garlic ruins the butter.
- No wheat noodles. That is how 4g net stays 4g net.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per plate (1 of 4) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 310 |
| Protein | 31g |
| Net carbohydrates | 4g |
| Total carbohydrates | 6g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Total fat | 18g |
| Sodium | 480mg |
Estimates with sirloin, zucchini, butter, and garlic. Wheat noodles or a sweet sauce will raise carbs. This is a lower-carb skillet, not zero-carb.
Variations
Lemon
Squeeze 1 Tbsp lemon juice over the skillet at the end.
Mushroom
Sear 1 cup sliced mushrooms after the steak, then add the garlic.
Spicy
Add extra chili flakes and a pinch of smoked paprika.
Parmesan
Grate 2 Tbsp Parmesan over each plate.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eat now | Best | Serve while the zoodles still hold |
| Refrigerator | Up to 2 days | Reheat fast in a hot skillet. Zoodles soften |
| Freezer | Skip | Zucchini turns watery after a thaw |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about this skillet
1. Protein per plate?
2. Net carbs per plate?
3. How many plates in a batch?
4. Why cook the zoodles last and short?
5. Why skip wheat noodles and sweet sauce?
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