High-Protein Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
High-Protein Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Zucchini Noodles
Seared steak cubes and garlicky zucchini noodles — low carb, sugar-free, and ready in 25 minutes
These high-protein garlic butter steak bites cook in one skillet, then share the pan with zucchini noodles. Sirloin or ribeye cubes get a hard sear; zucchini soaks up the browned garlic butter. Each serving has 38 g of protein and 6 g net carbs.
Low carb, sugar-free, and plated like the split bowl in the photo.
Why you’ll love this skillet
- 38g protein per serving
- Only 6g net carbs
- No pasta
- Ready in about 25 minutes
- Garlic butter sauce
- Steak and noodles in one pan
Health notes
- High protein: Steak cubes carry the macros.
- Low carb: Zucchini noodles replace wheat pasta.
- Sugar-free: The glaze is butter, garlic, and a splash of coconut aminos — no sugar.
- Quick cook: A hot skillet keeps the steak browned, not steamed.
Key element — don’t crowd the steak
Cook the cubes in batches if needed. Overlapping meat steams and stays gray instead of getting the browned crust in the photo.
Ingredients
Steak bites (4 servings)
- 1½ lb sirloin or ribeye, cut into ¾-inch cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos or tamari
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
Zucchini noodles
- 4 medium zucchini, spiralized
- 1 Tbsp butter
- Pinch of salt
Swaps
- Chicken: Use cubed chicken breast and cook until 165°F.
- No coconut aminos: Use tamari or a pinch of extra salt.
- Extra vegetables: Toss in sliced mushrooms after the steak comes out.
- Dairy-free: Use ghee or extra oil instead of butter.
Instructions
| 1 | Season the steak. Pat the cubes dry. Toss with salt, pepper, and paprika. |
| 2 | Sear. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Cook steak in a single layer 2–3 minutes per side until browned. Work in batches. Transfer to a plate. |
| 3 | Make the garlic butter. Lower heat to medium. Add 3 Tbsp butter and garlic. Cook 30 seconds. Stir in coconut aminos and red pepper flakes. Return the steak and toss 1 minute. |
| 4 | Cook the noodles. Push steak to one side or plate it. Add 1 Tbsp butter and zucchini noodles. Toss 2–3 minutes until just tender. Plate noodles on one side, steak on the other, and finish with parsley. |
Pro tips
- Dry steak browns. Wet steak steams.
- Don’t cook zucchini longer than 3 minutes or it turns watery.
- A cast-iron skillet gives the best crust.
- Let the steak rest 2 minutes before serving.
- Pat spiralized zucchini with a towel if it looks wet.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 380 |
| Protein | 38g |
| Net carbohydrates | 6g |
| Total carbohydrates | 8g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Total fat | 22g |
| Sodium | 620mg |
Estimates based on 1½ lb steak and 4 zucchini, divided into 4 servings. Exact numbers vary with the cut of steak.
Variations
Mushroom
Sauté sliced mushrooms in the garlic butter before the noodles go in.
Lemon
Finish with lemon juice and extra parsley.
Spicy
Add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.
Cauliflower rice
Swap zucchini noodles for cauliflower rice.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 3 days | Store steak and noodles separately if you can |
| Reheat | Skillet over medium | Noodles only need a minute |
| Freezer | Steak only | Zucchini noodles turn soft after freezing |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about these steak bites
1. Protein per serving?
2. Net carbs per serving?
3. What replaces pasta here?
4. About how long does this take?
5. Best way to get a browned crust?
