Mmm mmm mmm what’s hearty, healthy, and the ultimate comfort food? This paleo green pepper steak over fried cauliflower rice. It’s an absolute dinner HIT around here and most definitely husband approved.
I found this recipe in my mom’s old recipe box (back in the caveman days when recipes were hand-written on index cards). It was far from healthy, but based on the frayed, bent edges of the card, I knew it would be a winner. You know what else is a winner? VHS tapes. Yeah, my parents still have those too.
Little Mermaid was my girl crush for like ten years. Remember when the VHS player would eat the tape and you would have to delicately flip up that top piece, flatten out the film, and manually roll it back? Talk about giving a six-year-old a heart attack. “NOT ARIEL!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!”
The same disheartening sentiments are felt when I find an Asian-inspired meal that’s loaded with sodium-laced soy sauce and tons of brown sugar. “Sodium and sugar?! NOOOOO!!!”
I had to reinvent my momma’s green pepper steak into a healthier version. This seriously tastes like it should be a naughty take-out meal, but it’s not. MIND BLOWN! Oh and it makes killer leftovers too.
Paleo Green Pepper Steak over Fried Cauliflower Rice
Simple, healthy ingredients make a complex, flavorful dinner that just so happens to be paleo and Whole30 compliant too. And this paleo green pepper steak over fried cauliflower rice is easy peasy. Just chop, chop, chop away and throw it all into the fridge until you are ready to fire up the stovetop and create a dinner that is guaranteed to please.
I used arrowroot powder as a thickening agent for the sauce buuuut if you don’t have arrowroot powder on hand, you can use the same ratio of cornstarch to get the thick sauce consistency. This paleo green pepper steak speaks to my belly over a big helping of fried cauliflower rice. It’s BOMB, but just in case cauli rice isn’t your gig, brown rice or quinoa will work too. The garnished sesame seeds are a nice touch, just like sprinkles on a cupcake!
To start, cut the round steak across the grain into thin strips about 1/4” thick. Combine the coconut aminos, garlic, and ginger then pour over the beef, either in a large bowl or sealable bag. Set the meat aside for a few minutes to soak up the marinade while you chop the vegetables.
Add oil to a large pan or wok and heat on high. Add the beef and marinade, tossing until the meat starts to brown. Turn heat down to low, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Then add those veggies and BOOM. Dinner perfection.
Wait, we forgot about the fried cauliflower rice. It’s a must. A must must.
Time Saver Tip
To save on time making this paleo green pepper steak over fried cauliflower rice, you can cheat a bit with some prep beforehand. Slice peppers, celery, and green onion beforehand, and throw together in an airtight container. Dice the garlic clove, grate the ginger and store. Cut steak into thin slices and store separately. Refrigerate until needed. Want to make the cauliflower rice beforehand? No problem! Simply reheat when ready to serve.
Paleo Green Pepper Steak over Fried Cauliflower Rice

This paleo and Whole30 compliant dinner is has amazing flavor and packed with vegetables. An Asian-inspired dish with easy steps to prep beforehand
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Green Pepper Steak
- 1lb round steak, fat trimmed
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 1 garlic clove, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger or ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ cup olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 green pepper, cut in to 1” chunks
- 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- ¾ cup water
Fried Cauliflower Rice
- 1 cup thinly sliced baby carrots
- 3 cups cauliflower rice
- ½ small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 scrambled eggs
- 4 tablespoons coconut aminos
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
Instructions
Green Pepper Instructions
- Cut the round steak across the grain into thin strips about 1/4” thick
- Combine the coconut aminos, garlic, and ginger then pour over the beef, either in a large bowl or sealable bag. Set the meat aside for a few minutes to soak up the marinade while you chop the vegetables
- Add oil to a large pan or wok and heat on high. Add the beef and marinade, tossing until the meat starts to brown. Turn heat down to low, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes
- Turn the heat back up and add the vegetables. Toss until they are tender, approximately 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat
- Mix the arrowroot powder into 3/4 cup water and whisk well to avoid clumps. Add the mixture to the pan and stir until thickened. This should only take a minute or two. Add a few more dashes of arrowroot powder if the sauce has not thickened to desired consistency
- Serve immediately over cauliflower rice and garnish with sesame seeds
Fried Cauliflower Rice Instructions
- Sauté garlic and diced onions in oil over high heat, add carrots and toss until tender
- Add scrambled eggs, coconut aminos, ginger, sesame oil and cauliflower rice. Cook a few minutes, until cauliflower rice has softened

This looks delicious! And Mom’s recipes on index cards are always the best!
Agreed Blair! The oldies are the goodies!
Due to the fact that Im a ginger, Ariel was my Disney princess of choice back in the day. I’ve never been girly, so it worked that she wasn’t overly so either. But then Mulan came out, and she became my new favorite 😉
BUT the point of this post is actually the recipe! I’m not a big red meat fan [hate how tough it can be!] but this looks super delicious and fall-apart, which is exactly the kind of red meat I am looking for! Not to mention the flavors sound incredible.
Kat I am totally giggling at your Ariel analysis. Mulan is pretty tough, so good favorite to pick. I always resembled more Belle but she was my least favorite. She just seems dull, don’t you think? Anyway, YES this steak is fall-apart kind of good so you may learn to love red meat after all! 🙂
Can you eavesdrop on the internet? If so, I’m totally evesdropping on this conversation and it’s cracking me up. We didn’t do much Disney growing up, although, from what my mom tells me, my name was almost Ariel. My dad vetoed that though. Can you imagine the comments growing up?!? Does Disney have a cave woman character? If they don’t they should, because she’d totally eat this. Just like I will. 😉
Will have to add this idea as I just got back on eating healthier, whole foods!
Awesome Lori! I hope you love this meal and your healthy eating journey starts with a bang!
Dang girl! that looks amazing. I love the shot of your steak as well. I also love the pre prep tips. 🙂
Thanks Heather! You and I share an healthy obsession with meal prep. And I love you for that!
This looks so good. Will be trying this recipe very soon as I’m trying to cook more clean recipes
Thanks Yaya. So glad you will be trying this nummy dinner soon!
I especially loved this blog/recipe!!! Amazeballs – so good!
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I thought you might Shar! 😉
This looks so so good! And I have some of my mom’s, my aunt’s and my “Nana’s” recipes that I will certainly cherish forever on handwritten index cards! And thanks for the printable – that is great!
Aren’t those the BEST?! I swear there is something about an old, handwritten recipe that automatically means it’s going to be amazing. Thanks Clare!
I looove stir fry! This looks super yummy, too! Thanks for sharing!!!
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Thanks Ginger! I hope you enjoy this healthy, delicious dinner!
I love pepper steak! Yours look amazing and delicious!
Thanks Ros. I’m a tad biased, but I certainly think so. Hope you agree 🙂
This looks delicious! I LOVE that you took your mom’s recipe and made it into your own healthier version.
Thanks Evi! I need to do it more often – my mom has some awesome, old recipes! I appreciate you stopping by.
Ohhh, I’ve been craving red meat and this is the recipe I’m going to make! Thank you for sharing this healthy recipe!
Thanks Ashleigh! Enjoy 🙂
Love the time saver tip! I should start working those into my own recipes. 🙂
Thanks Rachel!
Mmm pepper steak. I haven’t made this at home. Any time you have frayed, bent edges on a recipe card (or an old book) you know that it has been loved… a lot. Excellent healthy updates and pics. Thanks.
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Hi Barbara – you totally get it. Oldies are goodies! This recipe certainly IS loved in our home. Thanks for stopping by!
This recipe looks so good! We love stir fry food here so this is definitely something that I will have to make for my crew! Thank you so much for sharing and linking up with us over at the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!
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