Juicy Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
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Garlic butter steak bites give you all the best parts of steak night without turning your kitchen into a full-blown production. They’re juicy in the middle, crisp around the edges, and the garlic butter takes the flavor to the next level. And since they cook in the air fryer, you’ll have dinner ready in about five minutes flat.
I used to think steak was something you saved for date night or a grill-out on the weekend. But once I tried steak bites in the air fryer, we started making them anytime the craving hit. No need to fire up the grill or dirty a bunch of pans. Just toss everything in, let the air fryer do its thing, and you’ve got buttery, garlicky steak bites that taste like you really went all out.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Basic ingredients
- Quick and easy
- Works for anything: Pile it on rice, toss it into a salad, stuff it in a wrap, or just serve it with toothpicks and dipping sauce for a crowd-pleasing app.
- Tender and flavorful: Crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and loaded with garlicky, buttery goodness.
- Great for leftovers: Make a big batch and keep it in the fridge or freezer. Heat it up whenever you need a solid meal without starting from scratch.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Dinner can be quick and still taste great. Garlic steak bites take about 35 minutes from start to finish. Marinate the beef briefly, cook it in the air fryer until browned and tender, then pour the garlic butter over the top. Let it rest a couple of minutes before serving so the flavor stays in the meat.
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
For the steak bites:
- Sirloin steak: It’s lean, cooks up quick, and stays nice and juicy when you cut it small.
- Olive oil
- Brown sugar
- Seasonings: I keep it easy with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
For the garlic butter:
- Garlic: Fresh cloves are best if you want that real garlic taste.
- Butter: I go with salted.
- Parsley: Chopped up fresh parsley adds that little bit of green that makes it feel finished.
Step-By-Step Instructions
If you’ve got steak, an air fryer, and a few basics on hand, you’re already halfway there. Just follow along and you’ll have it on the table in no time.
Step 1: Marinate
Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar in a bowl.
Add the steak bites and toss them around until they’re nicely coated. Let them sit for about 15 to 20 minutes so the flavors can soak in.
Step 2: Air fry
Preheat your air fryer to 400 F.
Add the steak bites in a single layer so they cook evenly. If they don’t all fit, just cook them in batches. Let them cook for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on how done you like your steak.
Step 3: Make the garlic butter
While the steak is cooking, melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat.
Stir in the garlic and parsley, and let it warm through for a minute or two.
Step 4: Rest and serve
When the steak bites are ready, move them to a plate and pour the garlic butter right on top.
Give them a couple minutes to rest, then serve while they’re still warm and juicy.
Substitutions
Customize your garlic butter steak to fit your personal taste or what you have. Try swapping in any of these ingredient alternatives to make it work:
- Sirloin steak: Ribeye is a great option if you want more marbling, and New York strip or filet mignon also work well.
- Olive oil: If you’re cooking at a higher heat, try avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil instead.
- Brown sugar: You can use honey, maple syrup, or white sugar.
- Seasonings: Feel free to use your favorite spice blend, like a steak rub or BBQ mix.
- Garlic: Fresh cloves give the best flavor, but you can skip chopping and go with a flavored butter if that’s easier.
- Butter: Pre-made compound butters, like roasted garlic or rosemary garlic, are a quick shortcut.
- Parsley: If you’re out of parsley, chives, basil, or cilantro are all tasty substitutes.
Expert Tips
- Serve as an appetizer: Make them party-friendly by sliding a few onto small skewers with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes, or grilled zucchini cubes.
- Cut it right: Slice the steak into evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. Pat them dry with a paper towel before seasoning to help them sear better and get that golden crust.
- Don’t overcrowd: If they don’t all fit in the basket with space between, cook them in batches for the best results.
- Flip halfway: Give the basket a shake or flip the bites halfway through cooking so they brown evenly and don’t stick.
- Finish strong: Garlic butter is amazing, but a little flaky salt, a squeeze of lemon, or some chili crisp can take the flavor to the next level.
- Try different toppings: Change it up with chimichurri, blue cheese crumbles, caramelized onions, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze. For some crunch, toss on crispy shallots, garlic chips, or crushed pork rinds.
How to Store This Recipe
Let the steak bites cool all the way down, then pop them into an airtight container. They’ll keep in the fridge for about 4 days, or you can freeze them for up to a month. When you’re ready to reheat, warm them in the air fryer at 375 F for a couple of minutes, or toss them in a hot skillet with a little butter or oil until heated through.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Steak Bites
When garlic butter steak bites are on the menu, everything else just needs to keep up. Go with something creamy like mashed potatoes or broccoli cheddar soup, or keep it bright with a fresh salad. They’re delicious with black bean salad! You can also turn them into a bowl with greens, quinoa, or rice and load it up with your favorite toppings.
If you’re in the mood for something lighter, they go great with roasted green beans or honey-glazed carrots..
More Easy Dinner Recipes To Try
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Ingredients
For the steak bites:
- 16 oz sirloin steak cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
For the garlic butter:
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Add the steak bites and toss them around until they’re nicely coated. Let them sit for about 15 to 20 minutes so the flavors can soak in.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 °F .
- Add the steak bites in a single layer so they cook evenly. If they don’t all fit, just cook them in batches. Let them cook for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on how done you like your steak.
- While the steak is cooking, melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat.
- Stir in the garlic and parsley, and let it warm through for a minute or two.
- When the steak bites are ready, move them to a plate and pour the garlic butter right on top.
- Give them a couple minutes to rest, then serve while they’re still warm and juicy.
Notes
- Make them party-friendly by sliding a few onto small skewers with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes, or grilled zucchini cubes.
- Slice the steak into evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. Pat them dry with a paper towel before seasoning to help them sear better and get that golden crust.
- If they don’t all fit in the basket with space between, cook them in batches for the best results.
- Give the basket a shake or flip the bites halfway through cooking so they brown evenly and don’t stick.
- Garlic butter is amazing, but a little flaky salt, a squeeze of lemon, or some chili crisp can take the flavor to the next level.
- Change it up with chimichurri, blue cheese crumbles, caramelized onions, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze. For some crunch, toss on crispy shallots, garlic chips, or crushed pork rinds.
