These 4-ingredient garlic butter steak bites are perfectly seared and drenched in irresistible garlic butter. It’s the best crowd-pleasing snack, appetizer, or main course that’s ready in 10 minutes!
Are you a fan of salmon bites? You’ll fall head over heels for this garlic butter steak bites recipe.
We love to whip these up for quick weeknight dinners. They are such a speedy and simple way to cook steak.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
These bites may look incredibly fancy, but they are ridiculously simple.
- Quick and easy! The 4 easy-to-find and budget-friendly ingredients and quick 10-minute cook time make this one of the best recipes to lean on when you need an appetizer or steak dinner in a pinch.
- Perfectly texture and flavor. Pan-searing steak in a hot cast iron skillet makes melt-in-your-mouth meat encrusted in a crisp, seared crust every time. It’s flavorful and rich in a delicious garlic butter sauce.
- Pan-sear or air fry. While pan-searing is my method of choice, cooking steak bites in the air fryer is another great way to get the juicy beef on the table even faster.
Ingredients needed
These steak bites with garlic butter are so easy and besides the steak and butter, there isn’t anything else needed to make. Here is what you’ll need:
- Steak. Choose a tender, flavorful cut of steak that fits your budget, such as sirloin, flank, ribeye, tenderloin (filet mignon), or New York strip.
- Salt and pepper. Preferably coarse salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
- Butter. Melted butter not only prevents the steak from sticking to the skillet but also infuses each piece with rich flavors and helps them develop a seared crust on the surface.
- Garlic. Use fresh garlic cloves to make the best garlic butter.
- Parsley. For garnish.
How to make garlic butter steak bites
Butter garlic steak bites are easy to make: just be sure to chip the beef into even sized pieces.
Season the steak bites: Slice the steak into bite-sized pieces and pat each one dry with a paper towel. Next, season the pieces with salt and pepper.
Sauté the garlic: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot and melted, add the garlic and sauté until it’s fragrant.
Sear the steak bites: Turn up the heat before placing the steak bites in a single layer in the skillet. Sear on all sides until they’re browned all over.
Rest, then serve: Transfer the bites to a cutting board to rest for a few minutes. Move them to a serving plate, garnish with fresh parsley, then serve!
How to make air fryer steak bites
Did you know that you can cook steak bites in the air fryer? Here is the process to do so:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Combine the melted butter, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Add the steak pieces and toss until evenly coated.
- Place the steak bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Let the bites rest off of the heat before serving.
As with any recipe that calls for steak, use a meat thermometer to check its doneness.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Slice into even bites. Cut the steak into 1-inch bite-sized pieces with a similar thickness to help them all cook at the same rate.
- Always preheat the skillet. It must be HOT to give the steak a caramelized seared crust.
- Don’t move them around! Leave the steak bites alone while they sear. This way, they can form a gorgeous brown crust on all sides.
- Rest before serving. Allowing the bites to rest for 3 to 5 minutes after cooking will give the juices a chance to redistribute, leaving you with the juiciest, most tender steak tips.
Flavor variations
Seasoning the beef with a generous amount of salt and pepper lets the natural flavors shine, but feel free to experiment with other spices and seasonings, such as:
Dried herbs. Before searing, season the steak bites with thyme, rosemary, or oregano, or use an Italian or Greek seasoning blend.
Cajun. Give the bites a smoky-spicy kick with a blackening, Cajun, or Creole seasoning blend.
Montreal steak seasoning. Generously coat the pieces with Montreal steak seasoning before searing for a robust, savory flavor.
Teriyaki. Try marinating the steak bites in teriyaki sauce before cooking.
Balsamic. Drizzle the bites with balsamic vinegar while they’re searing to enhance the caramelization on the surface and the depth of flavor.
Storage instructions
To store: Once the leftover garlic butter steak bites are cool, place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
To freeze: Let the steak bites cool, then place them in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for 2 to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat the bites in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave in 30-second increments until reheated.
More delicious ways to enjoy steak
Frequently asked questions
A meat thermometer is the most accurate way to check that your steak bites are cooked to your desired temperature. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, cut into one of the pieces and eyeball the color. For instance, medium-rare will have a warm, red center, while medium will have a warm, slightly pink center.
There isn’t one cut of steak that’s best for steak bites. It all depends on what you’re looking for in terms of budget, tenderness, flavor, and texture.
If you like tender steak bites, use more expensive cuts, like tenderloin (or filet mignon), ribeye, or New York strip. More affordable, yet still beefy and delicious, options are flank steak and sirloin (specifically top sirloin and tri-tip steak).
Yes! Potatoes are a fabulous option, as are brussels sprouts and carrots.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
Instructions
- Season steak bites with salt and pepper.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Increase heat to high and add steak bites to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.
- Remove from the heat and let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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This deliciousness has blessed my feed.
Thanks for sharing this Garlic Butter Steak Bites recipe. It looks very delicious. I’ll definitely try this at home.
I’m going to try this with my leftover steak! Thx