Who doesn’t love a steak dinner? With these garlic butter steak bites, it just got easier. Tender cubes of steak are seared in a hot skillet until deeply browned, then tossed in a rich, garlicky butter sauce. This easy steak bites recipe uses simple ingredients and comes together quickly, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a hearty appetizer.
After making my air fryer steak bites with a simple dry rub, I knew I had to try a richer version. These garlic butter steak bites start in a hot skillet, where the steak cubes develop a flavorful crust while staying tender inside. Then I finish them in a quick garlic butter made with melted butter, fresh minced garlic, and a sprinkle of parsley. The butter coats every bite and adds a deep savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the seared steak. If you enjoyed my original air fryer steak bites, this garlic butter version is an easy upgrade. If you try them, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.
Tips for Beginners
- Pat the steak dry before cooking. Blot the steak cubes well with paper towels to remove surface moisture. Dry steak browns much better, helping the edges develop that deep, flavorful sear instead of steaming.
- Choose the right cut of steak. Sirloin is one of the best cuts for steak bites because it’s tender, flavorful, and holds its shape when cut into cubes. Ribeye also works beautifully if you want a richer flavor, thanks to its marbling, while tenderloin gives the most tender result but is more expensive. Avoid very lean cuts like round steak, which can turn tough when cooked quickly.
- Cut evenly sized cubes. Try to cut the steak into similar bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1½ inches. Even pieces cook at the same rate, which prevents some bites from overcooking while others stay underdone.
- Add the garlic butter after cooking. Garlic cooks very quickly and can burn if exposed to high heat for too long. Tossing the steak bites in garlic butter after air frying keeps the garlic fragrant and coats every bite in rich flavor.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 2 lbs steak cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
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Pat the steak dry and season with salt and pepper.2 lbs steak, 1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper
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Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the steak to the pan in a single layer, spacing the pieces out so they don’t touch. Do this in batches if needed. Cook for 2-3 minutes without moving the pieces so they get a nice sear. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Give the bites a toss in the pan to ensure all sides are browned. Transfer the steak to a plate.2 tbsp olive oil
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Turn the heat to low-medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Take the pan off the heat.3 tbsp salted butter, 4 cloves garlic
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Add the steak bites back to the pan and stir to combine with the garlic butter. Top with fresh parsley before serving.chopped fresh parsley
Notes
- Add red pepper flakes for heat. Sprinkle a pinch of red pepper flakes into the garlic butter if you like a little spicy kick with the rich buttery sauce.
- Finish with grated Parmesan. A light sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan over the steak bites adds a savory, salty finish that pairs nicely with the garlic butter.
- Use steak seasoning instead of salt and pepper. Swap the salt and pepper for your favorite steak seasoning blend to add extra flavor with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Nutrition
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites Step by Step
Gather all the ingredients together.
Dry and season the steak: Pat 2 lbs of steak cubes dry with paper towels to remove surface moisture. Season the steak evenly with 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper, tossing the pieces so they are well coated.
Sear the steak: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the steak cubes in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece so they don’t touch. Cook for 2–3 minutes without moving them so a deep brown crust forms on the bottom. Flip the steak bites and cook for another 2–3 minutes, then give the pan a quick toss to brown the remaining sides. The steak should be browned on the outside and still juicy inside. Transfer the steak bites to a plate and set aside.
Make the garlic butter: Reduce the heat to low to medium-low and add 3 tbsp salted butter to the same skillet. Once the butter melts and begins to lightly bubble, add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Toss the steak bites: Return the steak bites to the skillet and toss them in the garlic butter until every piece is well coated and glossy.
Serve and enjoy: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover garlic butter steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, warm the steak bites in a skillet over medium-low heat with a small pat of butter until heated through. This helps keep the steak tender and brings the garlic butter sauce back to life. You can also reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes until warmed through.
Freezing is not recommended, as cooked steak can become tough and lose its texture after thawing and reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these garlic butter steak bites straight out of the skillet while they’re still hot and juicy. They’re hearty enough to be the star of the plate, especially with something simple like roasted vegetables or potatoes on the side. One of my favorite pairings is a batch of air fryer sweet potatoes, which soak up all that extra garlic butter from the steak. When I want something fresh to balance the richness, I’ll add a crisp kale salad alongside the steak bites. If you want a little extra flavor, try using cowboy butter instead.
More Easy Skillet Dinners
- Skillet Basil Cream Chicken: This skillet basil cream chicken is a rich, comforting dinner made with golden seared chicken simmered in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, Parmesan, and fresh basil.
- Taco Skillet: This taco skillet is a quick, cheesy Tex-Mex dinner is everything I love about tacos cooked together in one skillet and ready in about 30 minutes.
- Honey Garlic Salmon and Asparagus: This dish cooks quickly and pairs perfectly with roasted asparagus for a simple, healthy meal.
- Tuscan Chicken: This creamy Tuscan chicken is a cozy one-pan dinner that’s flavorful enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight meal.
More Easy steak dinners
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