Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

40 minutes mins

| 16 Comments |

4.97 from 30 votes

Jump to Recipe | Updated: | by Nora

These Garlic Butter Steak Bites are quick and easy to make – and they vanish fast! Serve them as finger food on appetizer night, as part of your game day spread or as part of a fun family dinner date.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (1)

My family appreciates a good steak – be it Filet Mignon for an extra-special occasion, air fryer steak or a classically seared and oven baked steak… Everyone likes it.

Steak bites are especially fun for the kids. I know it’s a recipe mostly served as an appetizer (Super Bowl! or any Game Day party!) , but we don’t mind them as a regular meal at all. They are quick and easy to whip up, and turn out so tender!

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (2)

Ingredient notes

  • Steak: You can use any tender, boneless cut of steak, cut into cubes. Sirloin steak, strip steak or ribeye all work. You can use beef tenderloin/fillet if you want them extra-tender and special, which is something I love to do for a Valentine’s Day dinner with the kids.
  • Minced garlic: I HIGHLY recommend using fresh garlic. Dried or powdered doesn’t come close.
  • Parsley: Totally optional, but highly recommended by my entire family, save the picky 5 year old who thinks the green bits are a waste of space ?

How to make steak bites

1. Start by removing your meat from the fridge about 30 minutes before preparing it. You’ll want to take it out of the package, cut it, season it and then leave it on the counter on a plate.

2. Once you’re ready to cook the steak, heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until sizzling hot. Add the oil, then sear the steak bites for about 2 minutes per side. Watch out for splatters – wear something long sleeved and keep your face away!

You’ll want them with a really nice, browned crust, which does need the high heat. If your stove is very strong and your steak chars too much, consider switching down to medium-high.

And make sure you don’t overcrowd your pan, I seared mine in 3 batches. Just set the finished pieces aside on a plate and tent them with foil to keep them warm.

  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (3)
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (4)
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (5)
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (6)

3. Once all of your steak is seared, reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter and garlic to the skillet and heat for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. Take off the heat.

4. Add the steak bites to the skillet and toss around in the hot garlic butter. Toss around, then serve with chopped parsley, if you like.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (7)

Recipe tips

Meat temperature: It does really help with tenderness to have the steak at room temperature before starting to cook it. So I highly, highly recommend to plan ahead and remove the steak from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking it.

Bite size: You can really cut these as large or as bite-sized as you like. Smaller bites cook more quickly and are more done, larger “bites” stay more tender and have a more medium middle.

I cut mine just under 1 inch, and cooked them for around 2 minutes per side, plus some extra tossing around for 30 seconds to get the edges charred.

Searing time: 4 minutes yielded just under 1-inch bites with a medium-done middle. If you want yours more rare, stick to 1-inch cubes and go with a short and blazing hot sear.

For more done bites, sear them a little longer on medium-high heat instead; and/or cut them smaller. Just make sure you don’t overcook them, or they may turn out chewy.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (8)

Serving ideas

If you make these as part of an appetizer spread, they go really well with air fryer potato wedges, homemade chipotle mayo, ranch dip, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini fries

As a dinner, we like them over rice, over mashed potatoes (or smashed potatoes – so good) or with air fryer french fries. Roasted asparagus (air fryer asparagus), roasted broccoli (air fryer broccoli), sautéed zucchini or garlic butter baked mushrooms make for some great sides.

More easy appetizers

  • Crockpot BBQ Little Smokies
  • Baked Honey Wings
  • Sticky BBQ Slow Cooker Meatballs
  • Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

PSIf you try this recipe, please leavea review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along onPinterest,FacebookorInstagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (13)

Save Recipe

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

These Garlic Butter Steak Bites are quick and easy to make – and they vanish fast! Serve them as finger food on appetizer night, as part of your game day spread or as part of a fun family dinner date.

Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings

made it? tap the stars to add your rating!

Print Add Review

Recipe details

Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 5 minutes mins

Extra time 30 minutes mins

Total 40 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds steak cut into bites
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste (season on the generous side)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley optional for serving

Instructions

  • Prep steak: Remove steak from fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Unwrap, cut into cubes (see notes at bottom of recipe for size recommendation) and season with salt and pepper. Let sit on plate on counter for 30 minutes. (For best results, do not skip this step.)

    2 pounds steak, salt and ground black pepper

  • Sear steak: Once ready, heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat. Add oil, then sear steak for around 2 minutes per side, until a nice, browned crust forms but middle stays tender. Work in batches if needed, do not overcrowd pan! Set seared steak bites aside on a plate and tent with foil.

    1 tablespoon oil

  • Make garlic butter: Once steak is done and set aside on a plate, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and garlic to empty skillet. Heat about 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant. Take off the heat.

    4 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic

  • Finish: Add steak to skillet with garlic butter. Toss to coat. Serve immediately with chopped parsley, if desired.

    2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Want to save this recipe?Create an account for free to start your personal recipe box. Save any recipe by tapping the heart in the bottom right corner.

Join Now

Notes

Steak: Use any tender, boneless cut of steak, cut into cubes. Sirloin steak, strip steak or ribeye all work. You can use beef tenderloin/fillet if you want them extra-tender and special.

Parsley:Totally optional, but highly recommended by my entire family, save the picky 5 year old who thinks the green bits are a waste of space ?

Bite size:You can really cut these as large or as bite-sized as you like. Smaller bites cook more quickly and are more done, larger “bites” stay more tender and have a more medium middle.

I cut mine just under 1 inch, and cooked them for around 2 minutes per side, plus some extra tossing around for 30 seconds to get the edges charred.

Searing time:4 minutes yielded just under 1-inch bites with a medium-done middle. If you want yours more rare, stick to 1-inch cubes and go with a short and blazing hot sear.

For more done bites, sear them a little longer on medium-high heat instead; and/or cut them smaller. Just make sure you don’t overcook them, or they may turn out chewy.

Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe - Savory Nothings (2024)

FAQs

What kind of steak is used for steak bites? ›

My personal favorite cut of steak to use is top sirloin. The meat is tender, easy to cut into bites, and is not marbled with a lot of fat which makes it a great choice for this recipe. New York strip steak, tenderloin, or rib eye would be a few other great options.

Can you use chuck roast for steak bites? ›

Fatty and inexpensive cut of steak turned into mouth watering meals.

Can you cook steak in aluminum foil? ›

Yes, you can definitely cook steak in the oven using foil.

Why are my steak bites tough? ›

Typically, leaner cuts like the flank or skirt can be chewy if not prepared correctly. Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender.

What is the best cut of steak that isn't chewy? ›

Top sirloin

Despite being boneless, this cut, which comes from the cow's top rear end, is typically far more soft and tasty. It rarely becomes extremely chewy and rubbery when cooked properly. Even though it is less expensive than some of the more expensive steaks, this steak is still excellent.

Why do chefs put butter on steak? ›

Adding butter to steak is completely based on your personal preference but here are a few reasons that professional chefs approve of doing so: It increases flavor and richness. It makes for a glossy finish. It enhances the steak's texture.

Is it better to cook steak in butter or oil? ›

Best cooking fat for steak

Flavourless oils like sunflower, vegetable or groundnut work best, and once the steak is searing you can add butter to the pan for flavour.

What butter is best for basting steak? ›

Halfway through cooking, the steaks are basted with a mixture of butter, thyme, rosemary, and garlic, so they're crusty outside and richly flavored. There's no need to chop herbs here; make sure to use whole garlic cloves so that they don't burn. We prefer unsalted butter, since the meat is already seasoned.

Can you use stew meat for garlic butter steak bites? ›

This is a great way to take a lower priced, lean cut and turn it into a mouth watering dish the whole family will love. The flavor from the dry-aged Black Angus stew meat, coupled with this cooking technique delivers a fantastic result.

How do you make chuck steak not chewy? ›

Since the chuck steak comes from near the neck of the cattle, the cut can become tough if cooked improperly. Chuck steak is best when you cook it long and slow, like braising it in the oven, or quickly, like broiling or pan-frying it.

How do you make chuck steak not tough? ›

1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat.

Why put foil on meat in oven? ›

Aluminium foil is still a reliable essential to preserve the quality and moisture of your food when using the oven. So, the next time you use your convection oven to steam meat or vegetables, you don't have to worry about losing their moisture.

How do you cook a steak in the oven without drying it out? ›

If desired, use some aluminum foil to tent over your steak in the oven. The foil will lock in moisture to prevent it from escaping your steak to prevent it from drying out while it reaches your ideal doneness.

What is steak bites made of? ›

What are steak bites made of? Steak! They are just little cubes of your favorite cut of beef, I'm using Sirloin, seared to perfection and then finished in a garlic shallot butter sauce. They are best served over polenta or risotto or mashed potatoes.

What is the most tender steak for steak tips? ›

Steak tips are most often cut from the sirloin, but they can be cut from any part of the cow. These premium steak tips are robust and meaty thanks to the varied tender steaks they're cut from, like tri-tip, flank steak, coulotte, and, of course, sirloin.

What is the most tender cut of steak for sandwiches? ›

Best Beef For A Steak Sandwich:

While various cuts can be used, the ribeye stands out as a prime choice that delivers unparalleled taste and tenderness. The ribeye, also known as the “eye of the rib,” is derived from the rib section of the beef.

What is the most tender steak for pepper steak? ›

Flank steak is our cut of choice for pepper steak—it's marbled with fat, full of beefy flavor, and easy to cut into thin, tender slices. That being said, flank isn't your only option. Skirt steak will give you a very similar result, or if you're looking for a cheaper choice, sirloin is another great option.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6039

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.