Garlic Butter Steak Bites

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Garlic butter steak bites are tender, juicy pieces of steak that are perfectly seasoned and seared before being tossed in garlic-infused melted butter. Ready to eat in 20 minutes, they pair perfectly with rice, mashed potatoes, or macaroni and cheese. This will be your new favorite protein to cook on busy weeknights.

Garlic butter steak bites in cast iron skillet, ready to serve.

This recipe for garlic butter steak bites is a simple way to cook up some steak without cooking a whole steak. Similar to crockpot steak bites in that you get the same juicy, flavorful beef with caramelized edges, but these are ready much quicker.  And it’s more cost-effective than cooking up tomahawk steak or filet mignon, that’s for sure!

Sure, there’s a time and place for a nice, juicy steak, but sirloin steak tips are a fantastic option when you’ve got to get dinner on the table quickly or you need a fun and flavorful appetizer for game day.

Steak bites with garlic butter served on bed of mashed potatoes.

Enjoy them with your favorite sides like air fryer seasoned potatoes, mashed party potatoes, baked mac and cheese, and a side of asparagus.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Ready to serve in 20 minutes!
  • Can be enjoyed as a main meal or with toothpicks for a bite-sized appetizer.
  • The flavor of the rich buttery garlic sauce is insane!

Ingredients for Garlic Steak Bites

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ingredients for garlic butter steak bites, including raw steak, garlic, butter, parsley, and seasonings laid out on a countertop.
  • Steak – Use sirloin, ribeye, or new york strip steak cut into 1-inch cubes.
  • Vegetable oil – Used to sear the beef, giving the cubes extra flavor.
  • Seasoning – Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are all you need to season the beef before it cooks. 
  • Butter – Use unsalted butter if desired to better control the salt levels.
  • Garlic – Minced garlic cloves give incredible flavor to the butter sauce.
  • Onion – Diced onion adds additional flavor to the sauce. I used a red onion because I had one on hand but feel free to use a yellow onion, white onion instead, or one small shallot instead.
  • Parsley – Fresh parsley is an optional way to garnish these tender steak bites. You can also use other fresh herbs like rosemary.

How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Getting rid of the moisture will help achieve a nice sear. Otherwise, the moisture will cause the beef to steam. 

Step 2: Add the bite-size pieces of beef to a bowl and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to coat. 

Two-image collage showing raw steak pieces in a bowl topped with seasonings, followed by the same steak bites after being tossed in the seasoning mixture.

Step 3: Heat a cast iron skillet (or other heavy-bottomed skillet) over medium heat. Add the oil and sear the steak pieces in a single layer, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes, or until they’ve got a beautiful golden brown sear on all sides.

Two-image collage of steak bites in a cast iron skillet, one image showing the raw steak bites and the other after they have been perfectly seared.

Step 4: Remove the cooked beef to a paper towel-lined plate. To the same skillet cook the onion and garlic in butter until fragrant. This should be about 2 minutes.

Two-image collage showing red onion, garlic, and butter in a skillet, one before cooking and the other after the butter has melted and the onion and garlic have browned.

Step 5: Add the steak back into the pan and cook for a couple of minutes to warm through. Stir the seared steak bites to ensure all of them are coated in the garlic butter. Serve immediately with your favorite sides and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Overhead view of cooked garlic butter steak bites in a skillet.

Pro Tip:

Work in batches, if necessary. The steak bites should fit in the pan in a single layer without overcrowding the skillet. This ensures even cooking on all sides and a nice sear. If there is too much going on at once, they will transfer the heat to one another, causing them to steam rather than caramelize.

Storage

Refrigerator: Keep leftover steak bites with garlic butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Freezer: These freeze well once they have completely cooled. Store them in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. 

How to Reheat: I suggest reheating them in a skillet over medium heat until heated throughout. If using the microwave, use 50% power for 2-3 minutes to avoid drying them out.

Recipe Tips

  • If you don’t have a large cast iron skillet, you can use a heavy-bottomed skillet or a Dutch oven. The heavier the better so that the heat distributes evenly to give a nice, even sear on the meat. 
  • Make sure all the steak cubes are cut to the same size so they cook evenly.
  • Make sure the pan is HOT before adding the meat. It’s the best way to ensure a good sear. If there’s no sizzle, the meat won’t create a crust and stick to the skillet as it waits to heat up. 

Serving Suggestions

If you’re serving these as little appetizers, a dipping sauce is always a good idea. You could offer some extra yummy garlic butter sauce or do something different like garlic aioli, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or spicy mayo. 

As a main meal, these go great with mashed potatoes or party potatoes as they soak up all the delicious juices. You could also do roasted sweet potatoes, or serve with a side such as heirloom tomato salad, mac and cheese, or rice.

Spoon lifting tender garlic butter steak bites out of a skillet, coated in butter sauce.

Additions and variations

  • Swap the vegetable oil. Canola oil or extra virgin olive oil will also work. Any neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point is a good option.
  • Substitute garlic powder. I highly recommend fresh garlic for best taste, but if you’re out of fresh, you can replace it with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • No Italian seasoning? Use your favorite steak seasoning or blend of dried herbs like thyme, oregano, and rosemary instead. 

More Beef Recipes

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Cast iron skillet filled with garlic butter steak bites, ready to serve.
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Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Author: Jaclyn
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Quick and easy garlic butter steak bites. Juicy, tender steak pieces cooked with garlic and butter, ready in just 20 minutes for a perfect weeknight dinner or appetizer.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound sirloin steak cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1-2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • Pat the steak pieces dry with a paper towel. Then add to a bowl and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; toss gently to coat.
  • Heat a cast iron or large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat and add oil to coat.
  • Sear the steak pieces in the pan in a single layer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until golden brown. You may need to work in batches. Once seared, remove the steak from the pan and set aside.
  • Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, onion, and garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the steak back to the pan and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring to coat in the garlic butter. Remove the pan from the heat and garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Depending on the size of your pan you may need to cook in batches.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 199mg | Sodium: 2055mg | Potassium: 860mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 727IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 4mg
Cast iron skillet filled with garlic butter steak bites, ready to serve.

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