Craving a meal that’s incredibly fast, bursting with flavor, and guaranteed to impress? These Garlic Butter Steak Bites are your answer. In less than 20 minutes, you can transform a simple steak into juicy, tender morsels swimming in a rich and savory garlic butter sauce. This recipe is a game-changer for busy weeknights, delivering a restaurant-quality experience with minimal effort. It’s the kind of dish that feels indulgent yet is surprisingly simple to master.
Whether you’re looking for a quick dinner, a hearty appetizer, or a delicious component for meal prep, these steak bites are versatile and consistently delicious. Forget complicated marinades and long cooking times; this recipe proves that a few quality ingredients are all you need for an unforgettable meal.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Steak Bites Recipe
This isn’t just another steak recipe; it’s a solution for hectic evenings when you want something special without the stress. It’s designed to be quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying.
- Ready in 20 Minutes: From the fridge to the table in record time, making it perfect for last-minute meals.
- Simple, Powerful Ingredients: With just a handful of pantry staples like steak, butter, garlic, and herbs, you create a dish with immense flavor.
- Versatile & Family-Friendly: Serve them as an appetizer, a main course over mashed potatoes, or alongside roasted veggies. They’re a proven hit with both adults and kids.
- Perfectly Seared & Juicy: Our tips ensure you get that coveted crispy, caramelized crust on the outside while keeping the inside unbelievably tender and juicy.
The Secret to Tender Steak Bites: Choosing Your Cut
The foundation of amazing Garlic Butter Steak Bites is, without a doubt, the steak itself. While the garlic butter sauce is divine, using the right cut of beef will elevate your dish from good to absolutely sensational. You don’t need the most expensive cut, but choosing one with good marbling and tenderness is key.
Sirloin Steak: The Reliable All-Rounder
For a fantastic balance of flavor, tenderness, and value, top sirloin is our go-to choice. It’s lean enough that you aren’t trimming away too much fat, but it has enough marbling to stay juicy when cooked quickly over high heat. It provides a robust beefy flavor that pairs perfectly with the garlic butter.
Ribeye or New York Strip: For a Touch of Luxury
If you’re looking to indulge, a ribeye or New York strip steak will yield incredibly tender and flavorful results. The abundant marbling in these cuts melts during cooking, basting the meat from within and creating an exceptionally rich taste and buttery texture. They are pricier, but worth it for a special occasion.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe focuses on simple, high-impact ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
- Sirloin Steak: About 1.5 pounds, cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Avocado Oil: Or another high-smoke-point oil for searing.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper for seasoning.
- Unsalted Butter: The heart of our decadent sauce.
- Garlic: Freshly minced is non-negotiable for the best flavor.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped, for a burst of freshness and color at the end.
- Red Pepper Flakes (Optional): For a subtle kick of heat.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Follow these simple steps for a flawless result every time. The key is to work quickly and not overcrowd the pan.
- Prep the Steak: Pat the steak cubes completely dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting a deep, golden-brown sear. Season generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Steak: Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over high heat until it just begins to smoke. Carefully add the steak bites in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until a beautiful crust forms. Work in batches if necessary.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: Once the steak is seared, reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the skillet. Once it’s melted, add the minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn it!
- Combine and Serve: Return all the steak bites to the skillet and toss them in the garlic butter sauce to coat completely. Garnish with fresh parsley, give it one last toss, and serve immediately.
Pro Tips for Restaurant-Quality Results
A few simple techniques can make a huge difference. Here’s how to perfect your steak bites:
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: This is the most important rule! Overcrowding the skillet will steam the meat instead of searing it. Cook in batches if your skillet isn’t large enough.
- High Heat is Your Friend: A screaming hot pan is essential for creating that delicious, caramelized crust.
- Dry Your Meat: Moisture is the enemy of a good sear. Patting the steak cubes completely dry with a paper towel before seasoning is a must.
- Don’t Overcook: Steak bites cook incredibly fast. For a perfect medium-rare, you only need 1-2 minutes per side. Remember they will continue to cook slightly from the residual heat. For a quick and easy side, consider these crispy air fryer broccoli florets.
What to Serve with Your Steak Bites
These Garlic Butter Steak Bites are incredibly versatile. They can be the star of the show or a fantastic component of a larger meal. For a classic comfort meal, serve them over a bed of creamy fluffy mashed potatoes to soak up every last drop of the garlic butter sauce. They also pair wonderfully with roasted vegetables, a simple salad, or even zucchini noodles for a lower-carb option. For a truly decadent meal, pair them with our reader-favorite crispy parmesan potato stacks.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
While steak bites are best enjoyed fresh, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm them in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or beef broth to prevent them from drying out. Avoid the microwave, as it can make the steak tough and rubbery.
Frequently Asked Questions
These steak bites are best served immediately for the optimal texture and flavor. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat them gently in a skillet over low heat.
To get a great sear, ensure three things: 1) Your steak is patted completely dry. 2) Your pan is very hot before you add the meat. 3) You don’t overcrowd the pan, which causes the steak to steam instead of sear. Cook in batches if needed.
They are incredibly versatile! Classic pairings include creamy mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli or asparagus, or a fresh green salad. You can also serve them over rice or with zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.
The best cut for a balance of flavor and value is top sirloin. For a more tender, indulgent result, you can also use ribeye or New York strip steak. The key is to choose a cut with good marbling.
Steak bites cook very quickly due to their small size. Cook them over high heat for only 1-2 minutes per side for a medium-rare finish. Remember they will carry over cook slightly after you remove them from the heat.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you loved these steak bites, you’ll surely enjoy some of our other popular dinner recipes. Give our perfectly baked garlic butter chicken (coming soon) or our hearty French onion pot roast a try next!
Share Your Creations!
We are so excited for you to try this Garlic Butter Steak Bites recipe! It’s a true testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly spectacular. If you make this dish, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out. We love hearing from you! For more delicious recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.
Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Garlic Butter Steak Bites: The Ultimate 20-Minute Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Pat the steak cubes completely dry with paper towels. Season generously on all sides with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat avocado oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat until shimmering. Carefully add the steak cubes in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, until a deep brown crust forms. Work in batches if necessary and set the seared steak aside.
- Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Add the unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning.
- Return the seared steak bites to the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the garlic butter sauce. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.
- Serve the garlic butter steak bites hot, garnished with a little more fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Tip 2: High Heat is Essential. Make sure your pan is very hot before adding the steak to get a beautiful, caramelized crust.
Tip 3: Prep Everything First. This recipe moves very quickly, so have your garlic minced and parsley chopped before you start cooking.
