Amazing Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
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Need a quick meal idea? How about air fryer steak bites! These mini beef chunks cook up fast in the air fryer (10 minutes or less!) and are seasoned and cooked to perfection. Add them to a salad, make beef tacos, or make steak bites and potatoes for a full meal. These high protein steak bites are so fast and delicious they are bound to become a weekly staple.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
I don’t know about you, but some days I just need something reaaaally quick to eat. And whether it is for a meal or a snack, I like to try to find something that is high in protein so I feel fuller for longer.
Enter steak bites in the air fryer! Not only do they cook up fast for lunch or dinner, but you can even make them ahead and have them ready in the fridge for a quick high protein snack.
For this recipe, I am going to dress up the steak bites with a delicious seasoning blend and some garlic butter that will make them restaurant worthy!
- Fast – These little steak bites cook up fast in the air fryer because they are so small. Plus, due to their small size, it is easier to control how done they get. So if you like them rare you can easily check them and keep them rare…and if you like them well done, you can do that easily too!
- No grease splatter – I’m not sure if you have tried making steak bites in a frying pan, but if you have you know the grease splatters everywhere. Using the air fryer instead of a frying pan helps keep the mess to a minimum and keep the cleanup super fast and easy.
- High protein snack – If you’re into high protein snacks and sick of chicken breast (like me) this is a great way to have a different protein that is still just as easy to make ahead and have in the fridge when you want it.
- Delicious cut – Ribeye is marbled with fat that makes it one of the most flavorful cuts of steak. Add in the seasoning and garlic butter and you won’t be able to get enough!
- Um…Garlic Butter…Need I say more? I think this is pretty self explanatory. But just in case, garlic butter steak bites in the air fryer takes things to a whole new level!
Do you love easy, quick, airfryer recipes? Try my; Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Frozen Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer and Frozen Burgers in Airfryer
Can you cook raw steak in the air fryer?
Great news! You can definitely cook raw steak in the air fryer! But instead of making a whole steak, you can make steak bites like in this recipe. They cook up much faster and turn out brilliantly crispy outside while cooked to perfection inside. This also allows more surface area for the seasoning to bind to as well.
Do you need a lot of oil on the steak bites before air frying?
Technically, no oil is needed for you to get crispy steak bites air fryer style. I have read a few posts that recommend adding lots of oil to the beef bites to get them crispier, but I have a better way to make the steak bites come out super crispy and delicious, and it doesn’t include loads of oil.
Do you need to wash steak first?
Absolutely not! There is no need to wash your steak. Just cut it into bite-sized pieces and cook according to this recipe.
What is the best kind of steak for steak bites?
For this particular steak bites recipe, I am using Ribeye. That’s because I love the flavor the marbling gives this cut of meat. But if you are looking for something more lean, you could try top sirloin, tri tip, flank, or even New York Strip.
How to get desired doneness
The best way to know how long to cook steak bites in the air fryer is to know how you like your steak. Once you know, use an instant read meat thermometer to take the temperature of the steak bites throughout the cooking process. All air fryers cook a little bit differently, so the times listed are approximate.
Rare: 120-30℉ (49-57℃) approximately 5-7 minutes
Medium Rare: 130-135℉ (54-57℃) approximately 7-8 minutes
Medium: 135-145℉ (57-63℃) approximately 8- 10 minutes
Medium Well: 145-155℉ (63 – 68℃) approximately 10-12 minutes
Well Done: 155-165℉ (68 – 74℃) approximately 13-15 minutes
Ingredients
Variations/ Adaptations
Using different seasonings is a great way to vary the flavors of the steak bites so you can eat them often without getting bored with the flavor. I love using a Mexican spice blend on my steak bites if I plan on having steak tacos. And some Italian flavors if I plan to toss the steak bits with pasta.
We have talked about this a little already, but you can also change up the type of steak you air fry. My favorite second choice for the garlic steak bites in the air fryer would be top sirloin. This cut turns out tender and delicious every time. But you could also try flank, tri tip, or NY strip.
How the make airfryer steak bites
Preheat your airfryer basket to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. This helps to achieve a nice sear.
- Start by slicing your steak into bites, ensuring the marbling of fat is evenly distributed with each piece (you want to avoid having a whole piece made out of fat!) (Image 1).
- Add to a bowl with the cornflour and seasoning. Toss to combine, then add the oil, salt and pepper. Stir again until well incorporated (Image 2).
3. Remove the preheated airfryer tray from the fryer (Image 3).
4. Using tongs, add the steak bites to the preheated air fryer basket, around 400°F (200°C) for 2 minutes for medium rare, 3 minutes for medium or 5 minutes for minutes for well-done (Image 4).
5. During this time, melt the butter in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Squish the garlic into a paste with a pinch of salt, then add to the melted butter, along with the parsley. Stir to combine and season with salt (Image 5).
6. Depending on how you like your steak cooked (2, 3 or 5 minutes) the steak bites should be ready to serve with a drizzle of garlic butter, or use it as a dip. Enjoy! (Image 6).
Try these easy side dishes to go with these steak bites; Easy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Recipe, Airfryer Hash Browns and Airfryer Frozen Fries
After you’ve tried these steak bites, you’ll love my ; Tender Braising Steak with Gravy or Easy Air Fryer Shrimp and you could even elevate the garlic butter by using my Compound Butter (Herb Butter) recipe.
Tips for the best result
- Cook the steak bites to your favorite doneness and let the steak bites rest about 5 minutes before eating.
- Always undercook your steak bites slightly, because you can always make them more done, but you can never make them less done.
- Preheat the air fryer to get the meat crispy and caramelized on the outside without overcooking.
- Make sure to space out the meat cubes in the air fryer so the air can circulate well around each piece.
- Either flip the meat or shake the basket half way through cooking.
Need inspiration for some delicious main course recipes? Here are some high protein dishes; Perfect Pan Fried Cod Recipe, Salmon Tray bake with Asparagus and Creamy Mustard Chicken (Best ever!)
Serving suggestions
- Veggies: Simply adding some steamed broccoli or cauliflower rice with the air fryer garlic steak bites is a great way to have a healthy, filling meal. Or serve with my ; Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
- Carb: Can I just say, that garlic butter steak bites and potatoes is one of my favorite meals of all time! I just add a little broccoli to round it all out.
- Snack: You can eat them as a quick snack warm or cold. They are so good!
- Stir fry: This is a fantastically fast way to make beef and broccoli stir fry. All you need to add is a great sauce.
- Beef tacos: One of my favorite easy weeknight dinners, beef tacos are super fast and a family favorite.
Make this a more substantial meal by serving a starter. Try my ; Creamy Parsnip Soup, Tomato & Lentil Soup and Courgette Soup
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
Place leftovers into an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Is this freezer friendly?
These steak bites are freezer friendly. Just place in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze in a regular freezer for up to 3 months and in a deep freezer for up to 1 year.
How do you reheat steak bites?
To reheat, I recommend using the microwave in short 10 second bursts until they are heated through. You can also place the bites in a skillet and heat them on low to medium heat until they are heated through.
If you have not added the garlic butter to the steak bites, you can also reheat them in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes or until warm in the center.
*However, do not reheat in the air fryer if the steak bites have the garlic butter on them already. The air fryer can burn the butter and the garlic making the steak bites taste not so great.
FAQs
To get your steak bites well done, you will want to cook them to an internal temperature of 165℉ (74℃) or higher. This will take around 15 minutes in the air fryer but the best way to tell is with a meat thermometer.
Yes, you can definitely make air fryer garlic steak bites in a fry pan or skillet. Season them the same way, add some oil to the fry pan, and saute them until done how you like them.
You can use frozen steak, howeverI would recommend thawing the steak first then following the directions in this recipe.
If you tried this Airfryer Steak Bites recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
Ingredients
- 220 gram 1 ribeye steak (£5.20)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (£0.55)
- 50 g butter (£1.69/10)=(£0.16)
- 1 cloves of garlic, minced (£0.39)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tsp (heaped) cornflour
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- Salt & Pepper
Method
Preheat your airfryer basket to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. This helps to achieve a nice sear.
- Meanwhile, slice your steak into bites, ensuring the marbling of fat is evenly distributed with each piece (you want to avoid having a whole piece made out of fat!).
- Add to a bowl with the cornflour and seasoning. Toss to combine, then add the oil, salt and pepper. Stir again until well incorporated.
- Using tongs, add the steak bites to the preheated air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 2 minutes for medium rare, 3 minutes for medium rare or 5 minutes for minutes for well-done.
- During this time, melt the butter in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Squish the garlic into a paste with a pinch of salt, then add to the melted butter, along with the parsley. Stir to combine and season with salt.
- Serve your steak bites with a drizzle of garlic butter, or use it as a dip. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cook the steak bites to your favorite doneness and let the steak bites rest about 5 minutes before eating.
- Undercook slightly for adjustment, if needed.
- Preheat air fryer for crispy texture.
- Space out cubes, flip or shake halfway through cooking.
Nutrition
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