These juicy air fryer steak bites are perfectly seasoned and tossed with homemade garlic butter for a quick, delicious steak dinner. Leave most of the work to your air fryer!
I love using my air fryer to cook everything from the crispiest air fryer popcorn chicken to mac and cheese balls! These steak bites with garlic butter have fast become a favorite.
Air fryer steak bites are the easiest way to cook steak that’s extra juicy inside and crisp and seared outside. Tossed in glossy garlic butter, these steak bites are delicious served with mashed potatoes, but there are so many possibilities! I’ll even make these as an appetizer. These bites are super flavorful with minimal effort. Plus, they’re FAST. I had mine seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium in 20 minutes!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Steak Bites
Perfect every time. The air fryer is one of the most fail-proof ways to cook steak that’s tender, juicy, and perfectly seared every time.
Fast and easy. With zero marinating time and a 6 minute cooking time, a steak dinner doesn’t get much faster than these steak bites.
Garlic butter sauce. After cooking, I toss these in garlic butter for the perfect flavorful finish. It’s an optional step, but worth it.
What You’ll Need
These are some quick ingredient notes for these air fryer steak bites with garlic butter. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list with the full amounts and recipe details.
Steak – Sirloin or similar (see below), cut into 1- inch chunks.
Olive Oil – Or another vegetable oil.
Worcestershire Sauce – You could also use soy sauce, which has a similar umami flavor.
Brown Sugar – Feel free to substitute another sweetener, like honey.
Seasoning – Red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. You can omit the chili flakes if you’re sensitive to spice.
Butter – Salted or unsalted.
Garlic – Freshly minced.
Parsley – Finely chopped, for garnish. Feel free to use another herb, like thyme or rosemary.
The Best Cuts of Steak for Steak Bites
The beauty of steak bites is that you don’t need to splurge on an expensive cut of beef. Sirloin, New York strip, flank steak, filet, flat iron, and Tri-tip are all great options. Choose the cut that fits your preference and budget.
How to Make Air Fryer Steak Bites
Follow these steps to cook perfectly seared, juicy steak bites in the air fryer. You’ll find the printable recipe instructions in the recipe card below the post.
Season the steak.Fill the air fryer and cook.
Season the steak bites. Add your steak pieces to a bowl with Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and seasonings. Stir well or toss to coat.
Cook. Next, arrange the steak bites in a single layer inside a preheated air fryer. Cook at 400ºF for 6 minutes, flipping the bites halfway through.
Make the garlic butter.Toss, garnish, and serve!
Make the garlic butter. Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet, then add the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Finish and serve. Add the steak bites to the garlic butter and stir so they’re evenly coated. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve!
How Do I Know When Steak Bites Are Cooked?
The easiest way to tell when steak bites are cooked to your liking is to take the internal temperature using a meat thermometer:
125°F for rare
135°F for medium-rare
145ºF for medium
155ºF for well-done
Tips for Success
Preheat the air fryer. Similar to pan-searing a steak, you want the steak bites to sizzle when they hit the fryer basket. This means the air fryer is hot enough to get a good sear.
Adapt the cooking time as needed. The exact cooking time might vary depending on the size of your steak bites and your air fryer model. Feel free to adjust it as needed!
Cook in batches. Leave space between the steak bites in the air fryer so that the hot air has enough room to circulate and sear the outside. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking, so air fry in batches if you need to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I air fry steak bites?
Cook your steak bites at 400ºF for 6 minutes, about 3 minutes per side. Make sure the air fryer is preheated beforehand. High heat is key to a perfect sear.
Why are my steak bites tough?
Overcooked steak bites can be tough and chewy instead of soft and tender, so make sure not to leave them in too long. Have an instant-read meat thermometer handy to check the meat for doneness (see above).
What other seasonings can I use?
There are endless seasoning possibilities for steak! Change up the seasoning in this recipe with Cajun seasoning, Montreal Steak spice, BBQ seasoning, or your favorite steak spice blend.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Refrigerate. Store leftover steak bites airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftovers are great cold or warmed up, served over a green salad, couscous salad, or rolled up in tortilla wraps.
Reheat. I recommend reheating these steak bites in the microwave or a skillet. The butter sauce tends to burn if reheated in the air fryer.
Freeze. You can freeze steak bites for up to 3 months and defrost them in the fridge before reheating.
These juicy air fryer steak bites are perfectly seasoned and seared, then finished with homemade garlic butter for a quick and delicious steak dinner.
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak, cut into bite size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons salted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Combine the steak pieces, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Stir well to coat the steak. Set aside.
Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
Once the air fryer is preheated, lay the steak pieces in the bottom of the basket in a single layer. Leave a bit of space between the pieces so the outside will brown nicely. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
Air fry for 6 minutes, turning once halfway through.
While the steak is cooking, heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the cooked steak into the garlic butter sauce and stir to coat.
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately.
Notes
Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
