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These 10 minute Garlic Butter Steak Bites are juicy, tender, and packed with rich garlic butter flavor. Made with flavorful, pan-seared sirloin steak, it’s the perfect recipe for busy weeknights and quick dinners.
The Best Garlic Butter Steak Bites
I originally shared this garlic butter steak bites recipe back in 2019, though it’s been a favorite long before that. It’s seen me through toddler tantrums and busy back-to-school schedules, when dinner needed to be quick, simple, and easy enough to make one-handed. All you need is 10 minutes, a hot skillet, and a handful of simple ingredients for juicy, tender steak bites coated in rich, savory garlic butter. I often enjoy them straight from the pan, but they’re just as good with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
Love this recipe? Try these juicy chimichurri steak bites for another easy steak dinner.
Table of Contents
Reader Comments
“This really is good! I’ve made it twice and not changed a thing. So easy and delicious. Serve it over rice, mashed potatoes, or veggies, and it’s a hit. 5 stars for sure.” — Kerry
“A request in my home weekly!” — Susan
What is the Best Steak for Steak Bites?
I love making this steak bites recipe with top sirloin steak. Top sirloin is one of the best cuts for steak bites because it is flavorful, fairly tender, and usually more affordable than premium cuts like ribeye or tenderloin.
Other good options include:
- Ribeye for extra richness and marbling
- Tenderloin for the most tender steak bites
- New York strip for a firmer texture and beefy flavor
For the best results, choose a steak that is well-marbled and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Thicker steak is easier to sear without overcooking.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need
In addition to the steak, you will need olive oil, butter, fresh garlic, salt, black pepper, and fresh parsley. Olive oil helps the steak sear, butter and garlic create the sauce, and parsley adds a fresh finish.
How to Make Steak Bites
- Heat the skillet. Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the steak in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Sear the steak. Let the steak cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes so it has time to develop a good sear. Stir, then continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, or until browned on all sides. Transfer the cooked steak to a clean plate and repeat with the remaining steak, if needed.
- Make the garlic butter sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter and garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Toss and serve. Return the steak bites to the skillet and toss to coat in the garlic butter sauce. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve right away.
Tips for the Best Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Start with a hot skillet. A very hot stainless steel or cast iron skillet is the key to getting a deep, flavorful sear on the outside of the steak without overcooking the inside.
- Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook the steak in batches if needed. If the pan is too crowded, the steak will steam instead of brown.
- Let the steak sear before stirring. Give the steak about 2 minutes to cook undisturbed before stirring. This helps create that golden brown crust. If the steak sticks to the skillet a little, that’s ok. Scrape off the stuck-on parts when you add the butter.
- Lower the heat before adding the garlic. Garlic burns quickly, so reduce the heat before adding the butter and garlic to the pan.
- Do not overcook the steak. Steak bites cook very quickly and will continue to cook even after it is removed from the skillet. For the most tender results, keep a close eye on them and remove them from the heat as soon as they are cooked to your liking.
What to Serve with Steak Bites
Garlic butter steak bites are delicious with just about everything. I usually serve them with roasted potatoes and carrots, plain jasmine rice, low carb cauliflower mashed potatoes, or simple baked sweet potatoes to soak up all the extra garlic butter sauce. I also make sure to include a veggie to round out the meal. Favorites include sautéed mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, and tender stir-fried bok choy.
They are also great served straight from the skillet with toothpicks as an easy appetizer or party snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
A large cast-iron skillet or heavy stainless steel skillet works best. Both hold heat well and help create a nice sear on the outside of the steak.
The best way to know when steak bites are done is to use a digital meat thermometer. For medium steak, look for an internal temperature of about 140 to 145°F. Because steak bites cook quickly, it is easy to overcook them, so checking the temperature is the most reliable option.
Yes, but it is not recommended. Vegetables release moisture as they cook, which can prevent the steak from searing properly and cause it to steam instead. For best results, cook the vegetables first, then set them aside and cook the steak bites separately. Good options include sliced onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
More Easy Steak Recipes
If you try making this garlic butter steak bites recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and a star rating below, your feedback helps other readers discover (and enjoy) this recipe too. Thank you so much! 💛
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels, then cut it into bite-size pieces. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat. Once hot, add the steak in a single layer, working in batches if needed.
- Sear the steak for about 2 minutes without moving it, then stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until browned on all sides and cooked to your liking. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Return the steak bites to the pan and toss well to coat in the garlic butter sauce.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Top sirloin is my favorite cut for steak bites because it is flavorful, tender, and more affordable than cuts like ribeye or tenderloin. Ribeye, tenderloin, and New York strip also work well.
- For the best sear, use a large cast-iron skillet or heavy stainless steel skillet and make sure the pan is very hot before adding the steak. Avoid overcrowding the pan or the steak will steam instead of brown.
- Patting the steak dry before cooking helps it sear better. Because steak bites cook quickly, keep a close eye on them and use a digital meat thermometer if needed. For medium steak, look for an internal temperature of about 140 to 145°F.
- If you want to add vegetables like sliced onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers, cook them first and set them aside before cooking the steak.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat quickly in a hot skillet just until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Garlic butter steak Delicious!!!!!!!
This really is good! I’ve made it twice and not changed a thing. So easy and delicious. Serve it over rice, mashed potatoes or veggies and it’s a hit . 5 stars for sure
Thank you! We loved it, perfect amount of garlic!
Easy and very good! My family loved it!
Hi , just a regular skillet or a cast iron skillet ?
Hi Trista,
A regular skillet or cast-iron skillet can be used for this recipe.
My spouse and I absolutely love this recipe – the steak is amazing!
Great for me and my kids
Made it last night and success! Easy to follow and my man loved it. Will be adding to rotation, so happy! The sauce is great over rice too!
Hi Jessica! Question…do you leave the steak in the pan while you’re making the garlic butter?
Hi Geri,
Yes, you leave the steak bites in the same pan while making the garlic butter. Enjoy!
I made these using an elk round steak. Absolutely wonderful!
Awesome! That’s what I’m making tonight! Glad to hear it worked good!