Looking for a way to enjoy a delicious steak dinner without turning on the oven? These irresistible Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites are exactly what you need! Made effortlessly in the air fryer, they're ready in just minutes, and come out perfectly seared every time. There's no need to fire up the grill or stand over the stove with this easy recipe. Just let the air fryer do the work and enjoy!
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Tender cubes of savory ribeye steak are cooked to juicy perfection and tossed in a rich, flavorful garlic butter sauce, creating a tasty meal that feels fancy but is incredibly easy to make. Finished with fresh parsley, these steak bites are both delicious and versatile.
Serve them as a main course paired with these mayonnaise-roasted potatoes and grilled veggies, or add them into salads, tacos, or even kabobs for a fun twist! Whether you're making a casual weeknight dinner or prepping meals for the week ahead, these tender bites are guaranteed to be a hit for any occasion!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Made easy in the air fryer: Thanks to the convenience of the air fryer, there's no need to turn on the oven or grill-less heat in the kitchen and easy cleanup.
- Quick and simple: You'll have tender, juicy steak bites ready to enjoy in just minutes, making this perfect for busy weeknights.
- Packed with flavor: The garlic butter sauce adds rich, savory flavor that takes these steak bites to the next level.
- Juicy and tender every time: The air fryer ensures even cooking and a perfect sear every time without drying out the steak.
- Versatile and customizable: Easily change up the seasonings or cut of steak depending on your preference. Serve as a main dish, appetizer, or in pasta, salads, or tacos. You could try adding them to our creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad for an easy, protein-packed meal.
- Minimal ingredients: Made with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Great for entertaining: Bite-sized pieces make this an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer or party dish.
- Low effort, high payoff: Impressive results with very little prep or cooking time.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make these air fryer ribeye steak bites!
- Boneless ribeye steaks, cut into bite-sized pieces: Ribeye is perfectly rich and tender, but other cuts of steak work well too.
- Olive oil: Helps the seasonings stick to the steak. Avocado oil or vegetable oil are two alternatives.
- Salt and Black pepper: Add more or less based on your preference!
- Smoked paprika: Brings a subtle smokiness to the steak.
- Salted butter: Gives the garlic butter sauce a rich flavor
- Garlic, minced: Use fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor.
- Parsley, fresh and chopped: You can use dried parsley as well.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Seasonings: To switch up the flavor of your steak, you can easily swap or add seasonings and spices into your mix. Cajun, cumin, Italian seasoning, barbecue blends, Montreal steak seasoning, garlic herb seasoning, lemon pepper, steakhouse seasoning blends, or chili powder are all great options. Keep in mind that you may have to adjust the amount of salt and pepper depending on the seasoning you use.
- Other steak cuts: Sirloin, filet mignon, New York strip, top sirloin, flat iron steak, skirt steak, or flank steak (sliced against the grain) are all great alternatives to ribeye.
- Spicy steak bites: Give your steak bites some heat by adding a dash of cayenne pepper, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, chipotle powder, or by serving them with your favorite hot sauce.
- Butter sauce variations: Customize the garlic butter sauce by adding fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme, grated Parmesan cheese, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce, or by using a flavored compound butter.
- Dietary swaps: For a dairy-free option, use olive oil or dairy-free butter. To lighten things up, reduce the butter and finish with olive oil and fresh herbs.
- Serving ideas: Serve these steak bites as a main dish, appetizer, or add them to pasta, salads, grain bowls, tacos, wraps, or over our twice baked mashed potato casserole or cauliflower mash.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites in the Air Fryer
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, preheat the air fryer to 400°F and follow the steps below for this easy air fryer steak bites recipe.
- Step 1: Add the steak, olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika to a large bowl. Toss to combine.
- Step 2: Add the steak bites to your air fryer basket in an even layer.
- Step 3: Air fry for 4-6 minutes or until your desired doneness. No need to flip.
- Step 4: While the steak bites cook, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 5: Stir in the parsley. Add the steak bites to the skillet, toss to coat for about a minute.
- Step 6: Then, serve immediately.
Helpful Tips
- Cut for even cooking: Cut the steak into uniform pieces, about 1-inch each, to ensure they cook evenly.
- Bring steak to room temperature: Let the steak sit out for 20-30 minutes before cooking to promote even cooking and a better sear.
- Pat dry before seasoning: Use paper towels to remove excess moisture from the steak so it browns properly in the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd the basket: Arrange steak bites in a single layer with space between them to allow hot air to circulate evenly. Cook in batches if needed.
- No need to spray: You don't need to spray the basket beforehand-the steak won't stick.
- Preheat for best results: Preheating the air fryer helps the steak bites sear quickly and cook evenly.
- Avoid overcooking: Steak bites cook quickly, so check them early to prevent drying them out.
- Use a meat thermometer: This is the easiest way to check for doneness.
- Carryover cooking: Keep in mind that the steak bites will continue to cook slightly in the skillet after you remove them from the air fryer.
- Rest briefly before serving: Let the steak bites rest for a minute or two after tossing in the butter sauce to keep them juicy.
- Adjust for your air fryer: Every air fryer is slightly different, so you may need more or less time for the steak to cook completely.
Recipe FAQs
Ribeye is ideal because it's well-marbled and stays juicy, but sirloin, New York strip, filet mignon, or flat iron steak also work well.
Using a meat thermometer is the easiest way to make sure that your steak bites are done. For best results, cook to:
Rare: 125-130°F
Medium-rare: 135°F
Medium: 145°F
No. The air fryer circulates hot air evenly, so flipping isn't necessary as long as the steak bites are arranged in a single layer.
It's best to thaw the steak completely before cooking. Frozen steak won't sear properly and may cook unevenly.
Reheat briefly in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes or in a skillet over low heat until warmed through.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
Let the steak bites cool to room temperature and then keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freezing Instructions
You can freeze steak bites, but they're best enjoyed fresh since freezing can slightly affect the texture. For best results, freeze them without the butter and add fresh garlic butter when reheating; store in an airtight container for up to 2 months and reheat gently to avoid drying them out.
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Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless ribeye steak (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Add the steak, olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika to a large bowl. Toss to combine.
- Add the steak bites to your air fryer basket in an even layer.
- Air fry for 4-6 minutes or until your desired doneness. No need to flip.
- While the bites are cooking, make the butter sauce. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the parsley.
- Add the steak bites to the skillet. Toss to combine for about a minute.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Cut for even cooking: Cut the steak into uniform pieces, about 1-inch each, to ensure they cook evenly.
- Bring steak to room temperature: Let the steak sit out for 20-30 minutes before cooking to promote even cooking and a better sear.
- Pat dry before seasoning: Use paper towels to remove excess moisture from the steak so it browns properly in the air fryer.
- Don't overcrowd the basket: Arrange steak bites in a single layer with space between them to allow hot air to circulate evenly. Cook in batches if needed.
- No need to spray: You don't need to spray the basket beforehand-the steak won't stick.
- Preheat for best results: Preheating the air fryer helps the steak bites sear quickly and cook evenly.
- Avoid overcooking: Steak bites cook quickly, so check them early to prevent drying them out.
- Use a meat thermometer: This is the easiest way to check for doneness-125-130°F for rare, 135°F for medium-rare, and 145°F for medium.
- Carryover cooking: Keep in mind that the steak bites will continue to cook slightly in the skillet after you remove them from the air fryer.
- Rest briefly before serving: Let the steak bites rest for a minute or two after tossing in the butter sauce to keep them juicy.
- Adjust for your air fryer: Every air fryer is slightly different, so you may need more or less time for the steak to cook completely.
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