Imagine a lovely steak main course that takes only minutes to prepare and doesn't require a grill or heating up the kitchen! Our air-fryer steak bites recipe features delicious steak bits drenched in a garlic butter sauce that's so tasty you'll want to clean every drop off the plate.
Air-Fryer Steak Bites
An air fryer comes in handy for so much more than one might imagine. Our tasty air-fryer steak bites recipe is one such example—it features bite-sized portions of steak smothered in a delicious garlic butter sauce, complete with actual garlic bits. The entire dish comes together in just minutes, with very little effort required. How’s that for something wonderful?
Ingredients for Air-Fryer Steak Bites
- Beef top sirloin steak: Look for cuts called top sirloin steak or top sirloin fillet. Cut the steak into bite-sized cubes for easier management in the air fryer.
- Olive oil: The olive oil helps the seasonings stick to the steak; it also keeps the steak moist in the air fryer and helps keep it from sticking to the air-fryer basket.
- Salt, garlic powder, pepper and paprika: Together, these ingredients serve as the tasty seasonings for the steak bites.
- Butter: You’ll want to melt the butter in advance for this recipe. Once it’s melted, it’s the base for the garlic-butter sauce that coats the steak.
- Garlic: Mince two garlic cloves to flavor the butter, turning it into a mouthwateringly delicious sauce for these air-fryer garlic steak bites.
Directions
Step 1: Season and cook the steak
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine the steak, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, pepper and paprika, and toss everything to coat the steak. Place the steak on the greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Cook until the meat reaches the desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), five to six minutes.
Step 2: Add the garlic butter
In the meantime, combine the melted butter and the minced garlic in a large bowl. Add the cooked steak bites, tossing them to coat. Place them back into the air fryer, and cook until the garlic is browned, one to two minutes. Serve immediately.
Air-Fryer Steak Bite Variations
- Add steak sauce: Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite steak sauce to the garlic butter mixture for even more flavor.
- Serve them with mashed potatoes: Make a double or triple batch of the garlic butter sauce, reserving the extra to use on mashed potatoes.
- Serve them with air-fryer French fries: A lovely batch of homemade air-fryer French fries is a tasty side dish for these steak bites.
- Use a different marinade: Make a marinade of honey, soy sauce, oil, vinegar, ginger and garlic from this summer steak kabobs recipe for a completely different flavor profile.
How to Store Air-Fryer Steak Bites
Store the cooled steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll keep for three to four days.
Can you freeze air-fryer steak bites?
Yes, you can freeze the cooked steak bites once they cool by placing them in a zippered freezer bag, pressing out the excess air before sealing. Though the cooked meat will keep in the freezer for up to six months, it tends to dry out a bit over time, so it’s best to consume it within a month or two for the best flavor. Thaw the steak bites in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat them.
Air-Fryer Steak Bite Tips
What other steak cuts could I use?
Top sirloin is the best steak cut for this recipe because it’s juicy, making it perfect for any recipe requiring cubes of steak. Alternative cuts include ribeye or New York strip steak; either one tends to cost more than sirloin, and they have more marbling. Round steak or flank steak can also be used.
Could I make this with tofu?
Yes, an air fryer makes it easy to enjoy just about any food in new ways, including tofu! The cooking time is far less with tofu, at six to eight minutes. Try marinating the tofu for a few hours or overnight with a homemade marinade from this air-fryer tofu steaks recipe, as the tofu itself has a mild flavor.
What other sides could I make in the air fryer?
We’re glad you asked! Sides that pair well with the steak bites include air-fryer cauliflower with lemon and herbs, air-fryer carrots and air-fryer Brussels sprouts, infused with garlic, rosemary and olive oil. With so many wonderful options, you may find yourself wanting to try new air-fryer side dishes every night of the week!
Air-Fryer Steak Bites
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Yield
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Directions
- Preheat air-fryer to 400°. In a large bowl, combine steak, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, pepper and paprika; toss to coat. Place on greased tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), about 5-6 minutes.
- In the meantime, combine melted butter and garlic in a large bowl. Add cooked steak bites and toss to coat. Place back into air-fryer; cook until garlic is browned, 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
3 ounces cooked beef: 281 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 438mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein.
Sirloin steak is seasoned with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper then tossed in the air fryer until perfectly cooked. After that, it gets a nice slather of garlic butter for a juicy, flavorful bite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator
