Tender, juicy Steak Bites loaded with fresh garlic, herbs, and melted butter. A deliciously addictive appetizer or easy meal… and ready in just 10 minutes!
Growing up, steak was always my birthday meal of choice. Not pizza, not cheeseburgers, not chicken tenders. STEAK. Why? Because in my mind, steak felt fancy. And honestly… it still does!
Which is probably part of what I love so much about these Garlic Butter Steak Bites. They still feel fancy… but they literally couldn’t be easier to make. Which is an obvious win in my book.
These Steak Bites are perfectly celebration-worthy, fancy enough for birthdays, anniversaries, or date nights, but simple enough that anyone can make them. And DANGEROUSLY addictive!
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Handful of ingredients: This recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients, many of which you’ll already have on hand.
10 minutes: It’s ready in just 10 minutes from start to finish and is SO incredibly easy to prepare.
Fancy-ish: It’s fancy enough to serve for date night, but also makes a delicious appetizer or family meal.
what you’ll need for this recipe
Steak – I used 1 1/2 pounds of boneless ribeye steak. I chose ribeye because of its marbling, which makes it a deliciously tender, flavorful cut of steak. Many recipes call for sirloin, but when I’ve used sirloin in this recipe I’ve found it to be tougher and chewier than ribeye.
Salt & pepper – I seasoned the steak with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Feel free to add a bit more or less according to your tastes. Just remember – the right amount of salt brings out all the delicious flavor in any food!
Avocado oil – I used 2 Tablespoons of avocado oil to sear the steak. I chose avocado oil for its high smoke point, which makes it ideal for searing. Other good options are canola, peanut, sunflower, or safflower oil.
Butter – I made the garlic herb butter using 4 Tablespoons of salted butter. If you have unsalted butter on hand, feel free to use that and just add 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
Garlic – I added 4 cloves of minced garlic to the butter for delicious flavor. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder in a pinch, but fresh will always taste better.
Herbs – I used 1 teaspoon each fresh minced rosemary, fresh minced thyme, and fresh minced parsley. You can use any combination of these or other fresh herbs you enjoy.
how to make steak bites
Season the steak and bring it to room temp. Remove the steak from the refrigerator and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Allow it to sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. This step is very important so you don’t shock the meat, which would result in tough, chewy bites.
Cut the steak. Cut the steak into approximately 1 1/2 inch pieces.
Sear the steak. Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat. Add the oil, then add the steak bites in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. (*I did 2 batches using an 8 inch skillet.) Sear for about 1 minute on each side, until a nice “crust” forms.
Remove the steak from the heat. Promptly remove the steak bites from the pan onto a plate and tent with foil.
Make the garlic herb butter. Reduce the heat to medium-low. To the same skillet, add the butter and let it melt completely. Then add the garlic and herbs. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes to release the flavors into the butter. Turn off the heat and add the steak bites back into the skillet with the garlic herb butter. Spoon the butter over the steak and serve.
Need some sauce?
If you’re a sauce lover like me, you might find yourself wanting a little something extra to dip these bad boys in. Don’t worry… I’ve got you covered with these easy options:
tips for success
Bring the steak to room temperature. Before cutting or cooking the steak, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. This step helps keep the meat tender during the cooking process. If you place cold meat in a hot skillet, it will shock the meat’s fibers, causing them to tense up and become tough.
Choose your oil wisely. Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado, canola, peanut, sunflower, or safflower.
Don’t be shy with salt & pepper. Be sure to season your steak generously with salt and pepper BEFORE cooking! Not only does this bring out the delicious flavor of the meat, but it also helps to create a dry surface on the steak, which results in a better sear.
Use high heat for a good sear. Speaking of sear, using high heat is essential for this step. Be sure your pan and oil are nice and hot before adding the steak to it.
Don’t overcook the steak. Since the steak is cut into small bites, it cooks very quickly! I found that one minute on each side was just the right amount of time to sear the meat without overcooking it.
What to Serve with Steak Bites
Steak Bites are so delicious, they don’t necessarily need a side to go with them! But if you’re looking for one… here are some of our favorites:
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Tender, juicy Steak Bites loaded with fresh garlic, herbs, and melted butter. A deliciously addictive appetizer or easy meal... and ready in just 10 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds steak (I used boneless ribeye)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil OR canola oil
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Remove the steak from the refrigerator and season both sides with salt and pepper. Allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
- Cut the steak into approximately 1 1/2 inch pieces.
- Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the oil, then add the steak bites in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. (*I did 2 batches using an 8 inch skillet.)
- Sear for about 1 minute on each side, until a nice "crust" forms. Promptly remove the steak bites from the pan onto a plate and tent with foil.
- Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low. Add the butter and let it melt completely. Then add the garlic and herbs. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes to release the flavors into the butter.
- Turn off the heat and add the steak bites back into the skillet with the garlic herb butter. Spoon the butter over the steak and serve.
Notes
Tips for Success:
- Bring the steak to room temperature. Before cutting or cooking the steak, let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. This step helps keep the meat tender during the cooking process. If you place cold meat in a hot skillet, it will shock the meat's fibers, causing them to tense up and become tough.
- Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado, canola, peanut, sunflower, or safflower.
- Don't be shy with salt & pepper. Be sure to season your steak generously with salt and pepper BEFORE cooking! Not only does this bring out the delicious flavor of the meat, but it also helps to create a dry surface on the steak, which results in a better sear.
- Use high heat for a good sear. Speaking of sear, using high heat is essential for this step. Be sure your pan and oil are nice and hot before adding the steak to it.
- Don't overcook the steak. Since the steak is cut into small bites, it cooks very quickly! I found that one minute on each side was just the right amount of time to sear the meat without overcooking it.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 448Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 225mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 30g
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