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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Steak Bites In The Air Fryer
- How Long To Cook Steak Bites In Air Fryer?
- Tips For The Best Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Air Fryer Steak Bites
- More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
- My Favorite Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer Steak Bites Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
These air fryer steak bites are the perfect cross between juicy air fryer steaks and seared garlic butter steak bites! They are faster than the whole steak version, more hands-off than the stovetop version, and packed with all the garlicky, buttery flavor. I cooked up these steak bites in the air fryer one day when I was in a dinner rush, because who says appetizers can’t be dinner if you combine them with a side dish? 😉 Try them out for your next party — or your own next dinner rush kind of day.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Tender, juicy texture
- Buttery, garlicky flavor
- Just 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper)
- On the table in 10 minutes
- Quick prep with hands-off cooking
- Perfect for any occasion
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for air fryer garlic steak bites, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Sirloin Steak – I tested this air fryer steak bites recipe with beef pieces of different sizes, and what works best depends on how done you like it. Cut your sirloin steak into 1.5-inch cubes for less done bites and 1-inch cubes for well-done bites. You could use another cut of steak, like ribeye, filet mignon, or New York strip.
- Olive Oil – Locks in moisture and flavor. You could also use avocado oil or any oil of choice.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Although optional, I recommend adding this for depth of flavor and to help tenderize the meat.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. You could also use a steak marinade or Montreal steak seasoning instead.
- Compound Butter – We add this at the end so that it doesn’t burn during the cooking process. This makes it easy to adjust the amount to your liking, too. You can also just serve with melted compound butter on the side, or make chimichurri sauce with fresh herbs instead.
How To Make Steak Bites In The Air Fryer
This section shows how to make air fryer steak bites, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep. In a small bowl, make the compound butter here. Set aside.
- Cut and season the steak. Cut the steak into 1 or 1.5-inch pieces and pat dry. Toss the steak cubes with the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Air fry. Place the steak bites in a preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry steak bites until they reach your desired doneness (see chart below).
- Make garlic butter sauce. In a small saucepan or in the microwave, melt the compound butter. Pour it over air fryer steak bites and stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley.
How Long To Cook Steak Bites In Air Fryer?
After preheating, air fry steak bites for about 3-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F for medium rare steak bites.
Prefer a different level of doneness? Follow this time chart, and keep in mind the internal temperature will rise another few degrees after cooking. The great thing about air fryer steak bites is they cook super fast!
Desired Doneness | Time (Minutes) | Internal Temperature |
---|---|---|
Rare | 2-4 minutes | 120 degrees F |
Medium Rare | 3-5 minutes | 130 degrees F |
Medium | 4-6 minutes | 140 degrees F |
Medium Well | 5-7 minutes | 150 degrees F |
Well Done | 6-8 minutes | 160 degrees F |
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Don’t crowd the air fryer. Steak bites should be in a single layer. You may need to cook in batches if they don’t all fit.
- Flipping is not required. Since the cook time is so short, the pieces are small, and the air fryer circulates air, flipping is not necessary. You can flip them if you like, though.
- Cook longer for a brown crust. Air fryer steak bites won’t get a browned crust if you want them done medium or less, but they turn out extra juicy and tender to make up for that. (Worth it!) You can get some browning if you cook them to medium well or well done, though.
- Use a meat thermometer. Cook time varies depending on the size you cut the pieces and your exact air fryer, which is why meat thermometer is very handy.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: The best way is to warm up steak bites in the air fryer again! Just heat them at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.
- Freeze: Let the steak bites cool, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze. Once they are solid, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or in a zip lock bag submerged in cold water on the counter, before reheating.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Steak Bites
These juicy steak bites are versatile enough to serve as an appetizer or as the main course for a rushed dinner like I did. Here are some simple side dishes to try:
- Classic Steak Sides – If you want to make this a main course, serve these with classics like sauteed mushrooms or an air fryer baked potato. I served mine with some air fryer broccoli that I cooked right before.
- Vegetables – Complement the bites with bacon wrapped asparagus, some sauteed veggies, or for a cozy meal, make creamy spinach.
- Salad – Pair this appetizer with a healthy salad, such as a crisp kale salad, zesty arugula salad, or a fresh garden salad. You can even serve them on top of your salad! My personal fave is a wedge salad with these on the side, which reminds me of a happy hour meal I get at one of my favorite steakhouses.
- More Appetizers – Make a game day spread with more appetizers, like crispy buffalo wings, sweet bacon wrapped shrimp, and creamy spinach dip with veggies or crackers.
More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes
I love using my air fryer to whip up quick and easy appetizers! If you liked these air fryer steak bites, try these appetizers next:
My Favorite Tools For This Recipe
- Air Fryer – I’m a big fan of this air fryer mainly for its large capacity, which avoids needing multiple batches for many recipes.
- Meat Thermometer – I love this one. It’s quick, accurate, waterproof, and reasonably priced.
- Small Saucepan – This saucepan’s pour spouts are a lifesaver, making it super easy to pour melted compound butter without any mess!
Air Fryer Steak Bites
Make air fryer steak bites with sirloin steak, simple seasonings, and a creamy homemade compound butter. Juicy results in just 10 minutes!
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a small bowl, make the compound butter here. Set aside.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for 5 minutes.
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Meanwhile, cut the steak into 1.5-inch pieces if you like your steak medium-rare or less, or 1-inch pieces if you like it more done. Pat dry on all sides. In a large bowl, toss the steak bites with the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce (if using), smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Arrange the steak bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (Do not crowd the basket; you may need to cook in batches if they don’t all fit.)
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Air fry steak bites, flipping halfway through, for a total of 2-4 minutes for rare, 3-5 minutes for medium rare, 4-6 minutes for medium, 5-7 minutes for medium well, or 6-8 minutes for well done. The time will vary depending on how you cut the steak pieces, so for best results, check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer: 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) for rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium rare, 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium, 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) for medium well, or 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done.
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Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop, melt the compound butter. Cook for about 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant, then remove from heat. (Alternatively, you can just melt it in the microwave, but the flavor is better on the stove.)
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When the steak bites are done, transfer them to a bowl. Add the garlic butter and stir to let it melt. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Did You Like It?
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4-6 pieces, or 1/6 of entire recipe
Nutrition info does not include the optional Worcestershire sauce.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
8 Comments
Natasha
0These air fryer steak bites were absolutely the juiciest and most flavorful steak that I’ve tasted. Can’t believe that it’s so easy to make using the air fryer!
Kristyn
0So glad I have an air fryer!! These are the best way to make steak bites!! They are tender & juicy & so tasty!! Great as an appetizer or meal!
Marie
0These steak bites were SO good! They were the perfect texture and the combination of spices was delicious. I’ll be bookmarking these to make again for sure!
Bubbles
0The steak were perfectly juicy and tender and the garlicky buttery taste was really delicious. I served them with a side of mashed potatoes and it was the perfect meal.
Eve
0As someone who love garlic this was absolutely perfect! It’s quick and easy to make and it came out very juicy, tender and really delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Cristina
0Wow, these steak bites were fantastic! Used ribeye instead of sirloin and it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Loved the garlic butter at the end, gave it such a savory touch. Will definitely be making these again, maybe for the next dinner party with my inlaws.
Colleen G
0Absolutely incredible! Even my very picky 14 year old love these! So thank you!
Alondra
0Adding Worcestershire sauce really made a difference. It added a rich umami flavor to the steak bites and the air fryer kept them moist and flavorful. Now that’s a secret ingredient I will be using again and again. Thank you for the tip!