If you’re looking for a quick, mouthwatering dish that tastes like it took hours to prepare, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you — my Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe. I absolutely love how these tender, juicy steak bites get a gorgeous sear, then bathe in a buttery garlic sauce that’s irresistibly delicious. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll become your go-to for an easy weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Fast: Ready in under 15 minutes, perfect for busy evenings.
- Flavor-Packed: The garlic butter sauce adds rich, savory depth you’ll crave.
- Versatile & Easy: Great as a main dish or appetizer, and you can customize it effortlessly.
- Reliable Technique: Searing the steak bites properly guarantees that perfect crust every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All the ingredients here come together in harmony to create juicy, flavorful steak bites with a buttery garlic kick. I always make sure my steak is nice and dry before cooking — that little step makes all the difference for getting a beautiful crust.
- Olive oil: Use a good-quality olive oil to help get that perfect sear and add subtle flavor.
- Sirloin steak: I like sirloin for its great balance of tenderness and flavor, but you can substitute strip loin, tenderloin, rib eye, or strip steak.
- Salt: Season generously for depth; I use kosher salt for texture.
- Black pepper: Freshly cracked pepper adds a nice kick and complexity.
- Butter: Unsalted butter gives the sauce that rich, silky finish and helps mellow the garlic’s sharpness.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is a must — it’s the star of the sauce, so don’t go with the pre-minced variety.
- Red pepper flakes: Optional, but I love the little heat it brings to brighten the flavors.
- Fresh parsley: A sprinkle brightens up the dish and adds a lovely freshness.
Variations
I’ve played around with this Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe quite a bit, and I encourage you to make it your own. Whether it’s adjusting the heat level or trying different herbs, small tweaks can bring new excitement.
- Spicy kick: If you’re like me and love a punch of heat, adding extra red pepper flakes or even a dash of smoked paprika amps up the flavor.
- Herbs swap: Sometimes I switch parsley for cilantro or thyme depending on what I have on hand, and it works beautifully.
- Gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but double-check your butter and seasoning for any additives if that’s important to you.
- Make it surf & turf: Adding sautéed shrimp to the skillet last minute is a game changer and looks impressive on the plate.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Step 1: Get That Pan Smoking Hot
Start by heating a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. You want the pan to be hot enough that the oil shimmers and almost smokes. This high heat is key for a perfect sear — I learned this the hard way when lower heat left my bites soggy!
Step 2: Sear the Steak Bites Without Crowding
Add your bite-sized steak pieces to the hot oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Resist the urge to stir right away! Let them cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes so they develop a beautiful crust. Then, stir and cook for another 2 minutes until they’re golden brown on all sides. If your skillet is small, do this in batches — overcrowding will steam the steak instead of searing it.
Step 3: Create the Garlic Butter Sauce
Remove the steak bites to a plate. Lower the heat to medium and add your butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant and slightly browned. The aroma here is heavenly — just like garlic bread meets steakhouse vibes.
Step 4: Toss and Serve
Pour the garlic butter sauce over your steak bites and toss to coat everything evenly. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Serve immediately while hot. You’ll enjoy every bite!
Pro Tips for Making Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
- Pat Steak Dry: Moisture kills searing — I always pat steak pieces dry with paper towels before seasoning.
- Don’t Stir Too Soon: Let the meat develop a crust undisturbed for at least 2 minutes before flipping or stirring.
- Garlic Timing: Add garlic only after the steak is done cooking to avoid burnt, bitter garlic flavor.
- Batch Cook if Needed: Overcrowding lowers pan temperature, so split cooking into batches for best results.
How to Serve Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Garnishes
I always add a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving; it adds such a vibrant pop of color and a fresh herbal note that balances the richness beautifully. Sometimes a light squeeze of lemon juice brightens it up even more—give it a try!
Side Dishes
My family goes crazy for this served alongside creamy mashed potatoes or buttery garlic noodles. Roasted veggies or a fresh salad are also great to cut through the richness and round out the meal perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist at parties, I’ve served these steak bites on small skewers with a side of dipping sauce — they disappear in minutes! Layering them over garlic bread or soft polenta also turns this simple recipe into a show-stopper.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover steak bites store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to separate them from the garlic butter sauce slightly if I know I won’t reheat right away—keeps things from getting soggy.
Freezing
I’ve frozen cooked steak bites before with success—just flash freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to freezer bags. They keep well for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw overnight in the fridge for best texture.
Reheating
To reheat, warm the steak bites gently in a skillet over medium heat, adding a little butter to revive that garlicky richness. Avoid microwaving if you can; it tends to toughen the meat and dull the flavor.
FAQs
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What cut of steak is best for Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe?
Sirloin is a great choice because it balances tenderness with flavor and is affordable. However, tenderloin, rib eye, strip loin, or strip steak work just as well. The key is choosing a cut that’s relatively tender and slicing it into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking.
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Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Absolutely! This Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe is naturally gluten-free, as it doesn’t include any wheat-based ingredients. Just double-check your seasonings and butter to ensure no hidden gluten content.
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How do I avoid burning the garlic while making this recipe?
The trick is to add the garlic after the steak bites are cooked and removed from the pan. Lowering the heat to medium before adding butter and garlic helps too. Cook the garlic just until fragrant and golden, which usually takes about 30 seconds — no longer!
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Can I cook the steak bites in advance?
You can prep the steak bites ahead but I recommend adding the garlic butter sauce right before serving so it stays fresh and aromatic. Steak bites reheat well but are best enjoyed soon to maintain juiciness.
Final Thoughts
I hope you give this Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe a try soon — it’s one of those recipes that impresses every time and comes together so effortlessly. I used to struggle with getting steak just right at home, but this simple trick of high heat, patting the steak dry, and adding garlic butter afterward changed the game for me. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a hungry crowd, these steak bites deliver bold flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Enjoy it with your favorite sides, and don’t forget that parsley garnish — it really brings everything together. Happy cooking!
Print
Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Description
Garlic Butter Steak Bites are a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender sirloin steak pieces seared to perfection and tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and freshness from parsley.
Ingredients
Steak Bites
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ pound sirloin steak, cut into bite-size pieces (strip loin, tenderloin, strip steak or rib eye can also be used)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet and heat it over high heat until hot.
- Sear the steak bites: Add the seasoned steak pieces to the hot skillet, seasoning generously with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Cook for 2 minutes without stirring to develop a good sear.
- Continue cooking: Stir and continue to cook for another 2 minutes until the steak bites are golden brown. If your skillet is small, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Remove steak: Transfer the cooked steak bites to a plate and set aside.
- Make garlic butter sauce: Lower the heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds while stirring until the garlic becomes aromatic and slightly browned.
- Combine and garnish: Pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak bites, toss well to coat evenly, then garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Pat the steak dry before cooking to ensure a better crust by removing moisture.
- Use a hot pan and avoid stirring too soon to allow proper searing of the steak.
- Add garlic after the steak to prevent burning the garlic.
- Do not overcrowd the pan; cook the steak in batches if necessary.
- Red pepper flakes are optional but add a nice spicy kick to the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 6 ounces steak bites with sauce)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0.2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
