Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites are the kind of meal that makes an ordinary night feel like a special occasion. The steak bites sear and caramelize perfectly on the outside while staying juicy and tender inside, and the garlic butter tossed through at the end coats every piece in rich, savory flavor. Weeknight dinner has never felt this good or this easy.
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I make these for weeknight dinners, date nights at home, and game day appetizers when I want something that delivers real steakhouse flavor fast without the price or fuss. The air fryer gets them done quickly, which is a huge win on nights when you want something special without the effort. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the air fryer or a hot skillet to bring back that perfect sear.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Once you’ve got your steak cut and your seasonings ready, this comes together quickly and with very little cleanup. Whether you’re using top sirloin or New York strip, the result is juicy, flavorful steak cubes coated in a rich garlic butter sauce.
Pat and Season the Steak
Start by placing the bite-sized sirloin steak pieces in a large bowl and patting them dry with a paper towel. A reusable Swedish dishcloth works great here in place of paper towels and holds up just as well for patting the steak dry.
Drying the steak helps it sear properly in the air fryer instead of steaming. In a small bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder steak seasoning, then sprinkle the blend over the steak and toss to evenly coat each piece.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Air Fry the Steak Bites
Line your air fryer basket for easier cleanup. Food-grade silicone air fryer basket liner makes cleanup a total breeze and is worth keeping on hand.
Arrange the seasoned steak bites in a single layer in the basket, making sure not to crowd them so they brown properly. Air-fry at 400°F for 6 minutes, then flip the pieces and cook for another 6 minutes, until browned and just cooked through.
Add the Garlic Butter
Place the butter and minced garlic directly over the steak in the basket, then cook for an additional 3 minutes to melt the butter and infuse the steak with garlicky flavor. I always use this garlic press, which makes mincing the 6 cloves fast and easy.
Add olive oil at this stage if needed. Toss the cooked steak bites gently in the basket to coat them in the rich garlic butter sauce, then check the internal temperature to confirm your preferred doneness. A good meat thermometer like this one is handy if you want to check your preferred doneness before pulling the steak from the basket.
Serve the Steak Bites
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot alongside your favorite sides. Enjoy!
If you’re bringing these to a gathering, transfer them into an insulated casserole carrier to keep them warm on the way and hold off on the parsley garnish until you arrive.
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Add Preferred SourceIngredients
- 1 pound sirloin steak cut into small bite-sized pieces (about 1-1 ½” chunks)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Start by placing the bite-sized sirloin steak pieces in a large bowl and patting them dry with a paper towel to help them sear properly.1 pound sirloin steak
- In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, then sprinkle the seasoning over the steak and toss to coat evenly.Salt and pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Line your air fryer basket for easier cleanup, then arrange the steak bites in a single layer. Air fry at 400°F for 6 minutes, flip the pieces, and cook for another 6 minutes until browned and just cooked through.
- Add the butter and minced garlic directly over the steak in the basket, then cook for an additional 3 minutes to melt the butter and infuse the steak with garlicky flavor. Add olive oil if needed.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 6 cloves garlic, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- Toss the bites gently to coat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with your favorite sides.Fresh parsley
Notes
- Pat the steak completely dry: Removing surface moisture before seasoning is key to getting a proper sear in the air fryer instead of steaming.
- Cut pieces to a consistent size: Aim for 1 to 1½-inch chunks so every piece cooks at the same rate, and nothing ends up overdone.
- Don’t skip lining the basket: A liner catches the butter and drippings, making cleanup much faster without affecting the cook.
- Avoid overcrowding: Arrange steak bites in a single layer, leaving space between them so hot air can circulate and brown each piece evenly.
- Add garlic butter at the end: Putting butter and garlic directly on the hot steak for the final 3 minutes prevents the garlic from burning while still infusing every bite with flavor.
- Flash freeze for meal prep: Spread cooled leftovers on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer bag so the pieces don’t clump together.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
How to Store Leftovers
Let the steak bites cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. An airtight container keeps them fresh and prevents any fridge odors from seeping in.
To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes to bring back that seared texture without drying them out. For longer storage, freeze the cooled steak bites in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the air fryer so they warm evenly and stay tender.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites
They pair beautifully with classic steakhouse-style sides for a complete meal. Creamy mashed potatoes or red potatoes are a natural match since the garlic butter from the steak bites doubles as a sauce when you scoop them over the top. Roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, or a simple green salad also round out the plate really well.
You can also serve them more casually over white rice or alongside crusty bread to soak up all that garlic butter at the bottom of the bowl. They work well as an appetizer with toothpicks and a dipping sauce on the side, too.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you love your air fryer, here are a few more recipes I think you’ll really enjoy.
