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Craving steak but don't want a pile of dishes? Air fryer steak bites give you juicy, flavorful chunks in hardly any time. They soak up a quick garlic butter for loads of taste and come out super tender too. I whip these up when I want quick comfort or a steakhouse moment at home with basically zero effort.
Tasty Ingredients
- Parsley Flakes: sprinkle in some green for a fresh finish dried or fresh both work
- Red Pepper Flakes: spice up your steak bites with a dash of quick heat if that’s your thing
- Butter: real butter melts for that awesome coating pick a good quality unsalted one if you can
- Onion Powder: extra savory flavor that lasts ages just stash it somewhere cool and dry
- Garlic Powder: gives strong garlic taste without burning and fresher-smelling powder works best
- Chili Powder: adds gentle warmth and a pretty color go for a tasty, fresh kind
- Black Pepper: grinding your own totally wakes up the steak's flavor with a punch
- Kosher Salt: coarse salt means better seasoning and always check your salt isn’t super old
- Brown Sugar: lightly sweetens, balances out salty and spicy pick soft and light brown for easy stirring
- Olive Oil: holds the flavors and helps everything stick use one that’s fresh for better taste
- Top Sirloin Filet: lean and tender steak chunks that cook up juicy pick ones with just enough marbling
Simple How-To Guide
- Mix Up the Garlic Butter:
- While your steak cooks, melt butter and then stir in garlic powder, parsley, and your red pepper flakes. That's your flavor finisher.
- Toss It All and Chow Down:
- Soon as the steak bites finish cooking, scoop them into a bowl, pour on the garlic butter, toss so they're coated all over, and dig in while they're still hot.
- Pop Your Air Fryer On:
- Heat up your air fryer to 400°F for five minutes. This way the steak bites start searing right away.
- Slice and Pat Steak Bites:
- Cut up your sirloin into small chunks (a little bigger than bite-sized is good) and pat them super dry. That helps all the seasonings hang on.
- Season the Chunks:
- Drizzle some olive oil over the steak pieces in a bowl and mix to coat. Blend together your brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili, garlic, and onion powders in another dish, then shake that seasoning all over the steak and toss till every piece looks coated.
- Time to Cook:
- Lay steak bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket so they aren’t touching. Air fry them at 400°F for 4-6 minutes. Flip or shake halfway so you get an even char, and check doneness till they're how you like them.
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I can't resist snatching a steak bite straight from the bowl when I toss them in butter. The smell is amazing—a total throwback to family dinners when everyone grabbed pieces right from the pan in the middle of the table.
Leftover Tips
Stash any extra steak bites in the fridge sealed up tight for up to three days. To make them juicy again, rewarm them gently in your air fryer at 350°F for just a few minutes, or toss in a skillet with a little butter over medium heat.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
Top sirloin is awesome, but you can swap for flank, round, or skirt steak—you’ll just get a different fat and tenderness level. If you go skirt or flank, slice thin and across the grain for easier biting. Out of parsley? Swap for fresh chopped parsley or chives.
How To Serve
I love these steak bites over hot rice or with some roasted veggies when I want a real meal. They're fun as party snacks with toothpicks, or just wrap 'em in tortillas for speedy street taco vibes.
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Choose Your Best Steak
Top sirloin gives you bold flavor and stays nice and juicy with barely any fat to trim. Scoop up pieces that are pretty much all the same size so they cook evenly, and skip anything that feels super gristly.
Recipe FAQs
- → Which kinds of beef work for steak bites?
If you’ve got top sirloin, that’s a great pick since it’s lean and tender. You can also try round steak, skirt steak, or flank—they all work well. Just remember thinner cuts might finish faster, so keep an eye on them while they cook.
- → How can I get a tasty crust on steak in the air fryer?
Fire up the air fryer ahead of time for at least five minutes. Give your pieces some space in the basket to help them brown. Cranking up the heat lets the outsides get crispy and keeps the inside moist.
- → Is it easy to change up the flavors?
For sure! Bump up the chili powder or sprinkle in other dried herbs you love. Want it less sweet? Skip the sugar for more of a savory bite.
- → How do I make sure the garlic butter covers every piece?
Right when the steak comes out of the air fryer, drop it into the melted garlic butter and your favorite herbs. Mixing while it's hot helps all that flavor stick to the meat.
- → Can I try this with other foods like chicken or veggies?
Definitely! Chicken pieces or hearty veggies such as mushrooms or peppers work with the same method. Just follow similar steps and adjust cook times as needed.