Air Fryer Steak Bites

These restaurant quality Air Fryer Steak Bites are cooked to perfection then finished with a quick and easy butter garlic sauce. Made in the air fryer, they’re juicy and tender with a beautiful golden-brown crust on the outside. If you’ve ever doubted that an air fryer could handle a high-quality cut of beef, prepare to be happily corrected.

Air fryers are the kitchen workhorses of the decade. I use mine almost daily, especially for roasted vegetables and air fryer potatoes. During football season, we make air fryer chicken wings and Pretzel Bites and for a quick family weeknight dinner these BBQ Chicken Legs are ready in under 30 minutes!

Air Fryer Steak Bites

There are some that say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but what if I told you these air fryer garlic butter steak bites are the ultimate bite sized steak treat? Sure, we all love a perfectly seared slab of steak on our plates, it’s every meat lover’s dream. However, when the occasion calls for it, these appetizer sized steaks are sure to please any carnivorous palate.

The great thing about this easy appetizer recipe is that it’s very hands off. There’s no need to stand at the stove searing and flipping. There’s no messy splatter or smoke because it’s all contained in the air fryer. Air fryers also do a pretty great job of searing meat and locking in the moisture.

All my air fryer recipes are quick, easy, and incredibly flavourful and this steak bite recipe is no exception. Believe me, once these pop out of your air fryer basket, they’ll become one of your most popular recipes!

You’ll love that there’s very little prep time and the steak seasoning is fantastic. In fact, they are great on their own, but the garlic butter sauce brings them to the next level. The combination of melted butter, fresh garlic, and fresh parsley infuses the steak bites with an irresistibly rich and garlicky flavour.

Whether you’re tossing them in garlic butter for a quick weeknight meal with one pot creamy spaghetti or serving them with toothpicks as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, they deliver steakhouse quality without the steakhouse effort.

In this post, I’m breaking down how to get that perfect medium-rare finish, which cuts of beef work best, and the one secret ingredient that ensures a crust so good, you’ll forget the stove even exists.

Which Cut of Steak Should I Use?

You may think it’s sacrilegious to use a good quality steak in an air fryer recipe, but the cut greatly affects the outcome of this recipe. When it comes to air fryer steak bites, the goal is a quick sear without overcooking the inside. Because the air fryer mimics a high-heat convection oven, you want cuts that are naturally tender and have enough fat to stay juicy.

Here are the best cuts of beef for the job, ranging from everyday affordable to “date night” splurges:

1. Top Sirloin is full of beefy flavour, has great fat marbling, and is sometimes more affordable than ‘choice’ cuts.
2. Ribeye is and always will be my favourite cut of steak. This choice cut may be pricier, but the fat literally melts into the meat creating an extra tender steak bite. Note that the steak might not hold the perfect cube shape due to the fat melting.
3. New York Strip is the happy medium between top sirloin and ribeye with more fat than the former and tighter grain than the latter.

Note: Do not use any cut of beef that requires ‘low and slow’ (chuck or round) cooking or thin and fibrous cuts like flank or skirt steak that are best cooked whole.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Steak Bites

Besides the steak, you’ll need a few more basic ingredients for the steak seasoning mixture and the garlic butter sauce.

• Sirloin Steak
• Olive Oil
• Garlic Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Onion Powder
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Butter
• Garlic
• Parsley

The steak seasoning mixture contains garlic powder, onion powder, salt, smoked paprika, and freshly ground black pepper. The smoked paprika gives the steak bites and incredible smoky flavour and slightly orange colour. If you don’t like smoke flavour you can use sweet paprika instead.

While garlic powder is perfect for the steak rub, freshly minced garlic and fresh parsley are best for the butter sauce. You can use salted butter and omit the extra salt, but unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content according to your preference.

How to Make Air Fryer Steak Bites

To begin, add the steak cubes, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix to coat the beef evenly.

Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) then place the steak bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overcrowded. Cook for 6-8 minutes for medium-rare (130°–135°), or 8-10 minutes for medium (140°–145°), shaking the basket halfway through cooking.

While the steak is cooking, melt the butter in a small skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in the chopped parsley and season with salt.

Serve the steak bites warm drizzled with the garlic butter.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Arrange the steak bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them for better air circulation and browning. If necessary, cook in batches.
• Cooking times can vary depending on your air fryer model and desired level of doneness. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the steak is cooked to your liking.
• Serve the steak bites with your favourite sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a salad.
• Marinating the steak bites for 30 minutes to an hour before cooking can add extra flavour.
• Serve the steak bites immediately after cooking to ensure they are hot and juicy.

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill, the heart and soul behind Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

If you make this Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section or in a recipe rating. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Pinterest for my latest recipes. Also, if you do make this recipe, please share your photos and tag me on Instagram. I hope you like this recipe!