Tender top sirloin steak bites, seared to perfection and tossed in garlic butter. This easy weeknight recipe is budget friendly and a family hit!
If you are looking for an easy, not to mention budget friendly, way to make a steak dinner, look no further than these Garlic Butter Steak Bites.
The bite sized pieces are tender and loaded with buttery garlic flavor. They taste just like garlic butter steak you’d get at a steakhouse.
TOP SIRLOIN STEAK: I love top sirloin for this recipe because not only is it tender and juicy, but it is also budget friendly. Top sirloin is also a lean cut of meat and works best when it is cooked quickly over direct heat. It also works great for steak bites because it is best when served medium/medium-rare making it perfect for the quick cook!
DES’ TIP: You don’t have to use top sirloin. If the budget allows you could even use NY strip loin or ribeye. I would stay away from cuts that are tougher and need to cook longer or marinate like chuck roast, round steak and london broil.
OLIVE OIL: For tossing the steak in before cooking. You can use olive oil or avocado oil.
SALT, PEPPER & GRANULATED GARLIC: No need for fancy seasonings here. We’re keeping it simple. You can use garlic powder if that is what you have on hand.
BUTTER: Use unsalted butter because you want to be able to control the saltiness of the dish.
GARLIC: Chop some fresh cloves for this. Skip the pre-minced stuff.
STEP #1: Cut the steak into bitesized pieces about 1-inch cubes. Pour olive oil over the top.
STEP #2: Season the steak with kosher salt, granulated garlic and fresh cracked black pepper.
STEP #3: Toss the steak with the mixture. Use your hands so that the steak gets coated in all of the oil and seasonings.
STEP #4: Heat a skillet over high heat. Make sure to turn your fan on high, there might be some smoke. Working in batches, sear the steak on one side for 2 minutes. Turn and cook for another 1 – 2 minutes. Transfer steak bites to a plate and loosely cover to keep warm. Repeat until all steak is seared.
DES’ TIP: The key to getting the perfect sear on the steak bites is to let them sit undisturbed for the first 1 – 2 minutes before flipping.
STEP #5: After all steak is cooked, turn heat to low. Add in butter and allow to melt.
STEP #6: Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all of the browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan. There is SO much flavor here!
STEP #7: Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant. About 30 seconds.
DES’ TIP: Watch the garlic carefully, you don’t want it to burn! Burnt garlic tastes bitter and would ruin the sauce.
STEP #8: Return the steak to the pan and toss to coat in the butter. Sprinkle with sliced green onions, if desired.
The technique itself is pretty easy but I have just a couple more tips that will help you get the perfect results!
TIP#1: Take the steak out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you’d like to cook it. This will help ensure that the steak cooks evenly.
TIP#2: Don’t overcrowd your pan. If you overcrowd the pan, the steak bites will steam more than they will sear. I used a 12 inch cast iron skillet and I cooked the bites in 3 batches.
TIP#3: With steak bites it’s easy to overcook them quickly. Remember that steak will continue to cook for a once you take it off of the heat. It’s a phenomenon called “carryover cooking“. For this reason, I like to cook it just a degree or two under my target temperature. You can always return it to the skillet if it is not done to your liking.
If you’re looking for something to serve alongside these Garlic Butter Steak Bites, here are some of my favorites:
Got a family that loves beef? You have got to check out some of my most popular beef recipes:
Meatloaf with Herbed Cream Sauce