Garlic Butter Steak Bites: Air Fryer Magic

Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites are a quick and easy meal to make for the whole family. They are tender and juicy, with a crispy exterior and a juicy and tender interior. The air fryer is the perfect way to get that perfect sear on your steak bites without the mess of frying pans. It also cuts down on cooking time, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

To make Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites, you will need the following ingredients: steak, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, butter, and parsley. You can also add other seasonings such as Italian seasoning, onion powder, or paprika. First, you will need to marinate the steak in a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Then, cook the steak in the air fryer for 4-6 minutes. While the steak is cooking, make the garlic butter by melting butter and adding garlic and parsley. Finally, toss the cooked steak bites in the garlic butter and serve hot.

Choosing the right steak

Type of Steak

Sirloin, ribeye, and flank steak are excellent choices for steak bites due to their flavourful marbling. Sirloin is affordable and readily available, making it a popular option. Ribeye, with its marbling, yields juicy bites with a crispy exterior. Flank steak has a strong beefy flavour and is ideal for slicing into bite-sized pieces. Additionally, top sirloin, filet, tri-tip, NY strip, and flat iron are all suitable options, with flat iron offering the best value for money.

Marbling

When selecting your steak, look for a nice balance of marbling, which refers to the fat distributed throughout the meat. The right amount of marbling ensures that the steak remains juicy and tender during the cooking process. Avoid cuts that are overly fatty or too lean.

Freshness

Opt for fresh steak by looking for bright red meat in the grocery store's meat department. Freshness guarantees better flavour and texture in your steak bites.

Size

Cutting the steak into equal-sized pieces is crucial for even cooking. Aim for bite-sized cubes, around 1 inch in size. This ensures that each piece cooks evenly and quickly in the air fryer.

Seasoning

While garlic butter is the star of the show, you can enhance the flavour of your steak bites by seasoning the meat beforehand. A simple combination of salt and pepper is a classic choice, but you can also experiment with other seasonings like Italian seasoning, steak seasoning, or a blend of your favourite herbs and spices.

Marinade (Optional)

For extra flavour, you can marinate your steak bites for a few hours before cooking. A simple marinade of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of honey can elevate the taste. Remember to refrigerate the steak during marination to prevent spoilage.

By considering these factors and selecting a suitable cut of steak, you'll be well on your way to creating mouthwatering garlic butter steak bites in your air fryer.

Marinating the meat

Firstly, select your steak wisely. It is recommended to use ribeye, sirloin, flank steak or filet. These cuts of meat have the right amount of marbling, which ensures optimal flavour and tenderness when cooked in the air fryer.

Next, cut the steak into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. This ensures that each piece of steak cooks evenly and quickly in the air fryer. Try to cut the pieces to a similar size to ensure even cooking.

Now, it's time to make the marinade. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. You can use a mixture of smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Remember, you will be adding garlic butter later, so don't overpower the steak with too much garlic at this stage. Whisk the marinade ingredients until they are fully incorporated.

After preparing the marinade, it's time to coat the steak. Add the diced steak to the bowl with the marinade and toss until the meat is fully coated. Make sure each piece of steak is well covered for maximum flavour.

Once the steak is coated, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. The meat should marinate for at least 30 minutes. However, for extra flavour, you can marinate the steak for several hours or even overnight.

While the steak is marinating, you can prepare the garlic butter by melting butter in a skillet and adding garlic and parsley. You can also make a simple marinade of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and a touch of honey if you wish to add more flavour to your steak bites.

Finally, when you are ready to cook the steak bites, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and follow the remaining steps to cook and serve your delicious garlic butter steak bites!

Air-frying the steak bites

Step 1: Prepare the Steak Bites

Start by cutting your desired cut of steak into bite-sized pieces, aiming for uniform sizes to ensure even cooking. You can trim any excess fat from the steak before cutting it into cubes. Sirloin, ribeye, and flank steak are popular choices, but feel free to use your preferred cut.

Next, in a large bowl, combine the steak cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and any additional seasonings of your choice. You can use a simple seasoning mix of salt and pepper, or create a more complex blend with seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or smoked paprika. Toss the steak cubes until they are well coated with the oil and seasonings.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for at least 5 minutes. This step is crucial for achieving a perfect sear on your steak bites.

Step 3: Cook the Steak Bites

Place the steak bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. This allows the hot air to circulate evenly and cook the steak bites properly. Depending on your desired level of doneness, cook the steak bites for 4 to 8 minutes, shaking or flipping them halfway through for even browning.

For medium-rare steak bites, aim for an internal temperature of 130°F to 135°F. For medium doneness, target 140°F to 145°F, and for well-done steak bites, cook until they reach 150°F to 160°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature if you're unsure.

Step 4: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

While the steak bites are cooking, prepare the garlic butter sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. This should take around 30 seconds to 1 minute. You can also add fresh or dried herbs like parsley, red pepper flakes, or crushed red pepper to the garlic butter for extra flavor.

Step 5: Combine Steak Bites and Garlic Butter

Once the steak bites are cooked to your desired doneness, remove them from the air fryer and transfer them to a bowl. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak bites and toss until they are evenly coated.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Serve your garlic butter steak bites immediately while they are still hot. They go well with a variety of sides, such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, fries, or a crisp salad. Enjoy the juicy and flavorful steak bites!

Making the garlic butter sauce

While the steak bites are cooking in the air fryer, it's time to make the garlic butter sauce.

Start by melting some butter in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat. You'll need around 3-4 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add 2-3 cloves of minced garlic and cook until fragrant. This should only take about 30 seconds to 1 minute. You can also add some fresh or dried parsley at this stage for extra flavour and colour. Stir everything together.

Once the garlic is cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside. Your garlic butter sauce is now ready to be combined with the steak bites once they're done.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can add other ingredients to your garlic butter sauce. Some suggestions include red pepper flakes, crushed red pepper, or chilli flakes for some spice. You could also try adding shallots or other fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for extra flavour.

Serving suggestions

Garlic butter steak bites are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• As an appetiser or party food: Serve the steak bites as a tasty appetiser at your next party or gathering. They can be served with a dipping sauce such as chipotle mayo or homemade blue cheese dip.
• With a side dish: For a more substantial meal, serve the steak bites with a side of mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, baked potato, fries, potato wedges, green vegetables like broccoli or asparagus, beans or bean sprouts, or rolls/Texas toast.
• As part of a salad: Create a hearty salad by serving the steak bites on a bed of mixed greens with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, and tomatoes, drizzled with ranch dressing.
• In a low-carb meal: Keep it low-carb by serving the steak bites with roasted vegetables or a crisp cucumber, tomato, and avocado salad.
• With a sauce: Take your steak bites to the next level by adding a sauce such as BBQ sauce, steak sauce, or chimichurri.
• As a stir-fry: For an Asian-inspired dish, eliminate the Italian seasoning and butter and serve the steak bites with stir-fried rice and vegetables.
• In a taco or fajita: Give your steak bites a Mexican twist by swapping out the Italian seasoning for taco seasoning and serving them in tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas.
• As a Greek dish: Serve the steak bites with warm pita bread, tzatziki sauce, hummus, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese for a taste of Greece.
• With gravy: For a homestyle meal, serve the steak bites over mashed potatoes and smother them in gravy.
• As a pasta dish: Combine the steak bites with your favourite pasta and sauce, such as marinara, pesto, or Alfredo.

The possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative and experiment with different flavours and combinations. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions