Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Description
Juicy cubes of steak with a perfect golden sear from the air fryer, then tossed in a rich garlic herb butter sauce. Ready in 15 minutes. The best weeknight steak dinner you'll ever make.
Ingredients
Steak:
- 1.5 lbs top sirloin, or ribeye, NY strip, flat iron, cut into 1–1.5 inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil , or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, optional
Garlic Butter Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or ½ tsp dried, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt, for finishing
Instructions
- Remove steak from fridge 20 minutes before cooking. Pat every surface completely dry with paper towels — this is essential for a proper sear. Cut into even 1–1.5 inch cubes, trimming excess hard fat and silver skin. Cut against the grain for more tender bites.
- In a large bowl, toss steak cubes with oil until fully coated. Add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Toss until every piece is evenly coated on all sides.
- Preheat to 400°F for a full 5 minutes. The basket must be hot — you should hear an audible sizzle when the steak goes in.
- Place steak bites in a single layer with space between each piece. Do not crowd the basket. Air fry at 400°F for 5–8 minutes (see temp chart below), shaking or flipping at the halfway mark.
- While the steak cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat until foamy. Add minced garlic and stir constantly for 30–45 seconds until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley, thyme, and red pepper flakes.
- Toss in garlic butter:
- Transfer cooked steak bites immediately to the garlic butter skillet. Toss to coat every surface thoroughly. Keep in the pan for 60–90 seconds, tossing every 20–30 seconds. This bastes the steak and finishes the cooking.
- Transfer to a warm plate. Rest 2 minutes. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt and fresh parsley. Serve immediately with any extra garlic butter from the pan spooned over the top.
Equipment
- Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Notes
Doneness Temperature Guide
| Doneness | Pull at (air fryer) | Final temp | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | 115–120°F | 120–125°F | 4–5 min |
| Medium-rare | 125–130°F | 130–135°F | 5–6 min |
| Medium | 135–140°F | 140–145°F | 6–7 min |
| Medium-well | 145–150°F | 150–155°F | 7–8 min |
| Well done | 155°F+ | 160°F+ | 9–10 min |
Pull 5°F below your target — carryover cooking and the garlic butter pan will finish the job. Always use an instant-read thermometer; air fryer timing varies by brand and wattage. For steak bites & potatoes: start baby potatoes at 400°F for 18 min, then add steak bites for the last 5–6 minutes and finish both together in the garlic butter pan.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 38gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1283mgPotassium: 671mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 745IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 3mg