Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter

If you have never made steak in the air fryer before, you are missing out. It cooks so fast and the outside gets a nice sear while the inside stays juicy and tender.

Today I am sharing my recipe for air fryer steak bites with garlic butter. Bite-sized pieces of sirloin seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder, then finished with a simple garlic butter.

The whole thing comes together in about 15 minutes. That includes the prep time too, so it is perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something that tastes really good.

All the seasonings in this recipe are pantry staples, so there is a good chance you already have everything you need. The only fresh ingredients are garlic and parsley.

I make these at least a couple of times a month and they never disappoint. Once you try them, I think you will do the same.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ready in Under 15 Minutes – From seasoning the steak cubes to pulling them out of the air fryer, this whole recipe takes barely 10 to 15 minutes. That means you can have juicy, restaurant-quality steak bites on your plate faster than it takes to order delivery.

The Garlic Butter Takes It Over the Top – The combo of melted butter, fresh minced garlic, and parsley creates a simple sauce that coats every single steak bite. It turns already-delicious steak into something that tastes like it came from a fancy steakhouse.

The Air Fryer Gets an Incredible Sear – Air frying steak bites at high heat gives them a beautifully browned, slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy. You get that perfect sear without having to babysit a hot skillet or deal with oil splatter on your stovetop.

Only a Handful of Ingredients – You need just sirloin steak, a few basic spices, butter, garlic, and parsley. No long grocery list, no hard-to-find items, and nothing you probably don’t already have sitting in your kitchen right now.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Sirloin Steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 3 tbsp Butter
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped

How to Make

Step 1

Pat steak cubes dry and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.

Step 2

Preheat air fryer to 400°F and arrange steak bites in a single layer in the basket.

Step 3

Air fry for 7-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until steak reaches desired doneness (7 minutes for medium-rare).

Step 4

While steak cooks, melt butter in a small pan and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 5

Toss cooked steak bites with garlic butter and fresh parsley, serve immediately.

Tips

Pat the Steak Really Dry

This step sounds small but it makes a huge difference. If there is any moisture sitting on the surface of the steak cubes, they will steam instead of getting that nice sear on the outside.

Use paper towels and press down firmly on all sides of the cubes before you toss them with the oil and seasonings. You want them as dry as possible so they crisp up in the air fryer.

If you bought the steak and it was sitting in juices in the package, lay the cubes out on a plate lined with paper towels for a couple minutes first to soak up the extra liquid.

Cut the Pieces the Same Size

When you cut your sirloin into cubes, try to keep them all around 1 inch. If some pieces are tiny and others are big, the small ones will overcook and get chewy while the big ones are still underdone in the middle.

It does not have to be perfect, but getting them close to the same size means they all finish cooking at the same time. That way every single bite has the same texture and doneness.

Don’t Skip Preheating

Let your air fryer run at 400°F for about 3-5 minutes before you put the steak bites in. A hot basket means the steak starts searing the second it hits the surface, which is how you get that browned crust on the outside.

If you skip preheating and toss the steak into a cold air fryer, the cubes will slowly warm up and cook more like they were baked. You will end up with gray, flat-looking steak bites instead of ones with a nice golden-brown color.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Crispy Avocado Fries
• Air Fryer Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
• Air Fryer Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
• Air Fryer Pizza Dough Knots with Garlic Butter
• Air Fryer Birthday Cake Mug Cakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What cut of steak is best for air fryer steak bites?

Sirloin is the go-to choice for this recipe because it has great flavor, stays tender when cooked quickly, and is budget-friendly. It holds up really well to the high heat of the air fryer without drying out.

That said, you can also use ribeye, strip steak, or filet mignon if you want something even more tender. Just keep in mind that fattier cuts like ribeye may produce more smoke in the air fryer, so keep an eye on things.