This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This easy Chili Lime Steak Bites recipe packs plenty of spicy and zesty flavor into tender pieces of sirloin steak. With only a handful of ingredients and in less than fifteen minutes, you can have an irresistible gluten free appetizer or quick and easy dinner that is a fiesta for your taste buds.
Love the sauce? Try Chili Lime Beef Cube Steaks or Chili Lime Shrimp!
Mouthwatering Sirloin Steak Bites with Chili and Lime
Just because you are short on time, it doesn’t mean dinner has to be short on deliciousness! I always keep the ingredients on hand to make Chili Lime Steak Bites. It’s a simple dish that is part of our regular rotation because they are perfect to whip up even when you only have a few minutes to make a meal.
A little bit (or a lot if you prefer) of spice, plus the tangy flavor of fresh lime juice and zest make these perfect to serve in tacos, over a salad, for making rice bowls, and more. My favorite is to have enjoy on top of browned butter cauliflower rice! But you can also make a batch to serve with toothpicks for a party appetizer.
What kind of steak to use for steak bites?
The top sirloin is a lean and affordable cut of beef. But it is extremely flavorful and juicy. It is perfect for a recipe like this because since it does not have a high fat content, the quick cooking time ensures it retains its moisture and does not dry out.
Ingredients
With only five ingredients (plus salt and pepper). It doesn’t get much easier. Here is an overview of the ingredients and how to make the steak bites. For the full amounts and step-by-step instructions, keep scrolling for the recipe card. But don’t miss all of my tips and serving ideas below.
- Top sirloin steak – If there is a thick layer of fat on the steak, you can cut that off. Then cut it into 1-inch thick slices, and cut those slices into 1/2-inch long pieces.
- Seasonings – Since the steak and sauce have so much flavor, you only need basic seasonings from your spice cabinet for this recipe. I simply use salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Chili paste – I used to make this with the tubes of chili paste you can find in the produce section near the herbs from the brand Gourmet Gardens. That brand discontinued the product, but you may be able to find another brand. I now use Huy Fong Sambal Oelek (chili paste) or Chili Garlic Sauce.
- Olive oil – You can also use a neutral oil like avocado oil as well. No need for the fancy extra virgin olive oil here.
- Limes – You’ll need both the zest and the juice of the limes, so be sure to zest the limes first before juicing them.
How to Make Steak Bites with Chili and Lime
You won’t believe that including prep time, they are ready in less than 15 minutes! I guarantee you’ll be making them as often as we do, whether it’s Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or any busy night when you need a fast meal. Let’s go over what you’ll need to do.
Season the beef. Cut top sirloin steak into cubes. Season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then drizzle chili paste and honey over the top of the steak cubes and toss to coat it completely.
Sear and glaze. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until it is screaming hot. Add the steak to the pan and sear it for about a minute on the first side before flipping it to cook for about a minute on the second side. Remove the steak from the pan. Then add lime zest and juice to create a zingy glaze to slather over those steak bites.
Serving Suggestions
Once you make this easy steak bites recipe once, you’ll be making it all the time. You’ll love that not only is it quick, but it’s also super versatile with so many ways to serve it.
- Serve it with rice, cauliflower rice, or alongside a baked sweet potato with a drizzle of Aji Sauce.
- Use them to make a salad with delicious Honey Lime Dressing.
- They would be tasty with Mexican Pepper Jack Cauli Tots or Chili Lime Corn
- You can use them to make steak tacos topped with Mango Avocado Salsa and Easy Guacamole.
- Also, these steak bites can be a fast party appetizer with some Avocado Lime Crema or easy Thai Peanut Sauce for dipping.
If you come up with another favorite meal idea, let me know!
Tips for Success
Get the pan super hot. That’s what gets you the nice sear and caramelization on the outside, and seals in the juices. I like to test it by adding one piece of steak to make sure it immediately starts to sizzle.
Use cast iron if you can. Cast iron skillets can get much hotter than other pans, especially nonstick skillets that shouldn’t be put over the highest heat.
Zest before you juice. You need both, and it’s hard to get the zest off a lime that you’ve already squeezed. I like to use a Microplane zester to avoid getting any of the bitter white pith. And this handheld juicer has become my new best friend lately because it gets out tons of juice without a lot of work or mess.
Make extra. You can quickly make several batches to add to your game day or Cinco de Mayo menu. Or double or triple the batch if you have a large skillet. I guarantee they will disappear faster than you can make them.
Variations
Once you know the technique, you can change up the ingredients for all different flavors:
- Douse the steak bites with Worcestershire Sauce, similar to the way I make cube steaks.
- Keep the seasoning simple and serve your Steak Bites with Bloody Mary Sauce.
- Or make them all glazy good with Honey Balsamic Steak Bites.
- Also, try searing just the seasoned steak bites and toss them in Gluten Free Teriyaki Sauce.
Storing Leftovers
Leftover steak bites can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. They are actually great for meal prep or quick lunches. You can even wrap them tightly and freeze them for up to two months. Just be sure to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving cold on a salad or reheating.
About The Simple Kitchen cookbook
If you are already a fan of The Slow Roasted Italian, then you may already know about Donna and Chad’s cookbook. I had the opportunity to review the cookbook and share this recipe with you. And if you love these steak bites, you’ll love the cookbook. It’s page after page of the vibrant photos of their belly-filling and soul-satisfying comfort food.
The Simple Kitchen will have dog-eared corners in no time. It’s a collection of slow cooker recipes, one-pot meals, super fast dinners and sides, fun party appetizers, and of course desserts.
You can also get some other sneak peeks into The Simple Kitchen cookbook.
- Find the Down-Home Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes on Chelsea’s Messy Apron.
- The No-Bake Black Bottom Peanut Butter Pie was whipped up on 365 Days of Baking and More.
- And you can check out the 5-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce on Eating in a Dime.
Are there gluten free recipes in The Simple Kitchen Cookbook?
For my fellow gluten-free readers, there are definitely gluten free recipes to choose from. There are a fair amount of pasta dishes, so you might have to substitute gluten free pasta in those dishes. A few of the soups and sauces are thickened with flour, so perhaps you can give those a shot with rice flour. But there’s still plenty to choose from. There are even a couple of desserts like No-Bake Rocky Road Avalanche Bars.
More easy steak recipes
- Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak
- Greek Beef Skewers
- Caprese Filet Mignon
- Honey Balsamic Grilled Flat Iron Steak
Chili Lime Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb top sirloin steak
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons chili paste or sauce, either tubes of chili paste in the product section or chili sauce from the Asian section of the grocery store, such as sambal oelek
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 limes zested and juiced
Instructions
- Cut the steak into 1-inch strips, then cut the strips into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Place the steak in a small bowl, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir to coat the steak in the spices.
- Add the chili pasta and the honey, and stir again to coat the steak completely.
- Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Hold your hand about 6 inches above the pan, and when you can feel the heat, add the olive oil and swirl around the pan. Add the steak to the pan in a single layer. If it doesn’t sizzle and hiss, the pan is not hot enough.
- Sear the steak for 1 minute before touching it, then flip the steak bites with tongs or a spatula. Sear the steak on the second side for an additional 1 minute, then remove the steak from the pan to a plate.
- Add the lime zest and lime juice to the hot pan, stir to combine, and pour the chili lime sauce of the steak bites.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
I love this recipe foe my meal preps. I used to use the Huy Fong brand chili paste but because of the shortage I couldn’t find it anymore. Wondering if you have used Lee Kim Lee brand before and if it will taste the same. This recipe is amazing and had my family and I licking our plates clean.
So glad you enjoy this recipe! I have not used that brand, but I can’t imagine it will change the taste significantly.
Could I sub in sriracha for the chili paste?
Chili paste is a little thicker and not as concentrated in spice. I would use less, but it might not end up with exactly the same consistency for the glaze.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! Sooooo good and easy to make. Just thinking of it makes me want to make it tonite.
Total chart topper for a party or get together. Can NOT go wrong with this 🙂
Thanks for the fabulous review!!
I used gochujang chili paste and Butcher Box steak tips. So tasty!! Thanks for the recipe. I think I will try with shrimp too!
My husband and I absolutely LOVED it- We used filets… oh my goodness- this will def be added to our rotation
It looks delicious! To save time for a cocktail party, could I possibly marinate the chopped meat the day before?
I haven’t done it, but I think that would be fine.
I used a Thai chili sauce instead of making my own. It turned out good and sweet.
That sounds delicious, Jacob. I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I , too, have made this, lots of juice to pour over & served with my new favorite Uncle Ben’s Brown Rice & Quinoa. My whole family loved this!!
I’m so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the steak bites, Lesley! Thank you for your comment and for rating the recipe.
I don’t know what chili paste is. I read on one of the comments that you use Gourmet Gardens but there are several flavors. Which kind was used to make this recipe?
Hi Rosy,
Chili paste is a spicy condiment often used in Chinese cooking. It’s made from dried chili peppers and garlic. It’s typically found in the Asian aisle of the grocery store.
I made this twice in a couple of days because the crowd went mad when it was gone too fast. Had to make a double batch the second time. Reheats the next day very well. I used Heinz chili sauce because I didn’t have the paste on hand — did great. I also left the meat in the iron skillet for the second batch without transferring back and forth, and, once again, it did great. I saved back some of the lime juice and poured it over the meat in the pan after the meat was done and it cooked in the flavor. No need to pour it on later. The great things about it are: 1) no need for steak sauce, 2) easy to eat because it’s already cut up, 3) great flavor, 4) cooked thoroughly, 5) very tender. Use choice steak and you can’t go wrong.
Thank you for the raving review, Barbara! I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the steak bites.
Just made this for dinner and all I can say is Wow!!! We like things with a little more heat/zing, so next time i would also add a Tbsp. of Cento sandwich spread. Served it with a Jasmine Brown Rice and Quinoa mix and Kimchi on the side. Tomorrow we will do a Brown rice bowl with the left over rice/beef and put a sunny side egg on top.
I’m so glad that you liked the steak bites recipe, Mark, and your dinner sounds like it was absolutely delicious!
Can I make this in an instapot? Thank u
Vicki, you probably could make the chili lime steak bites that way, but I don’t think it would be any quicker or easier than cooking them in a cast iron skillet on the stove top.
I uploaded this recipe to My Fitness Pal, but the nutritional facts you have listed don’t match up with what shows in MFP, any idea why?
Melissa, nutritional information can vary depending on the ingredients you use (brands, etc.). Additionally, I think MFP nutrition is primarily gathered from users, so if something was entered incorrectly, that would also throw things off balance.
What is chili paste?
Chili paste is a condiment that is used a lot in Asian cooking. It’s very similar in taste to Sriracha sauce, but it’s thicker in consistency. You can find it in the Asian section of most food stores.
hi can use any other type of meat for this recipe like stewing beef?
Hi Tina,
You can substitute another cut of meat for the sirloin steak, but because of the short cooking time, it will need to be a lean cut of beef with very little marbling/fat, such as flank steak. Stew meat is not a good choice for this recipe, because the cut of beef is very tough/marbled and requires hours of cooking time to make it tender.
Marvelous! Loved it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
This looks so yummy! It is definitely going on the menu board in the near future!
I hope you enjoy the recipe, Melissa!
I don’t have a cast iron pan, will just a regular pan work for the chili lime steak bites?
And after you put the lime zest and juice in pan, do you return the steak bites back to pan to cook a little!
Sincerely,
Lori
Lori, if you have a stainless steel pan, that would work wonderfully for the steak bites recipe as well. Try to avoid using a non-stick pan, because it won’t give you the nice sear that you can get from a cast iron or stainless steel pan. You can definitely return the steak bites to the pan if you would like them to cook a little longer. Enjoy!
Can you tell me about the chili paste? Brand? Where I would find it. Thank you!
Hi Kal – I use a brand called Gourmet Gardens. It comes in a tube. Sold near the fresh herbs in the produce section of most larger grocery stores.
There are different flavors in the Gourmet Garden tubes. Can you tell me which flavor you used to make this recipe?
It is the Chili Pepper flavor.
I make meat dishes with a ‘sauce/gravy’ very often. There is No Way that your video represents your ingredients as written. There is definitely some cornstarch ‘slurry’ made with beef bullion + water or beef broth and added to the lime juice. Your video shows at least 1/2-1 cup of thickened liquid being poured over the steak pieces.
Actually no, there is no slurry or beef broth. The video follows the recipe and it’s the exact same steak bites from the video in the photos.
I made this and it does create the sauce as shown in the video and photos. It is so delicious! Trust the recipe! If you want more sauce, double up on the portioning.
Thank you for your comment and recipe rating, Kathryn! I’m so happy to hear that you love the steak bites recipe. It’s one of our favorites. 🙂