Quick and Easy Chili Lime Steak Bites

4.7 from 18 votes
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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!

Chili Lime Steak Bites in a terra cotta dish with a fork stuck in one.

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.

Steak Bites coated in a glaze in a dish with lime wedges next to a blue speckled cup of water.

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.
Ingredients to make chili lime steak bites in bowls with a handheld zester on a marble table

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.

If you come up with another favorite meal idea, let me know!

A terra cotta dish of steak bites with lime wedges on a striped cloth napkin.

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:

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.

A dish of Chili Lime Steak Bites and The Simple Kitchen Cookbook on top of a striped napkin.

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.

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.

A fork laying in a bowl of chili lime steak bites with two lime wedges.

More easy steak recipes

A terra cotta dish of steak bites with lime wedges on a striped cloth napkin.
4.7 from 18 votes

Chili Lime Steak Bites

A super easy recipe that's ready in less than fifteen minutes, and packs plenty of spicy and zesty flavors with only a handful of ingredients. Make them for a quick dinner or a simple party appetizer.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

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.
Nutrition Facts
Chili Lime Steak Bites
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 66mg22%
Sodium 357mg15%
Potassium 468mg13%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Vitamin C 11.1mg13%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 2.1mg12%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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45 Comments
  1. Anna

    5 stars
    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.

  2. laura bates

    5 stars
    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 🙂

  3. Greta

    I used gochujang chili paste and Butcher Box steak tips. So tasty!! Thanks for the recipe. I think I will try with shrimp too!

  4. Waheeda

    It looks delicious! To save time for a cocktail party, could I possibly marinate the chopped meat the day before?

  5. Lesley

    5 stars
    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!!

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      I’m so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the steak bites, Lesley! Thank you for your comment and for rating the recipe.

  6. Rosy

    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?

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

  7. Barbara Tokuz

    5 stars
    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.

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      Thank you for the raving review, Barbara! I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the steak bites.

  8. mark

    5 stars
    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.

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      I’m so glad that you liked the steak bites recipe, Mark, and your dinner sounds like it was absolutely delicious!

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

  9. Melissa

    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?

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

  10. Lori

    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

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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!

    1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

      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.

      1. Rosy

        There are different flavors in the Gourmet Garden tubes. Can you tell me which flavor you used to make this recipe?

  11. Joanna

    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.

    1. Kathryn Barnes Weber

      5 stars
      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.

      1. Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips

        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. 🙂

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