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This easy Garlic Butter Steak Bites recipe sears chunks of beef to tender perfection and serves them with a rich bloody mary-inspired red wine sauce for dipping. Ready in less than fifteen minutes, you can enjoy these succulent bites as an appetizer or round them out into a quick dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Steak Bites Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free option, Low carb
- Skill Level: Easy
Ready in minutes, this easy steak bites recipe is one you’ll turn to again and again. I mean, just the aromas in my kitchen as I tested this recipe make me want to put it on our dinner menu at least once a week. The sizzle as the meat hits the cast iron skillet, the slight char, the buttery and garlicky goodness – it’s truly a delight for all of your senses!
Not only is the steak cooked to tender perfection, but it gets even better when dipped into a red wine-based sauce that takes its inspiration from the classic bloody mary cocktail (you’ll use tomato sauce rather than tomato juice). I know you’ll love this recipe, and here’s why:
- Ready in 15 minutes. This is my kind of dish! If you have steak, you can whip up these easy steak bites quickly.
- Can be a meal or an appetizer. You can serve steak bites as a delectable appetizer, or add a salad and a loaf of fresh bread to round them out into a full meal.
- So flavorful! The garlicky steak bites are packed with flavor, and you’ll get even more from the sauce that’s made from a combo of tomato sauce, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients in this steak bites recipe. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
For the Garlic Butter Steak Bites
- Beef: I find that beef top round or sirloin steak works best in this recipe.
- Salt and Pepper: I use kosher salt and black pepper.
- Red Pepper Flakes: You can omit these if you prefer less spice.
- Avocado Oil: Or use another neutral oil with a high smoke point.
- Butter: Salted or unsalted butter is fine. You can use vegan butter if you need to make this dish dairy free.
- Garlic: Use more or less garlic to your taste.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Make sure to use a brand that is gluten free, if needed. In the United States, Lea & Perrins and French’s are gluten free at the time of this writing, but always check the most current information.
- Fresh Parsley
For the Bloody Mary Sauce
- Oil: Avocado oil or olive oil will work well.
- Onion: A red or yellow onion is fine.
- Salt and Pepper
- Red Wine: Use a dry variety, such as Merlot or Pinot Noir. If you prefer not to use wine, you can substitute with beef broth (be sure it is gluten free if needed).
- Worcestershire Sauce: See the note above about gluten free Worcestershire.
- Hot Sauce. I like Franks, but you can use Tabasco, sriracha, or any hot sauce you like.
- Tomato Sauce: Make a batch of homemade sauce or pick up a jar.
How To Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Here’s my method for making this quick recipe. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Season. Sprinkle the steak cubes with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Prepare. Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast iron skillet and add the steak.
- Cook. Sear the steak pieces on both sides.
- Remove. Set the steak aside.
- Melt butter. Place the butter into the skillet to melt.
- Cook garlic. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Stir in Worcestershire. Add in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Add steak. Now return the steak bites to the pan.
- Make sauce. Heat oil and sauté the onion with salt and pepper.,
- Add wine. Stir in the wine and simmer until it reduces by half.
- Add remaining ingredients. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and tomato sauce.
- Simmer. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and simmer.
- Serve. The steak bites can be served with the sauce drizzled over the top or in a bowl for dipping.
Tips & Variations
A few tips can help you make these steak bites perfectly every time!
I’ve also included a few variation suggestions:
- Use a meat thermometer. An instant-read thermometer will help you cook the steak to perfection. The steak should read at least 120°F to be safely cooked.
- Cook to your favorite level of doneness. Using the thermometer will ensure your steak is cooked exactly how you like it. Here are temperatures and levels of doneness: Rare: 120°–125°F, Medium Rare: 130°–135°F, Medium: 140°–145°F, Medium Well: 150°–155°F, and Well Done: 160°–165°F.
- Bring steak to room temperature. Let the beef rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before you cook it. This will help the meat to cook evenly.
- Make sauce ahead. You can make the dipping sauce up to 24 hours in advance of when you plan to use it and keep it in the fridge. Reheat the sauce in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave.
- Adjust the spice level. If you don’t like a lot of spice, you can lower or omit the number of red pepper flakes for the steak, and the hot sauce in the red wine sauce. On the other hand, if you like spicy, you can add a drizzle of hot sauce to the bites after they’ve been cooked!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
These steak bites are best served fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can save them for another time. Here’s how to store leftover steak bites:
- Fridge – Place cooled steak bites in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Transfer the sauce to a separate airtight container, such as a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer – Place the steak bites in a freezer-safe, airtight container or sealable bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the steak completely in the fridge before reheating.
- To Reheat – Reheat the steak in a microwave-safe dish in the microwave in 30-second intervals until hot. Or, gently reheat them in a skillet over medium heat until hot.
Serving Suggestions
You have options for how to serve these easy steak bites! Pour a few drinks and set them out as an appetizer, add some sides and call them dinner, or simply nibble on a few for a snack. Here are a few suggestions:
- With other appetizers. Serve steak bites during your next game day get-together, along with BBQ Baked Turkey Meatballs, Gluten Free Garlic Knots, Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps, and Air Fryer Gluten Free Pizza Rolls.
- Vegetables. Make steak bites into a meal with a side of Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and a few other vegetables, like Roasted Asparagus, Whipped or Roasted Cauliflower, and Roasted Butternut Squash.
- Fries. Steak bites are wonderful served alongside Baked Sweet Potato Fries or crispy Air Fryer French Fries. Or change it up and try Smashed Potatoes!
- Salad. Toss tender steak bites into a green salad, or as an alternative on my Grilled Steak Salad when you can’t get outside to cook the meat. Or make a salad to go with them for a lighter meal. Some nice choices include my Roasted Asparagus Salad and Winter Fruit Feta Salad recipes.
- Pasta. Place a bowl of steak bites on the table to add a hit of protein to pasta dishes like Fettuccine Alfredo or Penne with Tomato Cream Sauce.
More Steak Recipes To Try
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
This Easy Steak Bites Recipe sears chunks of beef to tender perfection and serves them with a rich, bloody mary-inspired red wine sauce for dipping.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
For the Garlic Butter Steak Bites:
- 1 ½ pounds beef top round or sirloin steak, cut into about 1 inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or another neutral oil with a high smoke point
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
For the Bloody Mary Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup finley chopped onion
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup dry red wine, such as Merlot or Pinot Noir
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 cup or one 8 ounce can tomato sauce
Instructions
For the Garlic Butter Steak Bites:
- Sprinkle the steak pieces with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Toss to coat thoroughly.
- Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and let it get screaming hot. You’ll know it is hot enough when you can hold your hand about 6 inches above the pan and feel the heat.
- Add the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add one piece of steak to test if it is hot enough. You should hear it sizzle immediately.
- Add the rest of the steak pieces to the pan in a single layer. Sear the steak for 1 minute without touching or moving it. Flip the steak bites with tongs or a spatula and sear on the second side for an additional 1 minute. Remove the steak from the pan to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet. Once it melts, add the garlic and saute for a minute or two, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the Worcestershire sauce, then return the steak bites to the pan. Toss to coat.
- Remove from the heat and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with the Bloody Mary Sauce for dipping.
For the Bloody Mary Sauce:
- Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, salt, and pepper, and sauté for about 5 minutes or until translucent and softened.
- Add wine and simmer until reduced by about half.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and tomato sauce. Return to a simmer.
- Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Serve alongside steak bites for dipping
Notes
Adapted from Rachael Ray on Food Network
Nutrition Facts
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Amount Per Serving (4 ounces steak with about 1/4 cup sauce)
Calories 205
Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 69mg23%
Sodium 289mg12%
Potassium 606mg17%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 133IU3%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 37mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* 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.
Did you make this?
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Can I keep warm in chafing dish
Hmm, the steak might dry out a bit, so maybe you’d want to put a little beef broth in the chafing dish.
Hello sweet lady! This looks incredible. Pinned. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us. We hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm. We love partying with you!http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Ummmm yummmmm!!!! Would love if you linked up with us at Mommy Needs a Timeout Thursday. We party starting at 8 pm EST on Wednesdays! Hope to see you there!
Lauren
http://twintestedpinapproved.wordpress.com
Oh man, I love an epic Halloween party!!! And I can see how these steak bite would be a crowd pleasing appetizer for sure!
I hope one day to achieve that epicness again!
These look amazing!
My meat-loving hubby would go NUTS for this appetizer!! Saving to make very soon.
Such a fun idea Brianne! Man I need to take some party-throwing tips from you!
This recipe would be a huge hit around my house!
Beef bites sound like a great idea for a party!