Air Fryer Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter is a dish you need in your life. This recipe is perfect for those who love juicy, tender steak bites topped with delicious Cowboy Butter sauce. Drool-worthy! You will love this steak bites in air fryer recipe!
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If you are looking for a delicious meal that is effortless, quick, and easy to clean up, this is one of the best air fryer recipes you can find! Steak Bites in air fryer is a game changer. Less mess, more flavor!
This was inspired by my other recipe Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks and pairs well with my amazing side dish Parmesan Crusted Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe for a complete meal.
Jump to:
- Why you will love this dish
- What you need for Best Steak Bites recipe!
- How to make Air Fryer Steak Bites
- How long to cook steak bites in air fryer?
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- How to store and reheat air fryer steak bites
- 3 Top Tips for Success
- Super Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites - FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Super Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter
- Food safety
Why you will love this dish
- Quick and Easy: air fry the steak bites, make the sauce, and love your life!
- Versatile: You can serve this on busy weeknights or impress your guests at a get-together. The best is during game day!
- Delicious: You cannot go wrong with steak bites. Pair it with the cowboy butter sauce and you will be in heaven.
- Easy clean up: No need to clean the stove top from grease, or fire up the barbeque. This simple air fryer steak bites is a really quick and easy recipe that can put dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.
What you need for Best Steak Bites recipe!
- Spice mix. Use any seasonings you like.
- Grapeseed oil or any neutral oil.
Cowboy Butter
- Salted butter
- Shallot
- Green onion
- Dijon mustard
- Garlic
- Red chili flakes
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Air Fryer Steak Bites
Combine oil, spices, and steak cubes into a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
Make the cowboy butter sauce
Steak bites in air fryer!
Here are the step-by-step instructions
- COWBOY BUTTER SAUCE. In a small saucepan, melt the butter.
- Add the shallot, green onion, garlic, dijon mustard, red chili flakes, smoked paprika and black pepper.
- Taste the sauce and season if it needs more salt.
- AIR FRYER STEAK BITES: Preheat the air fryer on BROIL or to 400 degrees for at least 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, add the seasoning spice, grapeseed oil, and sirloin steak pieces. Mix well.
- Place the steak bites in the air fryer basket, You should hear a sizzle. This will give the steak bites a nice sear.
- Do not overcrowd the steaks.
- Broil at 400 degrees for 3-4 minutes on each side.
How long to cook steak bites in air fryer?
4 minutes on each side is my magic number. You have to preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees to achieve a nice crust on the outside while leaving the inside medium rare.
If you have a broil setting, use that. It does not take long to cook steak bites in the air fryer.
Substitutions
Beef Top Sirloin substitutions: beef tenderloin, ribeye, flank steak, skirt steak, hanger steak or any steak.
Other ingredients:
- Spice mix: You can use any seasoning mix of your choice, such as garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, or Italian seasoning.
- Grapeseed oil: You can substitute grapeseed oil with any other oil that has a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
- Salted butter: You can use unsalted melted butter and add a pinch of salt to the cowboy butter sauce.
- Shallot: If you don't have shallots, you can use finely chopped onion instead.
- Dijon mustard: You can use whole grain mustard, yellow mustard, or spicy mustard.
- Minced garlic: You can use garlic powder or roasted garlic for a milder flavor.
- Red chili flakes: You can use cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce.
- Smoked paprika: You can use regular paprika or chipotle powder for a smoky flavor.
- Black pepper: You can use white pepper or cayenne pepper for a spicier kick.
Variations
By making these simple adjustments, you can make the Air Fryer Garlic Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter recipe dairy-free and more kid-friendly, while still keeping the delicious flavors of this easy air fryer recipe.
- Dairy-free butter: Instead of using regular butter in the cowboy butter sauce, use a dairy-free alternative like vegan butter or margarine.
- Honey-mustard sauce: Replace the delicious garlic butter sauce with a kid-friendly honey-mustard dipping sauce. Mix together honey, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt to taste.
- Seasoning: For a kid-friendly seasoning, you can use a simple dry rub of salt, black pepper, oil, and garlic powder.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Bowl
- Small saucepan for the Cowboy Butter
How to store and reheat air fryer steak bites
To store the Air Fryer Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter, transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
To reheat the steak bites, there are a few options:
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover steak bites in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the steak bites in the air fryer basket and air fry for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave: Place the steak bites in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Note: Reheating the steak bites may cause them to become slightly overcooked, so be careful not to overheat them.
Also, it is not recommended to reheat the cowboy butter sauce, as it may separate and become oily. If you want to use the sauce again, it's best to make a fresh batch.
3 Top Tips for Success
- Use a meat thermometer: For medium-rare, cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C). For medium, cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
- PREHEAT and Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket: Preheat on broil. You need to hear a sizzle when you drop the steak bites in the air fryer. Do not overcrowd. Overcrowding the basket can cause the air fryer steak tips to steam instead of getting a nice sear.
- Let the steak bites rest: After cooking the steak bites, it's important to let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and results in a more tender and flavorful steak bite. Tent the cooked steak bites with foil to keep them warm and let them rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Super Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites - FAQ
Air fry the steak bites at 400°F for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness. The total cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the steak bites and the size of your air fryer.
Yes, you can cook raw steak in an air fryer. Air frying is a quick and efficient method of cooking steak, and it results in a tender and flavorful piece of meat. Just make sure to cook the steak to the appropriate internal temperature for safe consumption.
Overcooking the steak or cooking it at too low a temperature can make it chewy in an air fryer. It's also essential to let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a tender and flavorful steak.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with steak bites in air fryer:
Super Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- COWBOY BUTTER SAUCE. In a small saucepan, melt the butter.
- Add the shallot, green onion, garlic, dijon mustard, red chili flakes, smoked paprika and black pepper.
- Taste the sauce and season if it needs more salt.
- AIR FRYER STEAK BITES. Preheat the air fryer on BROIL or to 400 degrees for at least 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, add the seasoning spice, grapeseed oil, and sirloin steak pieces. Mix well.
- Place the steak bites in the air fryer basket, You should hear a sizzle. This will give the steak bites a nice sear.
- Do not overcrowd the steaks.
- Air fry at 400 degrees for 4 minutes on each side.
Notes
- Make sure the steak bites are at room temperature
- Use a meat thermometer
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket
- Let the steak bites rest
Tried this recipe?
Mention @eatwithcarmen in all social platformsFood safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Hayes says
I really enjoyed these steak bites. The cowboy butter was a new addition for me, and it was great. The air fryer made the steak bites tender and juicy. I’ll be making this again soon Carmen!
Isabella says
super easy just like you said 😂
Hanes says
New Food term for me COWBOY BUTTER! So good!
Nick Moore says
I'm very interested in making the Cowboy butter. The picture shows Worcestershire sauce and lime, but these aren't in the ingredients. Also, how long do you cook the Cowboy Butter for? I don't imagine the ingredients are just stirred into the butter and served?
Carmen Spillette says
Hello Nick, please ignore the picture. I will take a new picture for it this week to avoid confusion.
I made edits to the recipe a month ago and I made it again. The recipe in the recipe card is correct and so much better than the original. I hope you make it, you will love it.
Ray Sessler says
I am not sure when you put the butter on the steak bites. Do you marinate the steak in the butter or put it over the steak after it is cooked? Thanks.
Carmen Spillette says
Hi Ray, the cowboy butter is a dip. There is no marinade for the steak - just salt, pepper or seasoning spice.
graliontorile says
I truly enjoy looking through on this internet site, it has excellent content.
Loraine Dickson says
Love Steak Bites and these are unreal! I'd never had cowboy butter before, but it was very good! I cooked it in the airfryer and it turned out so tender and juicy. Will definitely make this again.
Carmen says
Thank you so much. I love this recipe too.