These tender and juicy garlic butter steak bites with hints of rosemary will become a favorite recipe for all your gatherings. Ready in less than 30 minutes, it’s equally perfect for special occasions or weeknight dinners.
Served in garlicky rosemary butter, these garlic butter steak bites will be the star of the dinner table. Seared until deeply caramelized, they’ll be the juiciest homemade steak bites you’ve had. With only a handful of ingredients, the secret is keeping an eye on the pan and using a thick-cut steak so the meat remains tender. Cooked in butter and olive oil, these juicy steak bites will swim in an aromatic pool of flavor, whether you only use salt and pepper or sprinkle in some paprika or shallots. No one will believe they’re ready in less than 30 minutes!
Why I Love This Steak Bites Recipe
- Fancy but easy. Made with garlic, butter, and a bit of rosemary, this dish is a homemade fancy dinner that’s very easy to make.
- Perfect for special occasions. This steak recipe makes enough for two people and looks impressive on a plate, making it ideal for celebrations like birthday dinners, anniversaries, etc. If you’re expecting more people over, just double or triple the recipe.
- Quick. With about a 6-minute cooking time, you’ll be putting this dish on the table before you know it.
- Juicy. Quickly cooked over high heat and basted in butter, you won’t believe how juicy these garlic butter steak bites are.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is the perfect mix of ingredients to ensure each bite of steak is as tender and delicious as it gets, from your choice of steak to the herbs and oils that bring out its best flavor.
- Rib eye steak: Sirloin is a common substitute because it’s tender and flavorful. However, tenderloin or New York strip steak work, too, as long as they are the right thickness.
- Salt and Black Pepper: A simple seasoning to enhance the flavor of the meat.
- Olive oil: Vegetable, corn, and canola oil work too.
- Unsalted butter: Feel free to use salted butter, but reduce the salt in the rest of the recipe.
- Garlic cloves: Shallots are a yummy alternative.
- Dried rosemary: Dried thyme works too.
- Fresh parsley: Used as a garnish to add a pop of color.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
This recipe is as easy as seasoning the meat, searing the steak, melting the butter, and combining it all together!
- Season the meat. Generously season the meat with salt and pepper to taste on all sides. Set it aside.
- Prepare the pan. Place a large pan over medium-high heat; a cast iron skillet is preferred. Let it heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the olive oil and let it heat for a minute. Don’t skip this step because cold oil won’t make beautifully seared steak bites. It needs to be hot. However, if your pan is smoking, reduce the heat.
- Brown the steak. Add the meat and let it cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned on all sides. Remove it from the pan and set it aside.
- Melt the butter. Add the butter to the same pan and let it melt completely. Gently scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and dried rosemary. Stir. Cook the mixture for 30 seconds or until nice and fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn.
- Baste it. Return the cooked steak bites to the pan and baste them in the garlic butter for 1-2 minutes for a medium rare. Baste for an additional 1-2 minutes if you like your steak more cooked. Basting refers to spooning a sauce over an ingredient as it cooks.
- Serve. Remove it from the heat. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Garnish the dish with fresh parsley to taste.
Tips for Success
Things like choosing the right pan and not over-stirring can make a world of difference. Here are several tips to help you make the juiciest steak bites.
- Use a non-stick pan. Avoid any sticking by using a non-stick pan from the get-go.
- Rest it. Let your steak rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking it so that the juices can redistribute throughout. This will make your steak bites extra juicy.
- Add spices. Season the steak bites with 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika or 1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin for added flavor.
- Sear. You don’t need to endlessly stir the pan. In fact, to make your steak juicy and tender, avoid moving or turning the steak bites as much. You should only flip them when they’re nicely browned and seared.
Serving Suggestions
For an easy meal, you can complement these garlic butter steak bites with Creamy Basil-Avocado Pasta or Fluffy Instant Pot Jasmine Rice on the side. For salad options, try this Tomato Salad with Sweet Onions, Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette, or my Lightened-Up Creamy Potato Salad. If you really want to impress, serve this steak recipe with Roasted Mushrooms with Parmesan and Pine Nuts, Roasted Artichokes, or Parmesan Truffle Fries.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Transfer them to the fridge to thaw overnight before serving. To reheat, place the steak bites in a pan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until warm. You can also sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of water or beef broth and microwave them for 1 to 2 minutes.
More Steak Recipes
- Jack Daniel’s Grilled Steak
- Easy Rib Eye Steak Dinner
- Onion Gravy Smothered Steak
- Reverse Sear Steak
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound ribeye steak, pounded to 1/2″ thickness and cut into 1.5″ cubes
- salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Sprinkle the cubed steak with salt and pepper to taste on all sides.
- Place a large pan or a cast iron skillet over high heat. Let it heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until hot. Add the olive oil and let it heat for another minute.
- Add the steak and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, occasionally stirring until browned on all sides. Remove it from the pan and set it aside.
- Add the butter to the same pan and let it melt completely. Gently scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and dried rosemary. Stir constantly and cook the mixture for 30 seconds or until nice and fragrant. Don't burn the garlic.
- Return the cooked steak bites to the pan and baste them in the garlic butter for 1 to 2 minutes for a medium-rare steak. Please feel free to baste for an additional minute or so if you like your steak a little more cooked.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Taste the steak bites for salt and pepper and adjust.
- Garnish the dish with fresh parsley; serve.
Notes
- Steak: I used rib eye steak for this recipe, but you could also use a sirloin, a new york strip, or a tenderloin.
- Butter: Feel free to use salted butter if that is what you have, but remember to use less salt on the steak tips.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic cloves and not garlic powder. You can also try this recipe with finely minced shallots.
- Herbs: We like dried rosemary in this recipe, but you can use whatever you prefer, including a blend of your favorite dried herbs and spices.
- Skillet: I use my cast iron skillet for all-things-steak. If you don’t have one, use a nonstick pan.
- Don’t overcook the steak tips. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness; 130˚F for medium-rare and 150˚F for well done.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
