Steak lovers, this Sesame Garlic Steak Bites recipe is an absolute must! Tender on the inside, crispy on the outside chunks of steak are richly flavored from an amazing marinade and cooked to perfection!
If you’re a big fan of steak, these easy to prepare, ultra delicious broiled steak bites are the next step in your progression to pure beef obsession!
Chunks of meat are marinated in the best steak marinade, then baked to crispy tender perfection in the oven.
Serve garlic steak bites as an appetizer, or enjoy them with side dishes for a quick weeknight dinner.
For those of you who prefer cooking in the air fryer, make my Air Fryer Steak Bites!
I have includes instructions in this recipe for preparing steak bites in a skillet or in the air fryer as well as broiling instructions.
And now for the ingredients.
Ingredients for Garlic Steak Bites:
Steak: What kind of steak is best for steak bites? We have options! I like using New York Strip Steak, Top Sirloin Steak, Filet Mignon (or beef tenderloin), or Boneless Ribeye Steak.
Ribeye is my top choice because it has decent fat marbling, which both enhances the rich beefy flavor and also creates an incredible crispy crust.
Coconut Aminos (or Soy Sauce): In case you aren’t familiar, coconut aminos is coconut syrup extracted from fresh coconuts. It has a naturally sweet flavor and also an umami flavor. It doesn’t taste like coconut, so don’t worry if you aren’t into the flavor of coconut.
I use it to take the place of soy sauce and brown sugar in Asian-inspired recipes. This is a great soy-free alternative that is naturally gluten-free.
Avocado Oil and Sesame Oil: I like using a combination of avocado oil and sesame oil to serve as the fat portion of the steak marinade. Avocado oil has a high smoke point so it is great for cooking at high temperatures. Toasted sesame oil has that nutty flavor that adds a lovely nuance to recipes.
Rice Vinegar: Bringing a slight tang, a sour ingredient works wonders in marinade recipes to help round out the palate. Fresh lime juice is also great in this application.
Fresh Garlic: Fresh minced garlic cloves bring bold flavor to all recipes. Feel free to scale the amount up or down!
Sriracha (optional): The tiniest amount of spice brings an almost imperceptible kick to the steak bites. Skip it if you prefer mild food, although the recipe as written is not spicy.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season the broiled steak bites with salt and pepper to your personal taste. Because coconut aminos does not contain as much sodium as soy sauce, you will need salt here.
Recipe Customizations:
- For a garlic butter steak bites recipe, replace the avocado oil and sesame oil with melted butter.
- Replace the coconut aminos with 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup or brown sugar. If you make this swap, omit the salt from the recipe, as soy sauce is salty enough.
- Use 2 teaspoons of garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
- Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or more sriracha for spicy flavor.
- If you have fresh ginger on hand, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger.
- I don’t recommend replacing the avocado oil with olive oil because olive oil burns at fairly low temperatures. We’re broiling at a high temperature (450 degrees F or higher).
- Add 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce for more umami flavor.
These basic ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store! Let’s bake them!
How to Make Steak Bites in the Oven:
Whisk together the steak marinade ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup to combine.
Remove the steak from its packaging and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the steak into 2-inch chunks.
Transfer the chopped steak and the marinade to a large zip lock bag. Seal the bag and move everything around until it is well coated with marinade.
Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, ideally several hours, and up to 24 hours.
When you’re ready to cook, place your oven on the High Broil setting. If an oven rack isn’t sitting in the center of the oven, move one to the center (3 to 4 shelves from the top).
Spread the marinated beef chunks over a large baking sheet in a single layer. You can include the marinade (this is what I do).
Broil for 4 minutes, remove from the oven and stir, then broil for another 4 to 5 minutes. If you follow these instructions, the steak bites turn out well done with a crispy golden brown crust on the outside but will still be nice and tender on the inside.
For medium-rare steak bites, broil for 4 minutes total. The outside won’t develop a nice crust, but the steak will turn out incredibly tender.
Serve steak bites with your favorite sides, and enjoy! You can sprinkle the juicy steak bites with chopped green onion or fresh parsley and sesame seeds if you’d like.
I love them with Garlic Herb Roasted Vegetables, but my Italian Salad or Sunflower Crunch Kale Salad would be excellent pairings as well. Keep it simple and serve with Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Air Fryer Green Beans.
Use this recipe as the main feature in my Sesame Garlic Steak Bites Bowls.
Store leftover steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If you prefer cooking in a skillet or an air fryer, here are the instructions on how to make steak bites using alternative methods.
Pan-Seared Steak Bites:
If you prefer making this recipe in a large skillet, here’s how to cook steak bites in a skillet.
Marinate the meat for at least 20 minutes, ideally several hours.
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Allow the oil to heat for several minutes to become searing hot (between 400 and 450 degrees F). Use a slotted spoon to separate the chunks of beef from the marinade.
Place the chunks of beef on the hot skillet in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes per side, or until the steak reaches your desired level of doneness and has a good sear on both sides.
Air Fryer Instructions:
Prefer using your air fryer? Here’s how to cook steak bites in an air fryer.
Marinate the beef in the marinade included in this recipe. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 4 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the marinated steak to the basket of the air fryer and arrange the steak cubes in a single layer.
Air fry for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the beef reaches your desired level of doneness. For medium-rare steak bites, cook for 7 to 9 minutes.
For medium steak bites, cook for 10 to 12 minutes. For well done steak bites (with a crispy golden brown crust), cook for 15 minutes.
And that’s it! An easy steak bites recipe that’s made in the oven, skillet, or air fryer! The hardest part about this simple recipe is waiting for the steak to marinate.
Broiling pieces of steak in the oven results in a beautiful sear on the outside with an amazing tender texture on the inside.
If you’re a beef lover, also try these reader favorites!
More Beef Recipes:
- How to Cook Brisket in the Oven
- BBQ Tri Tip
- Broiled Ribeye Steak
- Reverse Sear Steak
- Slow Cooker Asian Beef Short Ribs
Little bites of beefy bliss!
Garlic Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless ribeye steak cut into 1-inch cubes*
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos**
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar or fresh lime juice to taste
- 2 large cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sriracha optional
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp sea salt to taste***
- ¼ tsp black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the steak marinade ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup and stir well to combine.
- Remove the steak from its packaging and place it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut the steak into 2-inch chunks. Transfer the chopped steak and the marinade to a large zip lock bag. Seal the bag and move everything around until it is well coated with marinade. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, ideally several hours, and up to 24 hours.
- When you’re ready to cook, place your oven on the High Broil setting. If an oven rack isn’t sitting in the center of the oven, move one to the center (3 to 4 shelves from the top).
- Spread the marinated beef chunks over a large baking sheet in a single layer. You can include the marinade (this is what I do).
- Broil for 4 minutes, remove from the oven and stir, then broil for another 4 to 5 minutes. If you follow these instructions, the steak bites turn out well done with a crispy golden brown crust on the outside but will still be nice and tender on the inside.
- For medium-rare steak bites, broil for 4 minutes total. The outside won’t develop a nice crust, but the steak will turn out incredibly tender.
- Serve steak bites with your favorite sides, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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