These Air Fryer Steak Bites are a quick and easy way to enjoy a flavorful and tender steak dinner! Imagine juicy steak bites coated in a savory marinade, cooked to perfection in your air fryer. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re craving a delicious steak but don’t want to fire up the grill.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in a flash with minimal ingredients and simple steps. The air fryer makes cooking the steak bites a breeze, and the marinade adds a delicious flavor without any extra effort.
- Flavorful and Tender: The marinade infuses the steak bites with a savory and slightly sweet flavor, while the air fryer creates a beautiful crust while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
- Versatile: Serve these Air Fryer Steak Bites with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad. They’re also great for meal prepping or adding to stir-fries, tacos, or pasta dishes.
- Healthier than Pan-Frying: Air frying is a healthier alternative to pan-frying, as it uses less oil.
Ingredients
- Sirloin steak: Cut into 1-inch cubes, this lean and flavorful cut of beef is perfect for air frying. You can also use other tender cuts of beef, such as New York strip steak or ribeye steak.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Adds a salty and umami flavor to the marinade.
- Brown sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to the marinade. You can use light or dark brown sugar.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtle garlic flavor to the marinade.
- Ground black pepper: Adds a touch of heat.
Note: For exact measurements, see the recipe card below!
How to Make Air Fryer Steak Bites
Step 1: Marinate the Steak (Optional)
Place the steak cubes in a large mixing bowl. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine, ensuring all the steak bites are evenly coated. Let the steak marinate at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. While marinating is optional, it does enhance the flavor of the steak.
Step 2: Air Fry the Steak
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the marinated steak bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching. If necessary, cook the steak bites in batches to avoid overcrowding. Air fry for 4-6 minutes, or until the steak reaches your desired level of doneness. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. As a guideline, cook for 4 minutes for rare, 5 minutes for medium-rare, and 6 minutes for medium. Remember that the internal temperature of the steak will continue to rise as it rests, so it’s best to remove it from the air fryer when it’s slightly under your desired doneness.
Step 3: Rest and Serve
Transfer the cooked steak bites to a plate and let them rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful steak. Repeat with any remaining batches of steak bites. Serve the Air Fryer Steak Bites with your favorite sides and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Use high-quality steak: Choose fresh, high-quality steak for the best flavor and texture.
- Cut the steak evenly: Cut the steak into 1-inch cubes that are roughly the same size to ensure even cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: Overcrowding the basket will prevent the steak bites from browning properly. Cook in batches if needed.
- Use a meat thermometer: An instant-read thermometer is the best way to ensure the steak is cooked to your desired doneness.
- Rest the steak: Resting the steak after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.
How to Serve
These Air Fryer Steak Bites are delicious with a variety of sides:
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a classic pairing for steak.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, add a healthy and colorful touch.
- Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette adds a refreshing contrast to the richness of the steak.
- Rice or Quinoa: Serve with a side of rice or quinoa for a complete and satisfying meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
These Air Fryer Steak Bites are best enjoyed fresh, but you can also prepare them ahead of time or store leftovers for later.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently in the oven at 350°F or in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed through. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the steak tough.
FAQs
1. Can I use a different cut of beef?
Yes, you can! Other tender cuts of beef, such as New York strip steak, ribeye steak, or even tenderloin, would also work well in this recipe. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
2. Can I make this recipe without the marinade?
Yes, you can! Simply season the steak bites with salt, pepper, and your favorite spices before air frying.
3. Can I make this recipe spicier?
Absolutely! Add more red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce to the marinade.
4. Can I bake the steak bites instead of air frying them?
Yes, you can! Preheat your oven to 400°F and bake the steak bites for about 12-15 minutes, or until cooked to your desired doneness.
This Air Fryer Steak Bites Recipe is a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy a flavorful and tender steak dinner. With its simple preparation, versatile serving options, and healthier cooking method, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make again and again!
PrintAir Fryer Steak Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 11minutes
- Yield: 2–4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
Description
These Air Fryer Steak Bites are a quick and easy way to enjoy a flavorful steak dinner any night of the week! Tender steak cubes are marinated in a simple yet savory mixture and air-fried to perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sirloin steak (or New York strip, ribeye, or similar), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Marinate Steak: In a bowl, combine steak cubes, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix well and marinate at room temperature for 20-30 minutes (optional).
- Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange steak bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching (cook in batches if needed). Air fry for 4-6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, or until steak reaches desired doneness.
- Rest and Serve: Remove steak bites from the air fryer and let rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful steak.
Notes
- Marinating the steak is optional but recommended for enhanced flavor.
- Adjust the cooking time based on your preferred level of doneness and the thickness of the steak cubes.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. For medium-rare, the internal temperature should reach 130-135°F (54-57°C).
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F (177°C) or in a skillet on the stovetop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of recipe
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
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