The Latent Larder

Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Cubed sirloin seared hard in the air fryer and tossed in garlic butter — a steak dinner in less time than it takes rice to cook.

Serves
4
Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Written
Air Fryer Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Method

  1. Pat the steak cubes dry, then toss with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.

  2. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, in batches if needed so the cubes aren’t touching.

  3. Air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until deeply browned outside and 130°F at the center for medium-rare.

  4. While the steak cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat with the garlic and thyme until the garlic turns fragrant and just golden, about 2 minutes.

  5. Tip the hot steak bites into the garlic butter and toss to coat.

  6. Scatter with parsley and serve right away.

Notes

The air fryer’s real advantage here isn’t speed, it’s that it sears on all sides at once without a pan of smoke filling the kitchen. Keep the garlic in the butter instead of on the meat — thrown into the basket raw, it burns bitter long before the steak is done.

Ribeye or a good NY strip works just as well as sirloin, trimmed of the worst fat. Serve over rice to catch the extra butter, alongside crusty bread, or skip the plate entirely and pass them with toothpicks as a starter.