FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You’ll Love My Garlic Butter Steak Bites
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
• My Recipe Tips
• Storage Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• More Garlic Butter Recipes
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites (10 Minutes) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Steak is one of my favorite meats to cook, so I’ve explored countless steak recipes over the years. And while I cook up whole steaks most often, there are advantages to making small pieces — like my garlic butter steak bites . They cook faster, they readily take on the flavors of sauces (case in point: this garlic butter sauce), and they make fun, easy little appetizers ! All in around 10 minutes. If you’re like me and always on the go with no time to spend in the kitchen, you’re going to love this recipe.

Why You’ll Love My Garlic Butter Steak Bites

• Buttery, garlicky flavors – This steak bites recipe is a lot like my sirloin tips , but with garlic butter instead of chimichurri . Choose these if you’re a fan of garlic and butter!
• Tender, juicy steak bites – Small pieces are easier to overcook than a whole steak, but these are melt-in-your-mouth juicy if you cook them properly. As usual, I’ve got all the tips for you!
• Only 5 ingredients – The best part? You only need 5 ingredients… plus salt and pepper.
• Quick and easy – The cooking time for these garlic butter steak bites is unreal… just about 5 minutes! The prep takes only a few minutes too, so they’re ideal for busy weeknights — or holidays when you’re running around with too much to do.
• Versatile for any occasion – Serve them up as an appetizer for holidays or other special days, or turn them into a weeknight dinner by cooking a side in the same sauce (see how I do it with zucchini noodles below).

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my steak bites recipe with garlic butter, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Best Cuts For Steak Bites:

I usually make my steak bites using sirloin steak (as shown here), because it’s a good balance of affordability and tender texture. You can also buy cuts of beef labeled “steak tips”. These are often sirloin steak that’s already cut into pieces for you.

More expensive cuts, like filet mignon , beef tenderloin , New York strip , or ribeye will be even more tender and taste nothing short of amazing! But I’ll be honest, I have a hard time justifying cutting these up into bites for how pricy they are. Go for it if you want to splurge!

Other Ingredients:

• Olive Oil – This is my go-to oil for searing, but I also rotate it with avocado oil. Both work great!
• Butter – I almost always get unsalted butter , so that I can control the salt in my dishes separately. If you use salted, I recommend reducing the amount of salt a bit. You could also use my compound butter recipe instead of plain butter for even more flavor.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves always make my best garlic butter steak bites, but if you’re in a rush, 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic will do the trick. I get it!
• Fresh Parsley – I add this to the garlic butter sauce for some color and extra flavor. Feel free to use other fresh herbs, such as rosemary or thyme. You can use dried herbs as well, but reduce the amount to 2 teaspoons because they are more concentrated.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

How To Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Season the steak. Cut your steak into bite size pieces (I recommend 1-inch cubes), and pat dry with paper towels. Season the pieces all over with salt and pepper.
2. Sear on all sides. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the steak bites in a single layer. Sear, flipping halfway through, until a browned crust forms on the outside. Be careful to NOT cook them all the way through at this step!

1. Make the garlic butter sauce. Reduce heat to low. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and parsley. Saute briefly, stirring to coat the garlic butter steak bites in sauce, until they reach your desired doneness. (See my tips below!) I like to garnish with fresh parsley.

My Recipe Tips

• Use a cast iron skillet. It’s simply the best way to get that beautiful sear on the outside and a tender juicy inside. Mine is available on Amazon in different colors (I have the red one), but I just got this yellow one (show in my pictures above) and it just makes me smile. It’s pretty, has good heat retention for even cooking, and the enameled coating is easy to clean.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan. You want all the steak bites to be touching the pan for nice browning and even cooking. You may need to cook in batches if your pan is not large enough.
• To get that nice brown crust, don’t move them around constantly. I flip them to different sides just every 1-2 minutes.
• If you want the inside to a specific doneness, like medium-rare or medium, use a meat thermometer . In my testing, I found it’s best to add the butter when the inside of the steak pieces is at 110-115 F for rare, 120-125 F for medium rare, 130-135 F for medium, 140-145 F for medium well, or 150-155 F for well done. The internal temp will rise another 10 degrees in the last minute afterward, while cooking steak bites with the garlic butter.
• These are fairly easy to overcook, so remove the cooked steak from the pan promptly. Otherwise, the bites will continue to cook from the hot pan. The good news is, since these are coated in garlic butter sauce, they are still pretty juicy even if you overcook them. But if you want more foolproof ones that are harder to overcook, make my air fryer steak bites instead.

Storage Instructions

• Store: You can keep leftover garlic butter steak bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheat: Heat up these babies in a skillet, until warm. I recommend adding a bit more butter, as you’ll lose some when you store it. They do overcook a bit when you reheat, though.
• Freeze: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, place in a zip lock bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Leftover Ideas!

Got leftover garlic butter steak bites? I love tossing them into a healthy salad (like my steak salad ) for some protein. You can also serve them with fried eggs (for steak and eggs ) or tuck them into my Philly cheesesteak casserole .

Serving Suggestions

You can serve these as an app with toothpicks, or turn them into your main course! Here are some of my fave ways to serve them:

• Zucchini Noodles – When I originally published this steak bites recipe in 2021, I made them into a one-pan meal with zucchini noodles — pictured above. If you’re looking for that recipe, you just need to add a couple extra steps. When the steak is done, transfer it to a plate, and cover to keep warm. Add 8 cups of uncooked zoodles to the pan with the garlic butter, season with salt and pepper, and saute for 3-4 minutes, until tender. Mix in 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, and top with your garlic butter steak bites. You can also find this older recipe in my Wholesome Yum App .
• Veggies – My roasted asparagus (or faster air fryer asparagus ) always goes well with steak! You can also saute any vegetables you have on hand in the same skillet after the steak is done (so convenient!), or start roasting cauliflower before you begin on the steak.
• Potatoes – I usually make my air fryer potatoes with these because my kids request them and they are fast. But this steak bites recipe also pairs nicely with baked sweet potatoes or my lighter potato alternative, roasted rutabaga .
• Appetizers – If you want to serve these as an app, pair them with my prosciutto wrapped asparagus , deviled eggs , or baked wings .
• Dipping Sauces – I think garlic butter steak bites are already plenty flavorful on their own, but if you want a sauce, try my garlic aioli or blue cheese dressing .

More Garlic Butter Recipes

This is seriously one of my fave flavor combos, so I use it a lot! If you’re a fan, here are some of my other recipes with garlic butter:

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Chicken Bites

Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Butter Poached Lobster

Garlic Butter Chicken

Lemon Butter Sauce

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 lb Sirloin steak (or any cut of steak; diced into 1-inch pieces) ▢
• 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1/4 cup Unsalted butter (cut into 4 tablespoon-sized pats) ▢
• 4 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Pat the steak bites dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper.
2. In a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the steak bites in a single layer (you may need to cook in batches if your pan is not large enough). Sear for 4-5 minutes total, flipping to different sides every 1-2 minutes , until a browned crust forms on all sides and the internal temperature is 10 degrees F below your desired doneness (see my tips in the post above for details).
3. Reduce heat to low. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and parsley. Saute for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally to coat the steak bites in the garlic butter sauce.
4. Remove the steak bites with sauce from the pan quickly to prevent overcooking.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: ~6 steak bites, or 1/4 of entire recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

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2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

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Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Garlic Butter Steak Bites (10 Minutes)

Whip up juicy, tender garlic butter steak bites in 10 minutes! This recipe needs just 5 ingredients: steak, butter, garlic, oil, and parsley.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/garlic-butter-steak-bites/

Ingredients

• 1 lb Sirloin steak (or any cut of steak; diced into 1-inch pieces)
• 1 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/4 cup Unsalted butter (cut into 4 tablespoon-sized pats)
• 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

1. Pat the steak bites dry with paper towels. Season all over with salt and pepper.
2. In a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the steak bites in a single layer (you may need to cook in batches if your pan is not large enough). Sear for 4-5 minutes total, flipping to different sides every 1-2 minutes , until a browned crust forms on all sides and the internal temperature is 10 degrees F below your desired doneness (see my tips in the post above for details).
3. Reduce heat to low. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and parsley. Saute for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally to coat the steak bites in the garlic butter sauce.
4. Remove the steak bites with sauce from the pan quickly to prevent overcooking.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: ~6 steak bites, or 1/4 of entire recipe

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)