These juicy, perfectly seared garlic butter steak bites are the perfect choice when you’re craving steak but want to keep it simple. Serve these tender steak bites over creamy mashed potatoes drizzled in delicious creamy parmesan sauce!
This one-pan meal is easy to make in just 30 minutes. Much like my Air Fryer Steak Bites, these pan-seared garlic butter steak bites are quick and easy!
These amazing garlic butter steak bites are perfect for busy weeknights, but also elegant enough to host, especially when served over these Red Skin Mashed Potatoes and a garlicky parmesan cream sauce. Just spoon the creamy sauce for a rich, flavorful finish.
These easy garlic butter steak bites are perfectly seasoned with lots of aromatic spices that you may already have in your spice cabinet! Nothing complicated here.
Serve it with my Fluffy Mashed Potatoes or Creamy Mashed Potatoes! If you want to switch it up, try my favorite Garlic Butter Rice or even Buttered Egg Noodles.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy! Ready in under 30 minutes. All made in one pan for easy clean-up.
- Juicy flavorful steak bites. Seared in a hot cast iron skillet for the perfect flavorful sear, while keeping it juicy inside.
- Make ahead friendly. You can season the meat the night before!
- Kid-friendly but also elegant for hosting. Kids LOVE it, but these garlic steak bites also fancy enough to impress guests.
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Smothered in a Creamy Parmesan Sauce
The highlight of this garlic butter steak bites recipe is the creamy parmesan sauce. It gives this dish an extra dimension of flavor, and brings everything together!
We use the same garlic butter from searing the steak, then add cream and freshly grated parmesan for the creamiest finish. It takes just 3 extra minutes, but really takes it to the next level.
If you’re like me and love all things creamy, try my beef stroganoff meatballs recipe!
Ingredient Notes
Despite the depth of flavor in this entire garlic butter steak bites dish, it’s all made with simple ingredients! Below, I included a few notes from recipe testing that I hope you find helpful.
- Steak: Ribeye or NY strip are my favorite cuts to use! I like to use fattier cuts for extra flavor and tenderness. You need about 1-inch evenly sized cubes.
- Vegetable oil: For searing the steak. Since we need high heat to sear, use oil to cook the steak first. Butter can burn quickly if the skillet is too hot.
- Unsalted butter: Using unsalted helps to control the amount of salt.
- Minced garlic and shallots: These are extra garlicky! Use fresh for best flavor.
- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning: Our easy seasoning blend for the meat.
- Salt and pepper, of course! I use always kosher salt.
- Heavy cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese for the cream sauce.
- Italian parsley: Adds a touch of freshness and color!
Ingredient quantities are listed in the recipe card down below, as always.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites
With this recipe, dinner is served in just 30 minutes. Get a head start with the mashed potatoes first. Let’s make it!
Step 1: Start by making mashed potatoes, which takes about 25 minutes. Season the steak, cubed into 1-inch pieces, with the seasoning blend. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Heat oil in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over high heat. Once hot, sear the steak bites for 2 minutes or longer per side, depending on your preferred doneness, until a golden crust forms. Work in batches. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Step 3: Lower to medium-low heat. Melt butter, and saute minced garlic and diced shallots for a few seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Return the steak bites into the pan and toss with that buttery goodness. Transfer the steak bites and half of the melted butter into a bowl. Keep the rest of the butter in the pan to make the sauce.
Step 5: Add heavy cream into the skillet with the remaining butter, and bring it to a low simmer for a few seconds. Turn off the heat and stir in the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 6: Serve your garlic butter steak bites over a bed of mashed potatoes. Drizzle the cream sauce on top and garnish with chopped parsley.
Tips for Success
- Which cut of beef to use: I recommend NY strip or ribeye for their marbling, they are more flavorful and tender. Sirloin is a leaner option that also works well.
- Season overnight for even more flavor! Totally optional.
- A good sear means extra flavor. High heat is key. A hot pan helps develop a delicious crust on the outside without overcooking the center.
- I highly recommend using a cast iron skillet so you can get it really hot.
- Cook in batches. If the steak bites are too close together, they will transfer steam and not sear properly.
- For the garlic butter: Lower heat to medium-low and wait for the pan to cool down a bit before adding the butter. Butter can burn easily.
- Use your favorite blend of spices to your liking.
Prep Ahead Tips
- Season the beef ahead and keep it refrigerated overnight.
- Freezing: You can also season it and freeze for up to 1 month. Once it thaws overnight, it’s ready to use!
- The mashed potatoes (or any side you plan to use) can always be made ahead.
My favorite pairing for these garlic butter steak bites is mashed potatoes! If you’d prefer to switch it up, try my Garlic Roasted Potato Wedges or Oven Herb Roasted Potatoes!
Recipe FAQs
Season and let it “marinate” overnight in the fridge. The salt, especially, will tenderize the beef. And it will taste even better the next day!
Use a fattier cut for a tender, juicy bite. NY strip and ribeye are great options! Sirloin is a leaner cut but works well too, especially if you season and let it marinate overnight.
When melting the butter and sautéing the garlic, lower to medium-low heat. Don’t use high heat for butter, it will burn.
Since they are small pieces, about 1-2 minutes per cut using high heat is ideal. Use an instant read thermometer to be sure.
Pairing and Serving Ideas
Need another starch? These creamy garlic steak bites go well with Garlic Butter Rice or Buttered Egg Noodles to soak up all that delicious cream!
Veggie pairings: Honey Butter Skillet Corn, Orange Honey Glazed Carrots, Lemon Green Beans.
Need more beef recipes? Try my Marinated Steak Kabobs and Skirt Steak Tacos. Or my best Carne Asada Fries recipe!
I’d love to hear from you! If you loved my recipe, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and a comment down below. Sign up for my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest
Creamy Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Ingredients
- Red Skin Mashed Potatoes - or your favorite mashed potatoes, for serving
- 1 ½ pounds ribeye or NY strip steak - cut into 1-inch cubes
- Vegetable or olive oil - for the steak
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter - plus more as needed – OK
- ½ a small shallot - finely minced
- 6 cloves garlic - minced
For the sauce sauce:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese – OK
- ½ tablespoon chopped Italian parsley - plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Start by making the red mashed potatoes according to the linked recipe directions.
- Toss the steak cubes with a few drizzles of oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Kosher salt (1 teaspoon), and ground black pepper (½ teaspoon). Let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat. It needs to be very hot. Add a few drizzles of oil, then sear the seasoned steak until you get a nice sear, about 2 minutes or longer on each side, depending on your preferred level of doneness. Remove from the pan.
- Lower to medium-low heat and wait for the pan to cool slightly. Then, melt the unsalted butter, and add minced garlic and shallots. Sauté for just a few seconds until fragrant.
- Return the steak bites, tossing to combine. Transfer the steak to a bowl, along with only half of the garlic butter from the pan. Keep the rest in the pan to make the sauce.
- To the same pan, stir in heavy cream and bring to a low simmer for just a few seconds. Turn off the heat, and add the grated parmesan and stir until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped parsley.
- Serve the garlic butter steak bites over the prepared mashed potatoes, and spoon over the creamy sauce on top. Garnish with more parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- Best beef cuts: NY strip or ribeye for flavor and tenderness. Sirloin is a leaner option that also works well, especially when marinated overnight with the seasoning.
- Seasoning: For deeper flavor, season the beef and refrigerate overnight (optional).
- Use high heat to get a good crust on the steak without overcooking. Cast iron works best.
- Cook in batches: Don’t overcrowd the pan to ensure proper searing. If too crowded, they will steam instead.
- Prep ahead: Season the beef ahead and refrigerate. Freeze seasoned beef for up to 1 month; thaw overnight before cooking.
- Prep mashed potatoes or sides in advance to save time.
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