Quick and Easy Air Fryer Steak Bites for Busy Weeknights

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Perfectly cooked steak bites without the hassle? Yes, please! These simple air fryer steak bites are the perfect solution for busy weeknights.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, these flavorful steak bites are a must-try. With just a few simple ingredients and an air fryer, you can have perfectly cooked steak bites in no time. Plus, the crispy seasoned exterior makes for a satisfying and delicious meal.

This recipe is a Dined and Dashed Level 1 recipe, which means it takes 15 minutes or less to prepare and the cooking process couldn’t be easier.

Can you cook raw steak in an air fryer?

You can absolutely cook raw steak in an air fryer, and it’s a great way to get delicious crispy edges and juicy steak bites. 

What cut of steak to use for the best air fryer steak bites?

The best cut of steak for air fryer steak bites is tenderloin (filet mignon), ribeye or sirloin steak. Both of these cuts are tender and flavorful, and they cook very well in the air fryer. You can use a less tender cut of meat like round or chuck, but you will have to cut it into smaller pieces than the recommended 1-inch pieces and you should marinade it before cooking. They still won’t be as tender as using tenderloin, sirloin or ribeye.

You may be tempted to use already cut stew meat from the grocery store instead of a whole steak, but stew meat is usually chuck or round and does way better in a slow cooker than when air frying.

How long does it take to cook steak bites in an air fryer?

The answer to the question of how long it takes to cook steak bites in an air fryer is part personal preference and partly which air fryer you have. Do you like your steak rare, medium, well done? For well done, you are looking at around 14-16 minutes, for medium 8-10 minutes, and for rare, 4-5 minutes. For juicy air fryer steak bites, you will want to keep the time no more than 10 minutes.

I recently purchased an air fryer, and wow, there are a lot of choices. I ended up choosing the NuWave Brio because of the features, the size and the price.

What you need for this air fryer steak bites recipe:

• An air fryer (kind of obvious)
• Your favorite cut of steak (remember, filet, ribeye or sirloin with achieve the most tender results) cut into 1-inch cubes
• Melted butter
• Worcestershire sauce
• Various seasonings (salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, fresh parsley or other fresh herbs, etc.)

How to make this air fryer steak recipe:

This is a pretty easy recipe to make and is sure to become one of your go-to recipes for weekday dinners.

Preheat the air fryer

Before you start cooking your steak bites, it’s important to preheat your air fryer. This ensures that the air fryer is at the right temperature and your steak bites cook evenly. Set your air fryer to 400°F and let it preheat for about 5 minutes. While it’s preheating, you can prepare your steak bites by seasoning them and cutting them into bite-sized pieces. 

Cut into bite-sized pieces

Thankfully this recipe has minimal prep time!

To make the perfect air fryer steak bites, it’s important to cut your steak into bite-sized pieces. This not only ensures that they cook evenly, but it also makes them easier to eat. Use a sharp knife to cut your steak into small pieces, about 1 inch in size. You may also want trim any excess fat or gristle from the steak before cutting it into bite-sized pieces. Once your steak is cut into pieces, it’s time to add the seasonings.

Seasoning

One of the best things about making air fryer steak bites is that you can season them with any spices you like. Whether you prefer a classic steak seasoning blend or something more adventurous like a spicy Cajun rub, the choice is yours. We do call for specific seasonings for this recipe, but it definitely is easy to experiment with this recipe.

Simply sprinkle your desired spices over the steak pieces before cooking and toss to coat evenly. Some popular seasoning options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Experiment with different combinations to find your perfect flavor profile, or just follow the recipe as written in the recipe card below.

Add the steak bites to the air fryer

Now it’s time to cook the seasoned steak in the air fryer. Once your air fryer is preheated, place the steak bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this can prevent the steak bites from cooking evenly.

Cook for 8-10 minutes (for a medium cook on the steak), flipping the steak bites halfway through, until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. Serve hot and enjoy your quick and easy air fryer steak bites! For well done or rare steak bites, see the info above regarding how long it takes to cook steak bites.

If you are new to air frying, check out these great air frying tips.