Name: Air Fryer Steak Bites
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 1 pound sirloin steak (fat trimmed, cut into bite-sized pieces); 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1 tablespoon steak seasoning (any kind will work)

The easiest way to prepare protein-packed steak bites!

Air Fryer Steak bites, one of the best air fryer recipes.

These protein-packed air fryer steak bites are bursting with flavor and take less than 15 minutes to prepare. Tender and seasoned to perfection, these steak cubes are crowd-pleasing and pair perfectly with a variety of side dishes. If you need a quick entrée, appetizer, or companion for your next potluck or barbecue, this healthy recipe has you covered.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Steak Bites
Steak, Protein, and Weight Loss
- Pre-Workout Fuel or Post-Workout Recovery
How to Make Air Fryer Steak Bites
- Best Sauces for Air Fryer Steak
Serving Suggestions
- Side Dishes Using the Same Cooking Method
Frequently Asked Questions
More Air Fried Recipes to Try!
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Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Steak Bites

If you’re craving steak, there couldn’t be a quicker and easier way to prepare it than this. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of air fryer recipes–you can even make batches to enjoy leftovers later! All you need is steak (fat trimmed and cut up), olive oil, and the steak seasoning of your choice. Feel free to experiment and customize your own seasoning blend–whether it’s with simple salt and pepper, onion or garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, parsley, or a bolder spice like chile powder or paprika.

These steak bites are delicious on their own or paired with a side dish like mashed or fingerling potatoes, roasted veggies, rice, or salad. You can serve them as an appetizer or bring them to your next family gathering to share.

With 25 grams of protein per serving and far fewer calories and fat than traditionally cooked steak, it’s tough to top this recipe. Air fryers require little to no oil (they’re technically not fryers, but mini convection ovens that blow hot air around your food). This means you save on calories and fat without sacrificing texture and flavor– air fryer lovers rave about the crispy outside and moist inside they create.

Steak, Protein, and Weight Loss

When we think of steak, we don’t always think of lean protein. Chicken, tofu, and fish are more closely associated with muscle growth and weight loss. It’s true that eating too much red meat may be linked to a higher risk of diabetes, cancer, strokes, and heart disease. But eating steak in moderation can actually be quite beneficial for your health.

Steak is incredibly rich in protein and iron, as well as other vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. It’s a great source of carnosine and creatine, which support muscle and brain function. Vitamin B6 is important for brain development and for a healthy nervous system and immune system. B12 is essential for red blood cell formation. Zinc, potassium, and magnesium are also prevalent minerals found in red meat which are vital for things like muscles function and heart health. It’s even rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that can protect your body against chronic disease, support your immune system, and prevent illness.

Steak is up there on the list of foods with the highest protein content. This means it can help you build muscle and recover after a workout. And especially if you choose the right cut and trim the fat, beef can be leaner than you think. Sirloin, eye of round, top round, bottom round, and tenderloin are great options if you’re looking for a lean cut of steak.

Pre-Workout Fuel or Post-Workout Recovery

It’s generally considered that the best time to eat protein is during your “anabolic window,” 15-60 minutes after working out (although experts agree that loading up on protein pre-workout may work just as well). Try eating these quick and easy steak bites as a post-workout lunch or dinner, or even as part of a light steak and eggs breakfast pre-workout. Just be sure to give yourself an hour or two to digest!

So if you’re on your weight loss journey, fear not–you won’t have to sacrifice steak. In fact, it might be quite beneficial to your health! You’ll just need to eat red meat in moderation (one to two servings per week). Moreover, limit your intake of processed meats–grass-fed has the best nutrient profile! This means that while products like beef jerky are some of the leanest beef products, it’s crucial to pick a natural and less processed variety.

How to Make Air Fryer Steak Bites

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Trim the fat from your steak and cut it into bite-sized cubes. Add your steak cubes to a large bowl, drizzle them with olive oil, sprinkle on your steak seasoning, and toss to combine. Arrange your coated steak cubes in the bottom of the air fryer basket in a single, even layer.

Cook the steak for four to eight minutes, or until your desired doneness is reached, flipping the cubes over halfway through the cooking time. You can make these rare, well-done, or anywhere in between! That’s it–serve your steak cubes with your favorite dipping sauce and dig in!

Best Sauces for Air Fryer Steak

Speaking of dipping sauce… One of the best parts about these air fryer steak bites is their versatility–they’ll work with just about any seasoning blend, dipping sauce, marinade, or rub you have on hand. If you’re looking for inspiration, try building your meal around a certain cuisine. For example, a Mexican dry rub might involve chipotle, chili powder, and lime, while a Japanese steak dish might include soy sauce, sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger. You can pair your steak with sides inspired by the cuisine you’ve chosen as well. For example, try an elote salad for a Mexican steak or a Japanese spinach salad or mushrooms for a Japanese steak.

Also, a marinade with an acidic component like balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even mustard or Worcestershire sauce will help keep your steak from drying out (while also ensuring its flavor packs a punch). This is the perfect compromise–easy, flavorful, healthy steak that’s not too dry and ready in minutes. This recipe is so customizable, you can’t lose!

Serving Suggestions

You can eat these steak bites fresh out of the air fryer and dip them in the sauce of your choice. They’re also delicious when paired with a starch or vegetable for lunch or dinner. Asparagus, potato wedges, a simple salad, or even Mexican corn make lovely accompaniments. Air fryer steak bites are perfect for sharing or as part of an appetizer spread or charcuterie board. You can add leftovers to lunchboxes–you’ll never get bored of eating them, since you can customize your side dishes and seasoning blend each time. If you’re looking for a quick and easy, but still elevated addition to your meal (or a way to use up any steak you have on hand), your air fryer has got you covered.

Side Dishes Using the Same Cooking Method

If you’re cooking up these air fryer steak bites, perhaps you’ll be up for an air fryer side pairing as well! Air frying veggies or potatoes ensures you’ll get those air fryer health benefits throughout your meal, minimizes dishes and cleanup, and keeps the cooking process quick and low-maintenance. Try it with fries, fingerling potatoes, green beans, edamame, asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, or sweet potatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

We know there are a lot of questions when it comes to preparing the perfect steak! Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about our air fryer steak bites. If you have any additional questions (or helpful tips to share with others) be sure to drop them in the comment section below!

Can You Cook Raw Steak in an Air Fryer?

You might be thinking through this recipe’s logistics and wondering whether it’s safe to air-fry raw meat. The answer is yes, it is–an air fryer is a convection oven that will essentially bake your steak.

As long as you cook your steak for an appropriate amount of time and diligently flip it to cook on all sides, it’s perfectly safe to eat. Just make sure you properly defrost, trim, and season the meat, and keep an eye on it. You can use a meat thermometer to ensure your steak has surpassed 145 degrees F. Otherwise, keep an eye on the color–you’ll likely want to make sure you wait until the steak is no longer red or dark pink, unless you prefer very rare meat.

What Cut of Steak is Best for Air Frying?

We’ve established that air fryer steak is quick, easy, and delicious, but what cut of beef should you buy? A tender cut of steak is best for air frying–it maximizes that crispy on the outside, moist on the inside phenomenon that makes air fryers so popular.

This means tender cuts like the ribeye, filet mignon, or top sirloin steak are all worthy choices (as opposed to cuts with more chew like the flank, round, or New York strip steak).

However, if you prefer a slightly tougher steak, you can absolutely air fry these chewier cuts. In order to tenderize them a bit, try marinating them and adding extra seasoning. Even a simple marinade will do the trick, as long as it has a slightly acidic component (i.e. balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, or Worcestershire sauce).

Will an Air Fryer Make Meat Dry?

Many home chefs worry that cooking meat with an air fryer will dry it out (after all, the air fryer is cooking the meat by surrounding it with dry, hot air). But don’t let that misconception steer you away from this recipe–it’s still possible to achieve a juicy, tender steak with an air fryer.

The best thing you can do to prevent a dry air fryer steak (and to keep steak juicy and tender in general) is to cook it quickly and at a high temperature (like the 400 degrees F this recipe calls for). You can also marinate your steak before frying it to ensure it retains some liquid.

Plus, some prefer the slightly drier texture of air-fried steak–it intensifies the flavor of the meat and brings out the crispy on the outside, moist on the inside texture that air fryer meat is famous for. Think of it as a dry-aged steak!

What Setting Should I Put My Air Fryer on for Steak?

When air frying steak, the most important thing to remember is to cook it quickly and at a high temperature (this recipe calls for 400 degrees F for four to eight minutes). Set your air fryer to 400 degrees F. If you have an appliance with multiple settings (like roaster, dehydrator, baking oven, etc.), simply choose the “air fryer” setting. If you’re looking to reheat leftovers later and the option is available, you can choose the “reheat” setting.

Do I Need to Flip Steak in the Air Fryer?

Many wonder whether it’s necessary to flip steak in the air fryer to cook it evenly on both sides. Unlike a cast iron skillet or grill, which both cook steak one side at a time, the air fryer surrounds each piece of steak with evenly circulated hot air. For this reason, some choose not to flip air-fried steak.

However, don’t let this misguide you–it’s still important to flip your steak to ensure it cooks truly evenly. Some of your steak cubes may be closer to the heating apparatus, which is usually at the top and center of the air fryer. Your steak will cook best if you flip each piece halfway through cooking and ensure each piece gets a turn close to the center.

Does Air Frying Make Steak Healthier?

Air fryers are often hailed as one of the healthiest cooking methods (after all, all they use to cook your food is air–it’s in the name!). And the rumors are true–air frying is one of the healthiest ways to cook steak. Air frying uses little to no oil and adds no additional calories to the meal, as opposed to methods like pan-frying with butter or deep frying.

Comparatively, choosing to air fry your meat will help you cut down on fat, calories, and other potentially harmful compounds. This means air-fried red meat is less likely to cause inflammation and poses less of a risk for chronic illness down the line. That said, you should still monitor your consumption and eat it in moderation.

What’s the Best Way to Store Leftovers?

Leftover steak should stay fresh in your refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. You can reheat them on the stove, in the oven, or even back in the air fryer. These bites can be frozen too–keep them in a sealed container in your freezer for up to 3 months. If you have quite a bit left over, consider storing the steak bites by serving size so you don’t have to thaw all of it if you don’t want to.

More Air Fried Recipes to Try!

Hungry for more delicious and healthy air fryer snacks? We’ve got you covered! Try these delicious recipes next:

Did you try these air fryer steak bites? Were you a fan? Let us know what you thought below and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube! Enjoy!

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