Garlic Butter Steak Bites & Potatoes

by Kayla Berman on February 24, 2025 0 comments

Meat lovers, rejoice—this scrumptiously simple Garlic Butter Steak Bites & Potatoes recipe will be on the table in under an hour! Juicy chunks of sirloin and creamy taters are doused in a delightfully garlicky herb-laced butter sauce and cooked together for an easy 1-pan meal.

Wanna know my trick for getting dinner on the table in no time? Pre-cut your star protein into chunks. Honey garlic salmon bites, air fryer chicken bites, and air fryer salmon bites are just a few examples of how this ingenious hack works in practice—make the meat smaller so it can cook faster! Today, we’re giving classic steak and potatoes the same treatment.

In this butter garlic steak recipe, both your protein and carbs are covered, so clean-up is a snap. And did I mention that you only need 10 measly ingredients (including the basics like oil, salt, and pepper)? It’s true! This one-pan recipe is designed for busy weeknights when you’re craving a steakhouse dinner, but on a McDonald’s budget.

As if that weren’t enough to win you over, everyone knows that butter makes everything better—especially when said butter is punctuated by garlicky goodness and the brightness of fresh herbs. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get in the kitchen and make my favorite garlic steak bites and potatoes—this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.

Looking for more meaty magic to grace your table? Try my quick and easy steak taco salad, sweet n’ spicy firecracker meatballs, or oven-braised short rib ragu pappardelle next!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Buttery Garlic Steak Bites

Simple & Speedy – Just 10 ingredients and less than an hour of active kitchen time are all it takes to get this hearty dinner on the table.
Magnificently Meaty – Sometimes I get an itch that only red meat can scratch. When that happens, I often turn to this garlic butter steak bites recipe—it’s a winner every time!
Beautifully Balanced – You get lean protein, heart-healthy olive oil, and buttery, carb-y taters in every bite of this easy skillet recipe. Just add a quick veggie side for a perfect plate!

Nutritional Deep Dive

Whenever I make these garlic steak bites and potatoes, I’m always amazed at how yummy they taste while maintaining such a demure nutritional profile. Each serving of this meat-filled meal has just 450 calories, which already feels like a magic trick considering the richness of butter.

What’s even more shocking is you’re only getting 14 grams of carbs per serving, 1 gram of which is fiber. So, even though you get to enjoy creamy spuds, you’re not gonna overdo it! And let’s not forget our other macros—a whopping 32.5 grams of protein and relatively modest 29 grams of fat rounds out the meal.

But, here at Wellness By Kay, I know not everyone is on the same diet, and I like to make sure all my guests are well-fed. Here are a few easy ways to tweak the numbers in your favor:

For more fiber: serve your steak bites alongside your favorite easy vegetable side like my roasted frozen broccoli, maple glazed roasted carrots, or crack green beans. You can also swap out the regular potatoes in favor of sweet potatoes—they have nearly twice the fiber!
For lower carbs: swap out the potatoes for a low-carb alternative like cauliflower florets or cubed radishes or turnips.
For more heart-healthy fat: whenever possible, use grass-fed butter for the best nutritional profile. You can also swap out the butter in favor of more olive oil or avocado oil.
For more protein: try using bison steak instead of beef steak—it’s slightly higher in protein, while also being lower in calories and fat.

INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT: When it comes to steak, not all cuts hit the same. Opting for lean sirloin will save you calories and fat over other popular cuts like ribeye, tenderloin, and New York strip. And, while conventionally raised sirloin is rich in some vital nutrients like iron, B vitamins, and zinc, you’ll get way more bang for your nutritional buck if you choose grass-fed beef—up to 5x more heart-healthy omega-3s, twice as much CLA, and a better ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which is less inflammatory. Pretty neat, right?

Ingredients & Substitutions

Butter & Olive Oil – Butter adds richness, while olive oil adds more mono-unsaturated fats to the mix and increases the smoke point. Feel free to use avocado oil or canola oil instead.
Potatoes – I recommend using waxy, thinner-skinned varieties like Yukon Gold or red potatoes, as they hold their shape better than starchy varieties like Russets.
Garlic – I mean, you can’t have garlic butter steak without the garlic! While fresh is undeniably the best, you can use jarred minced garlic or swap in ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove if needed.
Fresh Rosemary, Oregano, & Parsley – The quickest way to brighten up any plate is adding fresh herbs. This trio brings big flavor! In a pinch, use ⅓ as much dried herbs to compensate for any fresh.
Sirloin Steak – This recipe will work well for any cut of beef that doesn’t require long cook times (e.g. brisket)—think lean flank steak, marbled ribeye, or juicy New York strip.
Kosher Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Pepper – The basics are all you need!

How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Potatoes

This quick and easy skillet meal comes together in a flash! Here’s how:

Step 1: Heat Fat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and all the olive oil to a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.

Step 2: Sauté Potatoes. Once the oil is hot and the butter is bubbly, add in the potatoes, garlic, rosemary, oregano and ½ teaspoon of salt. Allow the potatoes to cook for about 5 minutes until the garlic begins to turn golden brown.

Step 3: Steam Potatoes. Add the water to the pan and cover. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 5-10 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender. Then remove the potatoes from the pan to a separate bowl and tent with foil.

Step 4: Cook Steak. Add the remaining butter to the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Once the butter has melted, add in the steak pieces. Sprinkle the remaining salt and the black pepper over the steak. Cook until they have a nice brown color and are cooked to your liking.

Step 5: Mix Together. Add the potatoes back into the pan and stir together. Cook for 1-2 minutes until everything is warmed through.

Step 6: Garnish & Serve. Stir in the parsley. Remove from heat and serve your garlic butter steak and potatoes skillet immediately. Enjoy!

butter melting in a pan with oil and leftover fond from cooking the potatoes.

raw potato chunks and seasonings added to a hot skillet to sear.

Optional Variations

Have dietary restrictions, or out of a key ingredient? I got you, boo:

Dairy-Free – Use your favorite high-quality vegan butter to enjoy these butter garlic steak bites without the tummy troubles.
Allium-Free – If garlic is on your no-no list, try adding a few pinches of asafoetida to the pan with the fresh herbs to help replicate the sweet flavor of cooked garlic.
Tater Swap – Feel free to omit the potatoes in favor of the sturdy vegetable of your choice. Sweet potatoes, cauliflower florets, broccoli florets, or cubed turnips would all be great!
Steak-Free – Of course, steak bites with garlic butter are delicious. But steak bites aren’t your only option! This recipe should work equally well with other types of protein like chicken or pork.

Expert Tips

Put Down Your Knife & Freeze! To make cubing your sirloin a bit easier, pop the steak in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes. This will firm it up enough to make it easy to cut through. Just don’t forget it—fully frozen steak will not be sliceable.
Sharpen Up – Using dull knives is more dangerous than using super sharp knives, as they require more force.
Preheat Your Pan – In order to get a nice sear on either your potatoes or your steak, you’ve gotta start with a very hot pan! Make sure the oil is fully preheated, then gently slide the cubes into the pan to prevent any spatter. Once they’re in there and spread out in a single layer, let them be—the more you move them around, the harder it will be for them to brown.
The Finger Trick – A friend of mine who used to work as a line cook taught me a super simple way to check steak for doneness if you don’t have a quick-read thermometer at the ready. Lightly touch your forefinger and thumb together, then, using your other hand press the meaty “drumstick” of your thumb. Feel that firmness? That’s about what a rare steak should feel like. Now lightly touch your middle finger and thumb together—that’s what a medium-rare or medium steak feels like. Thumb and ring finger feels like medium or medium-well, and thumb and pinky feels like well done. Granted, this isn’t as scientific or precise as using a thermometer, but it will help as a rough guide.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re wondering what to serve with steak bites, you don’t need much! Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Rainbow Bright – I always like to add some color to my plate, so I generally opt for quick veggie sides like a green bean casserole or maple balsamic brussels sprouts. I also love crunchy, fresh sides like my raw carrot salad, avocado corn salad, or even just a basic green salad.
Beefy Breakfast – Want to turn this skillet into a super satisfying morning meal? Toss an egg on it! Don’t forget to add a slice of multigrain toast on the side to help you sop up all the juicy, eggy, buttery yum.
Party Perfect – Hosting a get-together where these garlic and butter steak bites are the main attraction? Don’t forget to greet your guests with snacks while you finish up in the kitchen—this easy air fryer brie with honey & thyme is a guaranteed smash hit. For dessert, try a showstopper like my homemade funfetti cake or blueberry peach crisp.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Any leftover garlic butter steak bites and potatoes can be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze your leftovers for up to 2 months. If you go this route, make sure to press some plastic wrap or parchment paper directly on top of the meal before closing the lid to ward off freezer burn.
To reheat, allow the container to defrost overnight in the fridge. You can either use a sheet pan or baking dish to reheat in the oven at 300ºF for about 10 minutes. You can also use the microwave, but be careful not to overdo it—microwaved steak can get pretty rubbery. I’d say heat the taters first, then warm the steak in short bursts on about 70% power.

FAQs

What is the best cut of meat for steak bites?

Taste is subjective, but I’m very partial to the sirloin cut for making steak bites—it’s super meaty, very lean, and has great steak flavor. It’s also relatively inexpensive compared to other steaks, and doesn’t require the long cook time of other inexpensive cuts.

How do you know when steak bites are done?

They should be nicely browned on all sides and register an internal temperature according to your doneness preferences—120ºF for rare, 130ºF for medium-rare, 140ºF for medium, 150ºF for medium-well, and 160ºF for well-done.

How can I make tender steak bites?

Start with a tender cut like sirloin, and don’t overcook them! Also, feel free to brine or marinate your steak up to a day or two ahead of time, or use one of those pokey meat tenderizers before slicing it into cubes.

What’s a good dipping sauce for steak bites?

Steak sauce is always a good choice! A1 is my favorite, but Heinz 57 also works. Or, swap in other sauces that pair with meat—chimichurri, pesto, red wine gravy, BBQ sauce, etc. Also, remember that you’ll have a bit of sauciness from the garlic butter, so you don’t technically need a sauce to serve them.

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