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Air-Fryer Garlic-Butter Steak Bites with Herb Garnish
Tender, juicy steak bites infused with garlic and melted butter, perfectly crisped in the air fryer for a sumptuous treat.
Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 2.
Ingredients
- 500g (1 lb) sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Lemon wedges for serving
Cooking Steps
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F).
In a bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary.
Add the steak cubes to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly in the garlic-butter mixture.
Place the coated steak bites in the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches).
Cook at 200°C (400°F) for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even crisping.
Once cooked, transfer the steak bites to a serving platter, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
Enjoy your delicious air-fryer garlic-butter steak bites!
Optional Enhancements
- Use flank steak or tenderloin instead of sirloin.
- Replace unsalted butter with olive oil for a dairy-free version.
- Substitute fresh herbs with 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
Plant & Growing Tips
Garlic
- Plant individual cloves pointy-side up 1-2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in well-drained soil in full sun, typically in autumn for harvest next summer.
- Ensure consistent moisture during the growing season, but reduce watering as the harvest time approaches.
Fresh Parsley
- Sow seeds in spring or autumn in a sunny to partially shaded spot with moist, rich soil, or grow successfully in a container.
- Soaking parsley seeds overnight before planting can significantly improve their germination rate.
Lemon
- Grow lemon trees in a large container in full sun, especially in cooler climates, so they can be moved indoors during winter.
- Provide consistent watering to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and fertilize regularly during the growing season.
Natural Pest Control
- For aphids on parsley and young lemon trees, spray with a strong jet of water or apply a diluted neem oil solution.
- Hand-pick parsleyworms (swallowtail caterpillars) from parsley plants and relocate them to host plants like dill or fennel if you wish to support pollinators.
- Use floating row covers over garlic beds in early spring to prevent allium leaf miners from laying eggs.
- Regularly inspect lemon leaves for scale insects and wipe them off with a damp cloth or apply horticultural oil.
Harvest
Garlic
- Harvest garlic when the lower leaves start to yellow and fall over, but before all the leaves are completely brown and dry, usually in mid to late summer.
Fresh Parsley
- Snip outer stems at the base as needed for garnish, allowing inner leaves to continue growing for a continuous cut-and-come-again harvest.
Lemon
- Pick lemons when they are fully yellow and firm to the touch, and easily detach from the branch with a gentle twist.
Storing & Freezing
Store leftover steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.
