Teriyaki Steak Bites are quick and easy to make in a skillet, the oven, or an air fryer. This delicious steak bites recipe is the perfect appetizer, tasty snack, or main dish for the meat lover.
Ever since I shared my Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe a couple years ago, I have kept steak bites on constant rotation.
The meat turns out so tender and flavorful with the perfect golden brown crisp on the outside. I like using plenty of savory ingredients for marinating the steak so that it soaks up bold flavors for the best tasting result.
Which brings us to this easy teriyaki steak bites recipe. Sweet, savory, tangy, umami flavors come together in one glorious perfect bite of steak. The whole family will love the taste and texture of these tender teriyaki steak bites.
Before we get started, for those who are die-hard medium-rare fans, it can be challenging to get steak bites to a perfect medium rare while still getting a nice crust on the outside.
Nevertheless, steak lovers will enjoy these crispy bites of beef as an appetizer or as a main course paired with side dishes.
Let’s discuss the two very basic ingredients for teriyaki steak bites.
Ingredients for Teriyaki Steak Bites:
Steak: Your favorite cut of steak gets chopped up into bite sized cubes and marinated in delicious teriyaki sauce for this easy teriyaki steak bites recipe.
I recommend top sirloin steak, boneless ribeye, filet mignon, or NY strip steak for steak bites. Choose your go-to kind of steak.
Teriyaki Sauce: Pick your favorite tried and true teriyaki sauce for marinating the steak bites and for serving once the steak bits are cooked.
I use Primal Kitchen No Soy Teriyaki Sauce or I make my own (recipe below).
If you enjoy making your own sauces and marinades at home, use the following simple recipe to make your own teriyaki sauce.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce Recipe:
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 4 Tbsp liquid aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or brown sugar
- 2 large fresh garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp tapioca flour or cornstarch
Mix together all of the ingredients above in a blender (or whisk well in a small bowl) to prepare the sauce.
This flavorful teriyaki sauce recipe is my personal favorite although I often use a store-bought sauce when I’m pressed for time.
To thicken the sauce, heat it over medium high heat in a small saucepan for 5 to 8 minutes at a gentle boil, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
What is The Best Steak To Use For Steak Bites?:
You can use any steak you love, but I like using either boneless ribeye or New York Strip steak. Many people use sirloin steak.
I do recommend picking a cut of beef that contains a decent amount of intramuscular fat for the most delicious results because the fat not only adds flavor, it also gives you a higher chance of achieving tender beef, plus it becomes nice and crispy for the best texture.
Stew meat is a great choice if you have plenty of time to marinate the meat, but if you’re under a time crunch I recommend choosing a less tough cut of beef.
On the flip side, you can also use filet mignon for steak bites, which will turn out very tender but not have a lot of outer crust due to its low fat content.
The above teriyaki sauce ingredients make the perfect amount of sauce for this recipe. You’ll have half a cup for marinating and a little leftover for drizzling or dipping.
Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients list and the basics, let’s make the best steak bites!
How to Make Teriyaki Steak Bites:
Transfer the steak to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Place the chunks of steak in a large zip lock bag with ½ cup of teriyaki sauce. Seal the bag and move everything around so that all of the steak is saturated in sauce. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, but ideally 1 to 3 hours and up to 24 hours.
When you’re ready to cook the steak bites, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, or cooking oil of choice in a large cast iron skillet.
I recommend using a 12-inch cast iron skillet if you have one so that you can cook all of the bites at the same time and they will have plenty of space.
Allow the skillet to heat over medium-high heat until it is sizzling hot.
Carefully place the pieces of steak onto the hot skillet, allowing excess marinade to drip off before placing the bites on the skillet.
Cook 2 minutes per side on two sides, or until the steak bites are crispy on the outside and reach your desired level of doneness.
The cooking time depends on how well you like your steak cooked. Stick with two minutes on two sides for medium-rare over medium-high heat or cook on medium heat for a longer period of time to get a glazed effect.
Note: it can be difficult to get medium-rare steak bites and also have a crispy crust. For the best results, be sure the skillet is very hot and carefully monitor the steak bites so that they don’t overcook but still get deeply golden brown on the outside.
If you aren’t as concerned about medium-rare steak bites, just be sure to get the optimal golden brown crust on the outside.
For a caramelized effect, add teriyaki sauce to the skillet at the end of the cooking process and continue stirring or flipping until the sauce caramelizes around the steak bites.
Serve teriyaki steak bites with extra teriyaki sauce or stir fry sauce and your favorite side dishes. If you’re serving them as an appetizer, be sure to include a small bowl of teriyaki sauce to the side for dipping and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Want to make teriyaki steak tips in the oven instead of in a skillet on the stove top?
Steak Bites in the Oven:
If you’d prefer baking the steak bites over cooking them in a large skillet, here’s what you do.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a large sheet pan or casserole dish with cooking spray.
Transfer the marinated steak chunks to the dish and spread them into an even layer.
Bake for 7 to 18 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness.
For rare steak bites, bake 7-9 minutes.
Medium-rare steak bites, bake 10-13 minutes.
Medium steak bites, bake for 14-15 minutes.
Well-done steak bites, bake for 16-20 minutes.
Air Fryer Teriyaki Steak Bites:
If you own an air fryer, steak bites turn out incredible when air fried! Simply preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 4 minutes, then transfer the raw steak bites to the air fryer basket.
Avoid pouring all of the marinade into the air fryer and instead let the marinade drip off of the bites before transferring.
Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
I like air frying for about 15 minutes for tender steak bites that have a bit of a crispy outside.
What to Serve with Steak Bites:
If you’re wondering what to serve with steak bites, I’ve got you. Here are my favorite sides to go alongside steak bites.
- The Best Broccoli Salad
- Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables
- The Best Potato Salad
- Avocado Dip
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Butter and Garlic
In addition to these great options, white rice and cauliflower rice are great alongside steak bites for a full meal.
The next time you have a craving for steak or you’re entertaining guests, whip up this simple steak bites recipe! Simple enough to prepare on a busy weeknight and fancy enough for entertaining guests,
Little bites of steak on repeat!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb steak, cut into bite-sized pieces*
- 2/3 cup teriyaki sauce, divided**
Instructions
- Transfer the steak to a cutting board and use a sharp knife to chop it into bite-sized pieces.
- Place the chunks of steak in a large zip lock bag with ½ cup of teriyaki sauce. Seal the bag and move everything around so that all of the steak is saturated in sauce. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, but ideally 1 to 3 hours and up to 24 hours.
- When you’re ready to cook the steak bites, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, or cooking oil of choice in a large cast iron skillet. I recommend using a 12-inch cast iron skillet if you have one so that you can cook all of the bites at the same time and they will have plenty of space. Allow the skillet to heat over medium-high heat until it is sizzling hot.
- Carefully place the pieces of steak onto the hot skillet, allowing excess marinade to drip off before placing the bites on the skillet. Cook 2 minutes per side on two sides, or until the steak bites are crispy on the outside and reach your desired level of doneness. The cooking time depends on how well you like your steak cooked. Stick with two minutes on two sides for medium-rare over medium-high heat or cook on medium heat for a longer period of time to get a glazed effect. Note: it can be difficult to get medium-rare steak bites and also have a crispy crust. For the best results, be sure the skillet is very hot and carefully monitor the steak bites so that they don’t overcook but still get deeply golden brown on the outside.
- If you aren’t as concerned about medium-rare steak bites, just be sure to get the optimal golden brown crust on the outside.
- For a caramelized effect, add teriyaki sauce to the skillet at the end of the cooking process and continue stirring or flipping until the sauce caramelizes around the steak bites.
- Serve teriyaki steak bites with extra teriyaki sauce or stir fry sauce and your favorite side dishes. If you’re serving them as an appetizer, be sure to include a small bowl of teriyaki sauce to the side for dipping and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Notes
- 2 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 4 Tbsp liquid aminos or low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp tapioca flour or cornstarch
Nutrition
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