Description
Cajun Garlic Butter Steak Bites are tender chunks of steak perfectly seasoned with a flavorful Cajun spice blend, seared to a beautiful brown crust, and tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or an impressive appetizer, delivering bold flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak and Seasoning
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or less, to taste)
- 1/2 tsp packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1 1/2 lbs steak (strip steak, sirloin, ribeye, etc.)
Cooking
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
- Minced fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare: Slice the steak into roughly 2-inch pieces and place them in a mixing bowl to prepare for seasoning.
- Season: In a small bowl, mix all the seasoning blend ingredients: smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, light brown sugar, and dried thyme. Add this seasoning blend to the bowl with the steak bites, tossing well to ensure each piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat Skillet: Place a large, heavy-bottomed skillet on medium-high heat without any oil. Allow it to heat for several minutes until it is very hot and you start to see light wisps of smoke, which indicates it is ready for searing.
- Sear Steak (in batches): Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the hot skillet and swirl to evenly coat the bottom. Add about half of the steak bites, ensuring you do not overcrowd the pan to allow proper browning. Sear the steak bites undisturbed for 2 minutes, then flip and sear for an additional 2 minutes until a deep brown crust forms. Remove the cooked steak pieces to a plate and repeat with the remaining oil and steak.
- Make Garlic Butter: Reduce the heat to medium-low and using the same skillet (do not wash it to keep the flavorful browned bits), add the butter. Once the butter is melted, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, gently scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to release those delicious browned bits.
- Combine and Serve: Turn off the heat and return all the seared steak bites to the skillet. Stir well to coat them thoroughly in the garlic butter sauce. Garnish with minced fresh parsley and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the skillet when searing the steak bites to ensure they brown properly and develop a crust.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper to your heat preference; reducing it if you prefer less spice.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution and better searing results.
- Allow the skillet to get hot enough before adding oil to prevent sticking and to achieve a good sear.
- Serve steak bites with a side of vegetables, rice, or bread to soak up the flavorful garlic butter sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
