These are the BEST medium rare air fryer steak bites with dry rub that can be made in 5 minutes with top sirloin, rib eye or air fryer flank steak. It is our favorite high protein meal made into tacos or served over rice.
We made bites of steak with a few T bones we had in the fridge and they came out amazing!! SO we thought we’d share our recipe and a video of how to make it with y’all. Find this and more easy air fryer recipes we make weekly here.
I am telling you, these bite size bites of heaven over rice or beside some veggies are the best. Rarely do I ever even grill them whole anymore. Even when it’s summertime I’d rather cube and remove the bones and fat and air fry steak this way. Easier to eat and each bite has so much flavor.
We’ve used this same dry rub on our filet mignon and it’s always a hit, no matter what it’s on. T-bone, New York strip or even cubing a roast will work to make this one.
Ingredient Notes
You want to start with one or a few Steaks cut into bite size pieces. I like to trim most of the fat off first, remove the bone if any and cut into small bite size pieces. They should all be the same size to cook at an even rate. Thinner cuts like air fryer cube steak will take less time, check the steak every 2 minutes near the end to check.
Olive oil goes on first so your seasonings will stick nicely. You could use avocado oil instead. Both have great health benefits and enhance the overall flavor of each piece.
To make this steak dry rub I use a bowl to combine; Brown sugar for sweetness, Paprika for a pop of wow, Chili powder provides some heat, use less or more, Garlic powder we like too for a deeper flavor but use your favorite blend or just salt and pepper.
How Long to Cook Steak Bites in Air Fryer
In this case 5 minutes is all, you want them to stay pink and tender, medium rare, on the inside. You don’t want to overcook these, longer doesn’t mean more tender, rather it will do the opposite and make them tough.
Can you cook frozen steak bites in air fryer?
I wouldn’t. For steak bites this really wouldn’t work because you need it cubed too. I would defrost and cook the way directed below. If you don’t have time to do that we have directions for how to cook whole air fryer frozen steak to tender this way. You could sprinkle the same seasonings on halfway thru so they stick.
How Long to Cook Steak Bites with Potatoes in Air Fryer
If you wanted to add potatoes you would need to start those first as they need a lot longer than 5 minutes, then add the meat on top during the last bit so everything is done together.
I would wait until your Air Fryer Red Potatoes are fork tender and then add your diced beef right on the top until medium rare. Halved mushrooms could be added as well with the meat.
Ninja Air Fryer Steak Bites
For a Ninja Foodi recipe you will use the lid that is attached for this recipe. That is the only difference since there are two. The button reads air crisp on the front but the rest of the directions are the same.
Variations
You could marinate this first if you wanted to with bottled teriyaki sauce for about 30 minutes but the rub here already gives it a real pack of flavor. So that is up to you. I have used other meats for instance made with Venison Cube Steak gives it a whole new flavor we love.
If you wanted teriyaki steak bites, you could use coat the meat with this sauce at the end instead of using our seasonings (or use both).
How to Serve
We like throwing these on a plate with some air fryer vegetables. You could opt for pressure cooker quinoa on the bottom instead for lower carbs too though. Or just have some corn with it. That is a quick idea.
With these or our Steak Tips in the Oven I would say our go to is to use small flour tortillas and make some tacos. You can then throw in some sliced avocado, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and OH WOW are they great.
Air Fryer Steak Bites Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 4 large steaks, t bones were used, trimmed and cubed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp paprika
Instructions
- Trim steaks, remove bones, and cube into 1" pieces.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Mix together dry rub ingredients in a bowl. Pour olive oil over meat in a bowl and toss to coat.
- Pour dry rub over meat, toss to coat.
- Pour meat into air fryer basket, spread out so pieces are overlapping the least amount possible.
- Set to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes, toss after 3 minutes.
- Test and see if you want them browner/more cooked (larger pieces will take longer, the more you cook them the less tender they will become).
- Serve alone, served with vegetables, inside tortillas for tacos, or over rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to reheat leftovers
Spread steak bites and mushrooms out on a baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F and check after about 10 minutes. Check every 5 minutes until they’re as warm as you want.
Would be nice to know the weight of the meat!
The only difference a slight difference in weight would make would be the amount of dry rub coating each piece, have never had an issue with not having enough if you use “normal” size pieces
I’m a novice at this. The recipe looks awesome. What method do you cook the steak bites? Everything reads that it goes in the basket. Am I air crisping or roasting or baking or grilling? Thank you.
If you have a Ninja Foodi you are going to put it in that black air frying basket. Then close the lid that is attached and select air crisp.
Had this today, it was absolutely mouth watering. Will be a regular option now!
Oh good!!
Would it be better to use avocado oil instead of olive oil to coat? I just got a Ninja Foodie Grill and don’t want to set off the smoke alarm – I thought I read in one of your posts to use the avocado oil over olive oil.
For the particular machine, yes avocado oil works better so it doesn’t smoke.