Air Fryer Steak Tips (Bites)
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My air fryer steak tips are marinated with a variety of seasonings and balsamic vinegar for maximum flavor. Cook them in about 15 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner!
Steaks are a staple no matter what time of year it is. Flank steaks with a balsamic or teriyaki marinade are on rotation in our house, as is this shaved steak cheesesteak sandwich or this indulgent Steak Bomb Recipe! When I really want to indulge, I make this Olive Garden Alfredo dish.
But as much as I adore the results from grilling, sometimes I don’t have the time. Other times it’s too cold or snowy.
Enter this simple air fryer recipe: create deliciously charred steak tips in the air fryer without the hassle of breaking out your grill or stepping one foot outside your kitchen!
Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Steak Tips Recipe
- There’s no need to use a grill: When you cook air fryer beef tips at a high temperature using hot air you’ll draw out the same flavors and texture you’ll get with a grill — crispy on the outside without being overcooked on the inside.
- Enjoy next to no clean-up: I could go on and on about how convenient this appliance is! I like using my Breville SmartOven because of its large capacity. And, cleanup is a breeze. You should deep clean your appliances monthly, but you can get away with a light cleaning after each use.
- No dangerous grease splatters: Using this countertop appliance means that drippings are collected in the bottom of the air fryer basket, versus making steak tips in a cast iron skillet.
Best Air Fryer
- Air Fryer #1 | I have two air fryers, one is a lid that converts my Instant Pot into an air fryer, love it for smaller tasks like these Air Fryer Ravioli’s.
- Air Fryer #2 | I also have the Breville Smart Oven Pro which has a big basket and amongst other things does air frying. Love this for my larger jobs!
- Air Fryer #3 | Many of my air frying friends, love this Cosori Air Fryer.
- Accessories | You might want to invest in some air fryer liners, these are high temp friendly mats that still allow you to air fry easily, but make cleaning the unit easier. Or try these parchment liners, for easy and quick clean-up.
Simple Ingredients
The full recipe and instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Whole Steak | Use your preferred cut of steak, I’ve used Ribeye steak, Sirloin steak, New York or Tri Tip, or pre-packaged Steak Tips, love these from ButcherBox.
- Olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Seasonings | Kosher Salt, Black pepper and Carrabba’s Grill Seasoning or similar (See variations for more ideas)
Instructions
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. While you wait, remove any excess fat from the beef and cut it into 1-inch bite size pieces.
Make your marinade in a small bowl, then toss the meat in it. You can make them right away, but if you allow to marinate for 30 minutes at least it will intensify the flavors.
If you prefer, you can let the beef marinate for up to 4 hours in the fridge for a more intense flavor. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes before you place it in the basket.
Place the steak pieces in a single layer in your basket. Different air fryers have varying basket sizes, if you have a smaller appliance, you may need to cook in batches.
The cooking time for the steak tips in the air fryer is 7-9 minutes, then flip and cook for 3 minutes more. If you’d like, you can add some chopped green veggies for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking. This will add a nice charred flavor to your vegetables! Or make these delicious Air Fryer Asparagus.
What to serve with
- Serve your air fryer steak bites with a side of choice, like French fries or these delicious Southern Green Beans!
- Or try these Air Fryer Steak Fries (oh my!)
Variations
- You can also substitute Montreal Steak Seasoning, Cajun or Italian seasonings. Just keep an eye out for any added MSG! There isn’t much oil in this marinade, so apply it to the meat like you would dry rub.
- If preferred, try using Worcestershire sauce in place of the balsamic vinegar
- If desired, brush a little melted butter over the top of the steak bites before serving or amp up the flavor even more, by sautéing 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in 2-3 tablespoons of butter for 1 minute, then pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak tips.
Fresh Tips
- For even less clean up, use a plastic storage bag for the marinade. Simply discard once the beef is cooking.
- Don’t be tempted to overcrowd the basket! It’s better to cook in batches — the circulating heat will ensure a nice crispy and charred outer layer.
- Serve alongside with French fries, mashed potatoes, red potatoes, roasted vegetables, or pasta salad for a well-rounded meal.
Even though I live in cattle country, I sometimes have trouble finding good, tender, grass-fed beef. I love Butcher Box, their meats are clean, tender and reasonably priced. Check it out, they are always offering some great deals and you can customize your box, delivery frequency and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
I use rib eye, New York strip, or tri-tip varieties for my air fryer steak bites recipe, but you can also use flank steak or sirloin steak. Authentic beef tips are typically made with sirloin and round cuts. Choose whichever cut is available in your budget and that you enjoy eating.
Make sure you preheat the air fryer 400 degrees F and that your meat is at room temperature. Remember not to overcrowd the basket to ensure that the bites cook evenly, and let them rest, covered for at least 5 minutes before serving.
It’s generally very easy to avoid dried-out food thanks to the quick cook time! Using your air fryer is a great way to prep this steak recipe and is an easy and healthy quick dinner recipe.
Whether you enjoy your meat rare, medium, or well-done, the USDA does recommend a minimum internal temperature of 145 degree F to stay safe. If you are concerned use a meat thermometer to test your air fryer steak tips before you dig in.
Air Fryer Steak Tips with Garlic Butter sauce
Sauté some 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in 2-3 tablespoons of butter for 1 minute, then pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak tips, for the perfect air fryer steak.
I hope you enjoyed this low carb air fryer steak recipe and try more of my air fryer recipes.
Stovetop Steak Tips
No air fryer? I have you covered!
- Heat a heavy bottomed skillet (a cast iron pan would be great) over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons high heat oil (Avocado or Grapeseed oil work best under high heat).
- Then add ⅓ of the steak tips at a time, letting brown on one side before stirring to brown the other side.
- Brown about 3 minutes on the first side, then 1-2 minutes on the other side. Remove and cover, repeating with remaining steak bites until done. Allow meat to rest covered 5-10 minutes.
What should I serve with Steak Tips?
- Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
- Cheesy Asparagus Bake {No Fail!}
- Glazed Tarragon Carrots (Instant Pot or Stove Top)
- Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes {Stovetop & Crockpot too}
- Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
- Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners
- Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits (biscuits & skillet bread)
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds lean steak (Ribeye, New York, TriTip, Sirloin) trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Steak Seasoning try my Carrabba's grill or Montreal, Italian seasoning or other favorite.
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper to taste (optional)
- Cayenne or Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Trim steak of fat and cut into roughly 1 inch cubes, set aside. In a bowl make marinade and then toss the steak tips into the marinade, rubbing to coat all of the meat. You may also toss into a baggie if you prefer less mess. Let sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes (up to 4 hours refrigerated)
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. I love my Breville SmartOven, because of its larger capacity, if using a smaller air fryer you may need to make it in batches.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with oil or place silicone liner down. Spread the meat in an even layer on the bottom of the tray, if necessary, cook in two batches.
- Cook beef tips for 7-9 minutes depending on desired doneness. Check on them, turning and cook for another 3 minutes or so. Remove from air fryer, place on dish, cover and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
- If desired, add some asparagus or broccoli (chopped small) tossed in a little olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper for the last 3-4 minutes of cooking. Just push the meat to the side.
Fresh Tips
Stovetop Steak Tips
- Heat a heavy bottomed skillet (a cast iron pan would be great) over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons high heat oil (Avocado or Grapeseed oil work best under high heat).
- Then add ⅓ of the steak tips at a time, letting brown on one side before stirring to brown the other side.
- Brown about 3 minutes on the first side, then 1-2 minutes on the other side. Remove and cover, repeating with remaining steak bites until done. Allow meat to rest covered 5-10 minutes.
Air Fryer Steak Tips with Garlic Butter sauce
Sauté some 1-2 cloves of minced garlic in 2-3 tablespoons of butter for 1 minute, then pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak tips, for the perfect air fryer steak. Fresh Tips- For even less clean up, use a plastic storage bag for the marinade. Simply discard once the beef is cooking.
- Don’t be tempted to overcrowd the basket! It’s better to cook in batches — the circulating heat will ensure a nice crispy and charred outer layer.
- Serve alongside with French fries, mashed potatoes, red potatoes, roasted vegetables, or pasta salad for a well-rounded meal.
Nutrition
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About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
I made these last night for dinner, and our entire family gobbled them up! SO delicious and easy to make for a meal. There have already been requests to add this into the regular rotation!
Yippee! So happy to hear Erin! Thanks!
I’d never cooked meat in my air fryer before and couldn’t believe how tender and moist this recipe came out! I’ll be pulling my air fryer out a lot more often with your amazing tips!
So glad you tried something new and loved it!
SUCH a great idea to cook this in the air fryer! It came out super yummy! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Thanks so much Mindy!
I had never made steak in my air fryer and I was actually kind of skeptical. But this recipe was complete perfection!!
Right!? I felt the same, love at first sight!
I always need more ideas for what to make in my air fryer! These are going on the regular rotation. So good!
Yes!! So glad you loved it!
We make these all the time in our air fryer. So juicy and tender!
Love hearing that Nikki, thank you!
I have no plans on buying an air fryer, how can I make these without one?
Great question Debbie, Heat a heavy bottomed skillet (cast iron would be great) over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons high heat oil (Avocado or Grapeseed oil work best under high heat). Then add ⅓ of the steak tips at a time, letting brown on one side before stirring to brown the other side. About 3 minutes on the first side, then 1-2 minutes on the other side. Remove and cover, repeating with remaining steak bites until done. Allow meat to rest covered 5-10 minutes. Adding to the recipe as well!