Create a fuss-free dinner with Crock Pot Steak Bites – quick, tender, and flavorful. This easy weeknight meal requires minimal prep for maximum deliciousness and is perfect for salads, pasta, egg noodles, potatoes, or tacos! Also great as an appetizer.
Steak bites are an easy crockpot meal; a family favorite! It’s an easy way to take tougher cuts of beef, slow cook until they fall apart and make a delicious gravy that is wonderful over potatoes, noodles, or just by itself.
My recipe is different because it doesn’t use packaged au jus gravy mix (ew!). This is an easy crock pot recipe with everyday pantry ingredients.
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Expert Recipe Tips
- Cooking the beef on the LOW setting will yield the best results. However, if you must cook the steak on high, cook it for at most 3-4 hours.
- Add the recipe ingredients in the order they are listed.
- When choosing a red wine (or any) to cook with, I follow Ina Garten’s advice: choose a wine you enjoy drinking!
Crock Pot Steak Bites Ingredients
- Steak tips – I like to use top-round steak, steak tips, stew beef, or sirloin steak for this easy recipe, cutting it into small bite-sized pieces.
- Oil – This ingredient is optional but necessary to sear the steak bites beforehand.
- Onion – Use a small yellow onion diced or thinly sliced. My favorites are sweet onions, such as Vidalias.
- Garlic – Use fresh garlic cloves, minced or sliced thinly. Don’t forget the kosher salt and black pepper.
- Butter – I typically have salted butter on hand, but you may use unsalted butter, too; add a little extra salt if you do.
- Broth – Add beef broth or beef stock for the best flavor! Try homemade bone broth. If you are salt sensitive, use unsalted beef stock.
- Wine – Red wine deglazes the pan and adds rich flavor; you can use extra beef broth if you prefer not to use alcohol.
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for a bit of umami flavor.
- Optional: If you want to thicken the gravy add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water, stir together) and stir in during last hour of slow cooking.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to make Crockpot Steak Bites
Adding Extra Flavor (Optional step – but so worth it)
If you prefer to skip the browning, go to the “Dump and Go Method” below. Either way is delicious. However, adding a few extra minutes with the following steps adds much more flavor.
First, place a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven (my favorite) over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Once shimmering, carefully add the steak tips to brown for a few minutes on each side. Then, remove the steak tips with a slotted spoon and continue with the rest until all the steak is browned.
Do this step in batches to keep the steak in a single layer in the pan and avoid uneven cooking. Continue adding oil when needed and move the meat to a plate with paper towels once finished. I needed to do this in 4 batches; if you have a large skillet, it might go quicker.
Next, pour red wine to deglaze the pot, scraping the bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Let the wine and browned bits simmer for one minute, then remove from the heat.
Then, carefully pour the wine and browned bits mixture and the steak bites into the crockpot, adding the rest of the ingredients. Ensure they are distributed evenly over the steak.
Add the butter in little pats evenly over the steak bites. Cover the crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally until the steak is tender, flavorful, and ready to serve! Note: Some crockpots these days heat really hot and almost boil food even on low, if that’s yours, then start checking at about 5 hours.
My favorite meat thermometer
- I love this Meater wireless meat thermometer
Dump and Go Method
If you’re short on time, skip the above instructions and toss the ingredients into the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. Once it’s finished, serve it hot and fresh over buttered egg noodles, creamy mashed potatoes, homemade steak fries, or rice!
If you’re searching for more incredible steak recipes, you might also like these air fryer steak bites, or check out this Sous Vide Boneless Ribeye Steak, Olive Garden Steak Alfredo. My mouth is watering just thinking of these dishes!
Crockpot Steak Variations and Substitutions
Air Fryer Steak Tips (Bites): If you prefer another method, try my Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe, marinated in delicious seasonings and balsamic vinegar and cooked in just 15 minutes.
Jarred Garlic: While freshly minced garlic is always better, you can substitute it for about 2 ½-3 teaspoons of jarred garlic, if preferred.
Alcohol-Free: If you prefer not to use red wine in this delicious recipe, replace it with more beef broth instead.
Additional Ingredients: Add fresh veggies, like sliced carrots, peas, sliced or diced bell peppers, mushrooms, green beans, or diced potatoes to the crock pot for an all-in-one meal! Worcestershire sauce and thyme are all great additions.
Spicy Steak Tips: If you enjoy a kick of spice, add red pepper flakes to the recipe.
Thicken the gravy if desired by adding 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl, then whisk into the gravy about an hour before it’s done cooking.
Storing Crock Pot Steak Bites
Refrigerate – Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. It’s a great recipe for adding to salads or other dishes when you have leftovers!
How to Freeze Steak Bites – Store the cooled steak pieces in an airtight freezer-safe baggie or container and freeze them for up to three months.
Reheating – Toss it in the air fryer or microwave for the quickest results. Otherwise, you can warm them in a pan on the stovetop or place the recipe back in the crock pot on low, adding a little water or broth. From frozen, first allow the steak to thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the recommended ways above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Whether you sear the steak before or not, preparing steak in the slow cooker is tender and flavorful!
I go for sirloin when making steak bites. However, more budget-friendly options include beef stew meat, round steak, chuck roast, or flat iron steak. They still turn out delicious and tender but are a bit cheaper.
If your steak bites turn out tough, it’s usually because the meat didn’t cook long enough to break down the connective tissue, especially with cuts like stew meat or chuck. Low and slow is key—cooking too fast or not long enough leaves the steak chewy instead of tender. Also, avoid overcooking leaner cuts, which can dry them out.
It depends on the recipe. If your crock pot is over halfway full of ingredients, the liquid from cooking the ingredients will be enough. However, most crock pot recipes require additional liquid, like broth, stock, water, or wine. And if cooked too long, the liquid will evaporate and you will have tough steak bites.
What to serve with Garlic Butter Steak Bites Crock Pot
Best Side Dishes for this crockpot steak bites recipe
Enjoy a classic steak and potatoes meal any night of the week by serving these easy steak tips with Air Fryer Garlic Butter Hasselback Potatoes, Instant Pot Rustic Mashed Potatoes, or Roasted Rosemary Red Potatoes. And don’t forget the greens! Add on a refreshing Steakhouse Wedge Salad.
Easy slow cooker meals the whole family will love!
- Best Tender Crockpot London Broil Recipe
- Easy Crockpot Butter Chicken (or Stovetop)
- Easy 3-ingredient Cranberry Meatballs (Crockpot)
- Bread and Butter Pot Roast
I hope you loved these Slow Cooker Steak Bites — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest?
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Ingredients
- 3 lbs steak tips cut into small pieces (1-inch cubes); use round steak, stew meat, or sirloin steak.
- 2 tablespoons oil divided (optional use if searing the beef)
- 1 small yellow onion Diced or thinly sliced – I like using sweet onions, such as Vidalia, red onions may alos be used
- 3 cloves garlic minced or sliced thinly (or about 2 ½-3 teaspoons of jarred garlic)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter diced into chunks, salted or unsalted
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup red wine or replace with additional beef broth, use a red wine you would drink
- 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce optional
Instructions
- For better flavor (see step 4 if you prefer to dump and go) heat a deep pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil, heating until shimmering. Carefully add steak tips (3 pounds) in a single layer (doing in 2-3 batches) and browning the steak bites for just a few minutes on each side. Remove with slotted spoon to crockpot, repeat with remaining steak bites adding more oil as needed. Remove steak bites to plate.
- Deglaze the pan by pouring 1 cup red wine into the pot using a wooden spoon to scrape all of the brown bits off the bottom of the pan (that’s what contains all the flavor), allow to simmer for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- Pour the browned steak bites and liquid from deglazing back into the crockpot including any accumulated juices. Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed (1 small onion, diced or sliced thin), garlic (3 cloves, minced or pressed), (1 tsp) kosher salt, 1( black pepper, distributing evenly over the steak bites. Add chunks of butter (4 tablespoons) over the top of the steak. Pour remaining beef broth (1 cup), cover, and cook.
- *If preferred, omit the above steps; omit the oil and toss all ingredients in order listed into the crock pot.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or high* for 3-4, stirring occasionally.*High is not recommended for this recipe, as it will make the meat tough. Watch your liquid if you choose to cook on high.
- Serve immediately over buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, steak fries, baked potatoes, rice or just by itself and enjoy!
Notes
Storage Tips
Refrigerate – If you have leftover steak bites, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for five to seven days. It’s a great recipe for adding to salads or other dishes when you have leftovers! How to Freeze Steak Bites – Store the steak pieces in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for up to three months. Reheating – To reheat the tender steak bites, toss it in the air fryer or microwave for the quickest results. Otherwise, you can warm them in a pan on the stovetop or place the recipe back in the crock pot on low, adding a little water or broth. From frozen, first allow the steak to thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the recommended ways above.- If your steak bites are tough, you likely overcooked the steak. Additionally, the meat can become tougher and less tender than desired when you cook the crock pot steak on high for a shorter period instead of the suggested low and slow method.
Variations & Substitutions
- Air Fryer Steak Tips (Bites): If you prefer another method, try my Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe, marinated in delicious seasonings and balsamic vinegar and cooked in just 15 minutes.
- Jarred Garlic: While freshly minced garlic is always better, you can substitute it for about 2 ½-3 teaspoons of jarred garlic, if preferred.
- Alcohol-Free: If you prefer not to use red wine in this delicious recipe, replace it with beef broth.
- Additional Ingredients: Add fresh veggies, like sliced carrots, peas, mushrooms, green beans, or diced potatoes to the crock pot for an all-in-one meal! Worcestershire sauce and more of your favorite seasonings are also excellent additions to the recipe.
- Spicy Steak Tips: If you enjoy a kick of spice, add red pepper flakes to the recipe.
- Thicken the gravy if desired by adding 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl, then whisk into the gravy (use a slotted spoon to remove the beef tips before thickening the gravy.
Nutrition
Lynn B Spencer
Oh, these are so tender and tasty! I’ve been looking for a recipe and thrilled to find this one.
Fabulous Lynn! So happy to hear that!
Elisa
Love this Easy Crock Pot Steak Bites Recipe, so delicious, juicy, and easy to make. Will make it soon for the family. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks!
Stephanie
These steak bites are so easy to make in my crockpot and they turned out perfect every time. I like to serve the dish with some rice and a side salad – makes the perfect Sunday family dinner.
Perfect for Sunday dinner!
Angela
Love this recipe! These steak bites were so delicious and easy to make. Definitely a keeper!
Yay!!
dana
This is such an awesome recipe for this time of year. We all loved it! So comforting, which is so needed with all of this dreary cold weather.
So glad you liked it!
Katherine
These steak bites were seriously flavorful. Served them on mashed potatoes!
Perfect over mashed potatoes!
Eliza
I made this for last night’s dinner (with mashed potatoes as you suggested) and it was AMAZING! The flavor of the sauce is incredible, and the steak was perfectly cooked. A new favorite in our house now!
Yay!! Thank you so much, Eliza!
Sheila
I made these steak bites and served them over mashed potatoes and the family literally devoured dinner! So flavorful and very tender, it’s the best comfort food! Thanks for another great crockpot recipe!
Perfect! So glad you loved them!