Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Effortless Elegance Beef.
Melt-in-your-mouth steak bites cooked low and slow in a rich garlic butter sauce.
I remember one particular Tuesday, it was raining, the kind of day that just makes you want to curl up. I had a mountain of work, and the last thing I wanted to think about was a complicated dinner. So, I pulled out the crockpot. I seared some steak, threw it in with a simple garlic butter sauce, and just let it go. Hours later, coming back to the kitchen to that rich, savory scent... wow. It turned a gray, ordinary day into something special. It’s not a fancy recipe, but it’s real, and it’s become one of our family's most requested meals.
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- •The steak becomes unbelievably tender and juicy.
- •It requires minimal effort for such a big flavor payoff.
- •Your house will smell absolutely amazing all day long.
- •It's a perfect 'set it and forget it' meal for busy days.
- •The garlic butter sauce is rich, savory, and so comforting.
- •It feels like a special meal, but it's simple enough for a weeknight.
My husband, who is a man of few words when it comes to food, looked up after his first bite and just said, 'Dang, this is good.' That's the highest praise you can get! The steak was so tender, it just fell apart. We'll be making this again. And again.
Essential Ingredient Guide
- Sirloin Steak: Sirloin is my go-to for this because it's lean but still gets incredibly tender. You could also use a chuck roast, just be sure to trim any large pieces of fat. The key is cutting it into uniform, bite-sized pieces.
- Fresh Garlic: Honestly, don't skimp here. Freshly minced garlic makes all the difference. The pre-minced jarred kind just doesn't have the same bright, aromatic punch. It’s the heart of the sauce.
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the saltiness of the final dish, especially since we're also using beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Let it melt into the pan drippings for the best flavor base.
Complete Cooking Process
- Cut your steak into one-inch cubes. Pat them completely dry.
- Season them well with salt and pepper.
- Get your skillet nice and hot, then sear the cubes in batches until they have a beautiful brown crust. This isn't about cooking them through, just building flavor.
- In the same pan you seared the steak in, melt your butter.
- Add the fresh garlic and let it get fragrant. This just takes a minute.
- Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping the bottom of the pan to get all those lovely browned bits up. Those are pure flavor.
- Place the seared steak in the crockpot.
- Pour that beautiful garlic butter sauce right over the top.
- Put the lid on, set it to low, and walk away. That's it. Let it do its thing for the next few hours.
A Few Common Questions
→Do I really need to sear the steak first?
I know it’s an extra step, but I really think you should. Searing creates a flavorful crust through the Maillard reaction that you just can't get by putting raw meat in the crockpot. It adds so much depth.
→What's the best cut of steak to use?
I love sirloin for this, but a chuck roast or even stew meat works beautifully. You want a cut that benefits from a long, slow cook to become tender.
→My sauce is too thin. How can I thicken it?
So simple! Just mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking on high, and it will thicken up perfectly.
→What should I serve with these steak bites?
Oh, the best part! They are heavenly over creamy mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or even just a pile of fluffy rice. You'll want something to soak up every last drop of that amazing sauce. A side of roasted broccoli is lovely, too.
Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Crockpot garlic butter steak bites are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and so easy! Simple ingredients make this the perfect weeknight dinner.
Timing
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Total Time
4 hours 15 minutes
Recipe Details
Ingredients
For the Steak Bites
- 012 lbs sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 021 teaspoon salt
- 031/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 042 tablespoons olive oil
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
- 011/2 cup unsalted butter
- 028 cloves garlic, minced
- 031/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 041 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 051 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or thyme
For Finishing (Optional)
- 011 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (slurry)
- 022 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Pat the steak cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the steak cubes in a single layer (work in batches if needed) and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until nicely browned. This step is key for flavor!
Transfer the seared steak bites to the bottom of your crockpot.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30-60 seconds until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 1 minute.
Pour the garlic butter sauce over the steak bites in the crockpot. Stir gently to coat.
Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the steak is fall-apart tender.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, stir in the cornstarch slurry during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Cook on high until the sauce has thickened.
Stir in fresh parsley just before serving. Serve warm over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Notes & Tips
- 1The cook time is flexible. The steak is done when it's fork-tender.
- 2If you don't have Worcestershire sauce, a tablespoon of soy sauce or tamari can work in a pinch.
- 3Feel free to add other herbs like rosemary or thyme to the sauce for a different flavor profile.
Tools You'll Need
- •Don't overcrowd the pan when searing the steak. Work in batches to ensure every piece gets a beautiful brown crust.
- •Always pat your steak cubes dry with paper towels before seasoning. A dry surface is essential for a good sear.
- •Use low-sodium beef broth to better control the final saltiness of the dish.
- •Every crockpot cooks a little differently. Check your steak for tenderness after about 3.5 hours on low.