Juicy Slow Cooker Steak Bites

Here’s my go-to slow cooker steak bites recipe, with tender chunks of beef that cook to perfection in a savory garlic butter sauce. It’s one of those dishes that makes your whole house smell amazing while it cooks.

These steak bites have become my family’s favorite weeknight dinner fix. I often make a double batch because everyone always goes back for seconds, and they’re just as good reheated the next day for lunch. Nothing better than having dinner practically make itself, right?

What Kind of Steak Should I Use?

While this recipe calls for sirloin, you’ve actually got several good options when it comes to choosing your steak for slow cooking. Sirloin is a reliable choice because it’s lean, reasonably priced, and holds up well during long cooking times. If you want to switch things up, chuck roast or top round would work great too – they’re both budget-friendly cuts that become tender in the slow cooker. Just make sure to trim any excess fat and cut your meat into evenly-sized chunks (about 1-inch pieces work best) so everything cooks at the same rate. For the best results, look for meat with some marbling but not too much exterior fat.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this recipe:

• Sirloin steak: While sirloin is great for this recipe, you can also use ribeye, top round, or chuck steak. Just make sure to trim excess fat and cut the meat into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
• Au jus gravy mix: If you don’t have au jus mix, you can use brown gravy mix or make your own by combining 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
• Sweet onion: Yellow or white onions work just fine in place of sweet onions. Red onions can work too, but they might change the color of the sauce slightly.
• Beef broth: You can use regular beef stock or dissolve beef bouillon cubes in water (use 1 cube per cup of water). In a pinch, chicken broth will work, but the flavor won’t be as rich.
• Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, that’s fine – just reduce the amount of kosher salt in the recipe by 1/4 teaspoon. You can also use ghee for a dairy-free option.
• Parsley: Feel free to skip it or use other fresh herbs like chives or thyme for garnish.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making slow cooker steak bites is skipping the initial searing step – taking just 5 minutes to brown the meat first creates a richer flavor and better texture in the final dish. Another common error is overcrowding the slow cooker, which can lead to steamed rather than tender meat, so make sure to use a 6-quart or larger slow cooker for this recipe. To prevent tough, chewy steak bites, avoid cutting the meat pieces too small (aim for 1.5-inch chunks) and don’t cook them longer than 4 hours on low setting, as even in a slow cooker, steak can become overcooked. For the best results, layer your ingredients properly – place the onions and garlic on the bottom of the slow cooker, followed by the seared meat, and then pour the liquid ingredients over top to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.

What to Serve With Steak Bites?

These tender steak bites are begging to be served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or buttery egg noodles to soak up all that rich gravy. For a lighter option, try serving them alongside roasted vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts – they’re perfect for catching those tasty meat juices. If you’re keeping things low-carb, cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower work great too, and they’ll still give you that satisfying comfort food feeling. A simple green salad on the side helps balance out the richness of the meat and makes the meal feel complete.

Storage Instructions

Keep: These tasty steak bites will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container. The flavors actually get even better after a day or two as they continue to mingle with the au jus sauce!

Freeze: You can freeze these steak bites with their sauce for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Just make sure to cool them completely before freezing. Pro tip: portion them out before freezing so you can thaw just what you need!

Warm Up: To enjoy your leftover steak bites, warm them gently in a covered pan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or microwave in short intervals, stirring in between. Add a splash of beef broth if the sauce seems too thick. Just be careful not to overheat, as this can make the meat tough.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	180-240 minutes
Total Time	190-255 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2700-3000
• Protein: 200-220 g
• Fat: 180-200 g
• Carbohydrates: 20-30 g

Ingredients

• 3 pounds sirloin steak, diced into small chunks
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 small sweet onion, sliced thinly
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
• 1 cup beef broth, no salt added
• 1 ounce package au jus gravy mix
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced thin
• Optional: freshly chopped parsley for garnishing

Step 1: Season the Steak

Place the steak pieces into a large bowl.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Toss the steak thoroughly to ensure each piece is evenly coated with the seasonings.

Step 2: Sear the Steak

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add half of the oil to the skillet.

Sear the steak pieces in batches, ensuring they are browned on all sides.

This might require adding more oil as needed between batches.

Transfer the seared steak pieces into an 8-quart slow cooker.

Step 3: Add Aromatics and Liquid to Slow Cooker

After all the steak is seared and in the slow cooker, add the onion and garlic.

Toss these with the steak bites to combine well.

Pour in the beef stock over the steak mixture.

Sprinkle the au jus packet evenly over everything.

Layer slices of butter on top of the mixture.

Step 4: Slow Cook the Steak

Cover the slow cooker with its lid.

Cook the steak on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

If feasible, stir the contents every 30 minutes to distribute flavors more evenly.

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Once the steak is tender and fully cooked, it’s ready to serve.

Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and added flavor before serving.