Here’s my go-to recipe for crock pot garlic butter steak bites, with tender chunks of beef, plenty of fresh garlic, and a rich buttery sauce that comes together right in your slow cooker.
These steak bites have become my family’s favorite weeknight dinner option, especially on busy days when I need something hands-off but still tasty. I often make extra sauce because my kids love dipping their bread in it, and honestly, who can blame them?
Why You’ll Love These Steak Bites
- Melt-in-your-mouth tender – The slow cooking process turns these sirloin pieces into incredibly tender, juicy bites that are packed with flavor.
- Minimal prep work – Just dice the steak, slice some onions and garlic, and let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting – it’s that simple.
- Rich buttery sauce – The combination of beef stock, au jus mix, and butter creates a velvety sauce that’s perfect for spooning over rice or mashed potatoes.
- Great for meal prep – Make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy these savory steak bites throughout the week – they reheat beautifully.
What Kind of Steak Should I Use?
While this recipe calls for sirloin, you’ve actually got several good options for these slow-cooked steak bites. Sirloin is a great 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 nicely too – they’re both budget-friendly cuts that become tender in the crock pot. Just make sure to trim any excess fat and cut your meat into evenly-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes work best) so everything cooks at the same rate. For the best results, look for meat with some marbling but not too much fat, and try to get it freshly cut from your butcher if possible.
Options for Substitutions
Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this steak bite recipe:
- Sirloin steak: While sirloin is great for this recipe, you can use ribeye, New York strip, or even chuck steak (cut against the grain). Just avoid super-lean cuts like tenderloin as they can dry out in the slow cooker.
- Vegetable oil: Any neutral cooking oil works here – try canola, grapeseed, or even light olive oil. Just skip strong-flavored oils like extra virgin olive oil or sesame oil.
- Au jus mix: If you can’t find au jus mix, use 1 beef bouillon cube mixed with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, or brown gravy mix as a backup option.
- 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.
- Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, that’s okay – just reduce the added salt in the recipe by about 1/4 teaspoon per 4 tablespoons of butter used.
- Beef stock: In a pinch, you can use beef bouillon dissolved in water, or even chicken stock (though the flavor won’t be quite as rich).
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest challenge when making steak bites in a crock pot is overcooking the meat, which can turn your tender sirloin into tough, chewy pieces – setting your slow cooker on low and checking the meat after 2-3 hours will help maintain its juiciness. A common error is skipping the initial searing step, but taking an extra 5-10 minutes to brown the meat in batches creates a flavorful crust and locks in the juices. To avoid bland results, make sure you’re seasoning the meat well before searing, and don’t crowd the pan during browning – giving each piece enough space ensures proper caramelization. For the best flavor development, try layering your ingredients properly: place the onions at the bottom of the crock pot, followed by the seared meat, and then add your liquids and seasonings on top.
What to Serve With Steak Bites?
These tender steak bites are begging to be served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy rice to soak up all that amazing garlic butter sauce! If you’re keeping things low-carb, try them over cauliflower mash or zucchini noodles instead. A simple side of roasted vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or green beans works perfectly with this dish, and they’re great for catching any extra sauce too. For a complete steakhouse-style meal at home, add a fresh garden salad with blue cheese dressing or some sautéed mushrooms on the side.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These tasty steak bites can hang out in your fridge for up to 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container. The garlic butter sauce actually helps keep the meat moist, so they stay pretty good for quick weekday meals!
Freeze: If you want to save some for later, let the steak bites cool completely, then pop them in a freezer-safe container or bag with the sauce. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months in the freezer. Just remember to label the container with the date!
Warm Up: When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover steak bites, warm them up slowly in a pan over medium-low heat or in the microwave in short bursts. Add a splash of beef broth if needed to keep them juicy. Try not to overheat them though, or they might get a bit 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: 2700-2900
- Protein: 240-260 g
- Fat: 200-220 g
- Carbohydrates: 20-30 g
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sirloin steak, diced into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (use more if needed)
- 1 small sweet onion, sliced thinly
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 1 cup beef stock, unsalted
- 1 ounce packet au jus mix
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced thin
Step 1: Season and Prepare the Steak
Begin by placing 3 pounds of sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized pieces, into a large bowl.
Season the steak pieces with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper.
Toss them to ensure that all pieces are evenly coated with the seasoning.
Step 2: Sear the Steak
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Allow the oil to get super hot, then add the steak pieces in batches to the skillet.
Sear each batch to brown the exterior, adding more oil if necessary.
Remember, you are only browning the steak for color, not cooking it through.
Step 3: Prepare the Slow Cooker
Transfer the seared steak pieces to a 6-quart slow cooker.
Add 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced, and 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced.
Gently stir the ingredients together in the slow cooker to combine.
Step 4: Add Liquid and Seasonings
Pour 1 cup of unsalted beef stock into the slow cooker.
Evenly sprinkle a 1-ounce packet of au jus gravy mix over the top of the ingredients.
Finish by laying 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, thinly sliced, on top.
Step 5: Cook and Serve
Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
Stir the contents once an hour if possible to ensure even cooking.
Once done, serve the savory steak and juices over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice for a hearty meal.