Crockpot steak bites make the ultimate comfort dinner that is simple, easy on the wallet, tender, juicy, and has such a rich flavor! This main course meal can be served with just about any side dish and is one that the whole family will enjoy!
You can think of this dish as the lazy girl’s garlic butter steak bites! While some of the ingredients used are the same, when cooked in the crockpot, they turn into comfort food. The best part is that you can set and forget it, which is my favorite way to cook during the week. Even though filet mignon (beef tenderloin) is the most tender cut of meat, we like using a more affordable top sirloin for these crockpot steak bites. Because they’re cooked low and slow, each bite is fork tender.
Crock-pot steak bites go great over creamy mashed potatoes, cooked egg noodles, or with rice We also like serving these alongside brown sugar honey glazed carrots, Chinese buffet green beans, instant pot corn on the cob, and buttermilk cornbread.
If you like slow cooker meals on busy nights, be sure to try my Mississippi pot roast, creamy chicken tortilla soup, or crockpot carnitas. The entire family will love them.
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Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Steak Bites Recipe
- A family favorite that is an easy weeknight meal.
- Can use a less expensive cut of meat because the method of cooking results in a tender steak.
- Can easily be doubled for larger crowds.
- Makes excellent leftovers the next day.
- Only requires a handful of ingredients.
🥩 Ingredients:
- top sirloin steak – flank steak would also work well for these slow cooker beef cubes.
- salted butter – When combined with vegetable oil, the butter adds flavor to the meat during searing. The oil allows a higher temperature without burning the butter. We also add additional butter to the crockpot during cooking for flavor.
- canola or vegetable oil – This raises the cook temperature for searing the beef.
- vinegar – this is optional – you can use balsamic vinegar, red wine, a bit of beef stock, or even just water to deglaze the skillet after browning the steak. This helps to loosen the browned bits so that they can be added to the crockpot, giving more flavor to the steak bites.
- minced garlic – could also swap for garlic powder
- onion – I love slicing onions into strips or rings for this dish, but if you’d like to just to a quick dice, have at it! Yellow or sweet white onions work perfectly in this recipe.
- beef broth – the base for the gravy. interchangeable with beef stock or a water and beef bouillon combination.
- salt, coarse black pepper, and Worcestershire – add great flavor
- cornstarch dissolved in a teaspoon of water – we make a cornstarch slurry and add it to the juices to thicken them into a gravy. Potato starch works great as well.
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Substitutions and Variations
- To make these more traditional steak bites, strain the juices off before serving and omit the cornstarch slurry used to make the gravy. Use a steak sauce for dipping.
- Another way to make garlic steak bites is to just sear them in a large skillet with butter after seasoning and serve immediately. You can use the same cuts of meat or a more expensive cut of steak for pan-searing.
- Canned or fresh mushrooms taste delicious in this recipe.
- Use the same ingredients and swap the sirloin for chuck roast, then shred before serving, much like making a pot roast recipe.
- You can also use store bought brown gravy mix when serving.
🔪 Instructions:
Before You Start: Allow the steak to sit out 30 minutes prior to cooking. Then cut into bite-sized pieces.
Step 1: Heat the butter in a cast iron skillet and sear the steak bites, adding a single layer at a time. Work in batches to cook quickly over medium-high heat. After removing the steak from the pan, add a splash of vinegar, red wine, beef stock, or water and scrape the browned bits from the pan (deglaze the pan.) Add to the crockpot.
Step 2: Place the onions in the bottom of the crock pot, followed by the seared steak.
Step 3: Whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over.
Step 4: Spread pats of remaining butter over the top of the steak bites.
Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. For a thicker gravy, add additional cornstarch slurry to the crockpot during the final hour of cooking.
GARNISH/SLICE/SERVE: Serve over potatoes, noodles, rice, or with your favorite side.
Recipe Tips for Slow Cooker Steak Bites
- If you are short on time, you can skip the searing step. However, this does lock in the flavor and adds color. Either way, you will still end up with tender steak bites.
- Work in batches when searing to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Make sure the skillet is nice and hot before adding the butter and steak to get the best sear.
- If desired, you can use beef stew meat instead of sirloin.
- To make a thicker gravy, add an additional spoonful or two of cornstarch slurry (mix the cornstarch and water in a small bowl) when it’s down to the last hour of cooking.
Fun Fact
Sirloin is actually a leaner cut of beef compared to other cuts of meat.
Recipe FAQs
Leave leftovers in an airtight container for 2 or 3 days. These can also be frozen for up to 1 month and reheated on the stove top.
Yes! The steak will cook all the way through, it will just a lack a “crust” on the outside from not searing. Searing gives extra flavor and can make a more tender meat, but this process of cooking in the crock pot will still result in tender, juicy bites.
More Delicious Main Course Meals
If you try these Crockpot Steak Bites or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Crockpot Steak Bites
Ingredients
- 1.5-2 pounds top sirloin steak cut into pieces
- 5 tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic or red wine vinegar, red wine, or stock (optional) for deglazing the pan
- 1 small white onion sliced (about 1 cup)
- 3-4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup beef broth
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 teaspoon of water
Instructions
- Set out steak at least 30 minutes before cooking. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a large cast iron or non-stick skillet. Over medium-high heat, sear the steak pieces, adding a single layer of meat to the pan at a time, and allowing ample room around the steak. Work in batches to quickly brown on all sides, and then remove the seared steak pieces.
- Deglaze the pan with a splash of vinegar, red wine, beef stock, or even water. Heat over low and scrape the browned bits from the skillet. Add scrapings to the crockpot.
- In the crock of a slow cooker, layer the sliced onions and then the seared steak over the top.
- Whisk together the garlic, beef broth, salt, pepper, Worcestershire, and cornstarch and pour over the steak.
- Cut the remaining butter into pieces and spread out over the top of the meat.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
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Comments & Reviews
Deb says
My picky eaters love this! I’ve made it twice in a week!
LORI ALLEN says
Definitely need to try this!
Eric says
Wonder, great flavor and so tender. I used stew meat and it was so delicious. I put it on a helping of cauliflower mash and homemade yeast roll.
Stefanie says
Sounds like my kind of dinner! All my favorites!
Kristy says
This looks delicious! What do you serve with it as sides? Or do you put it over noodles or anything? Gonna try it over the weekend.
Stefanie says
I usually do mashed potatoes or noodles. And then a salad or some roasted broccoli. You could do baked potatoes or even do over toast like a sandwich. Let me know how you like it!
Cynthia Pena says
Looks so delicious
Herbye says
Love it!
Denise says
Have you ever prepped everything the night before cooking?
Stefanie says
I haven’t, but you could definitely do that for this recipe. Brown the meat, slice the onions, mix the broth and seasonings, etc. then keep everything refrigerated overnight and toss it all in the crockpot in the morning. Let us know how it turns out!
Stacie Tepper says
it turned out really good. I added a can of mushrooms and a pack of brown gravy to it and everything just melts in your mouth.
Susan says
Making this today.
Stefanie says
Awesome! Let me know how you like it!
Debbie says
Loved this recipe! Very tasty!
Cheryl says
What is the serving size? How many people does this serve?
Stefanie says
Hi Cheryl, This recipe serves about 4 people. In general, meat will shrink about 25% during cooking, so if you use 2 pounds of steak, you’ll have about 6 oz. per person.
judy lohrmann says
i am making this now 4-27-2023 Ancious to see how it turned out … i had some wine left from a receipe a while back and i put a half a cup of that in. judy
Terri says
Am making it today. Thank you!