There’s something incredibly satisfying about tender, garlicky steak bites slow-cooked to perfection. This Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe transforms simple ingredients into a melt-in-your-mouth comfort meal that’s a total crowd-pleaser — and honestly, so easy to pull off.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m genuinely enthusiastic about this recipe because it’s one of those meals that feels fancy but really isn’t. It’s perfect for those busy days when you want to set it and forget it, but still serve something remarkable and full of flavor.
- Set It and Forget It: You can toss everything in your slow cooker and go about your day without babysitting the stove.
- Unbelievably Tender: Slow cooking makes even tougher cuts like chuck roast feel melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Buttery Garlic Goodness: The garlic butter sauce infused with sweet onions takes simple steak bites to a whole new level.
- Versatile Meal: Serve this recipe over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice, making it ideal for different cravings or occasions.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The beauty here is in how these ingredients blend to create a rich, comforting dish. I always suggest getting the freshest garlic you can find because that’s the flavor star, and choosing a good quality cut of beef—sirloin if you want a cleaner bite or chuck roast for extra tenderness and flavor depth.
- Sirloin Steak or Chuck Roast: Sirloin is lean and quick-cooking, chuck roast offers rich marbling that becomes super tender in the slow cooker.
- Kosher Salt: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the beef’s natural flavor.
- Black Pepper: Adds a subtle spicy kick without overpowering the garlic butter.
- Garlic Powder: Boosts the garlic profile alongside the fresh cloves.
- Paprika (not hot): Adds a gentle smoky warmth and color without heat.
- Olive Oil: Helps sear the steak bites if you want extra flavor, plus it’s heart-healthy.
- Sweet Onion: When slow-cooked, it gives a lovely natural sweetness balancing the garlicky sauce.
- Low Sodium Beef Broth: Creates a flavorful base for the au jus and keeps everything moist.
- Au Jus Gravy Mix: Conveniently packs in classic beefy richness and thickens the sauce slightly.
- Garlic (fresh cloves): Pressed garlic releases a potent aroma that infuses the whole dish wonderfully.
- Unsalted Butter: Sliced in, it melts slowly to coat the steak bites and onions in a luscious sauce.
- Fresh Parsley: Adds a fresh, herbal finish that brightens every bite.
Make It Your Way
One thing I love is how forgiving this recipe is—you can tweak it to your liking with ease. Personally, I’ll sometimes add a splash of balsamic vinegar or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick, but it’s great just as is.
- Variation: Once, I swapped out half the butter for ghee, which gave it a nuttier flavor and held up well overnight. Totally worth trying if you want to experiment with richness.
- Make It Low Sodium: Simply reduce broth and skip extra salt for a heart-healthier meal.
- Add Mushrooms or Bell Peppers: They slow-cook beautifully alongside the steak for extra veggies and texture.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Season the Beef
The first thing I do is cut the sirloin or chuck roast into bite-sized cubes, making sure they’re roughly the same size to cook evenly. Toss the cubes with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. You want each piece seasoned well so the flavors soak deep during the slow cooking.
Step 2: Sear for Extra Flavor (Optional but Worth It!)
This is an optional step, but I highly recommend it. Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and quickly brown the steak bites in batches. This caramelizes the outside and locks in juices, adding a delicious depth to the final dish.
Step 3: Layer Onions and Broth in the Slow Cooker
Place the thinly sliced sweet onion at the bottom of your slow cooker—it soaks up the juices and slowly caramelizes below the beef. Pour in the beef broth with the au jus gravy mix, stirring gently to blend. Then add the seared steak bites on top.
Step 4: Add Fresh Garlic and Butter
Press the garlic cloves and scatter them over the top, then distribute the sliced unsalted butter evenly. This garlic butter sauce will melt slowly, infusing the beef and onions with maximum flavor — the star of the show.
Step 5: Cook Low and Slow
Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours (or on high for around 4 hours if you're short on time). The slow cooking breaks down the tough fibers in the meat, resulting in a tender, flavor-packed bite every time.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Right before serving, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley for a lovely pop of color and fresh flavor. Stir gently to coat everything in that beautiful garlic butter sauce.
Top Tip
I’ve learned that the key to nailing this recipe every time lies in *not* rushing the slow cooker. The low and slow method tenderizes the meat beautifully, but if you try to speed it up, you lose that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Searing the Meat First: Taking even 5 extra minutes to brown the steak bites beforehand adds incredible flavor—you’ll thank yourself later.
- Don’t Skip Fresh Garlic: I’ve made this without fresh garlic, and it just doesn’t have that same punch. Press it fresh for the best aroma and flavor.
- Butter Distribution: Slice the butter thinly so it melts evenly and coats every bite perfectly.
- Keep the Lid Closed: Opening the slow cooker releases heat and can extend cooking times, so resist the urge to peek!
How to Serve Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
Garnishes
I love finishing this dish with a generous sprinkle of fresh parsley because it brightens up the plate and adds a fresh herbal note that balances the richness. Sometimes I also add a tiny drizzle of good olive oil for shine right before serving.
Side Dishes
This recipe pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes — the buttery garlic sauce is perfect for soaking in. You’ll also enjoy it served over buttered noodles, steamed rice, or even roasted vegetables for a lighter option.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special dinner, I like to serve these steak bites on a bed of garlic herb polenta, topped with microgreens or edible flowers for an elegant look. Sometimes, I’ll offer crusty bread on the side so everyone can mop up every last bit of that irresistible sauce.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I find that leftover steak bites store beautifully in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors deepen overnight, making reheated portions just as delicious—sometimes even better!
Freezing
This recipe freezes well too. After cooling, I portion the steak bites with some sauce into freezer-safe bags or containers. When thawed and reheated gently, they maintain that same tender texture and garlic-butter richness.
Reheating
To reheat, I gently warm leftovers in a skillet over low heat with a splash of broth or water to keep things moist. Microwaving also works—just cover it to trap steam and keep the meat from drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Sirloin and chuck roast work best because they become tender in the slow cooker, but you can try brisket or even stew meat — just expect some variations in texture and cooking time.
Nope, it’s optional. Browning adds flavor and texture but you can skip it for convenience. If you do skip it, expect slightly less rich flavor on the surface but still tender, tasty bites.
This recipe is naturally keto-friendly as it’s mostly meat and fat — just make sure to serve it with low-carb sides like cauliflower mash or sautéed greens instead of potatoes or noodles.
Yes! Slow cookers vary in size, so if yours fits, doubling the ingredients works well. Just keep in mind the cooking times might increase slightly due to the volume.
Final Thoughts
Making this Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe always feels like treating yourself without any fuss. It’s the kind of meal I’m proud to pull together for family or friends because it tastes like I’ve spent hours, but it practically cooks itself. Give it a try—you’ll enjoy those tender, buttery bites just as much as I do every time!
Print
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites are tender, flavorful cubes of sirloin or chuck roast slow-cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce with sweet onions and savory au jus gravy, perfect for a comforting meal served over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Ingredients
Steak and Seasonings
- 4 pounds sirloin steak or chuck roast, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (not hot)
Cooking Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
- 1-ounce packet au jus gravy mix
- 6 cloves garlic, pressed
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Steak: Cut the sirloin steak or chuck roast into bite-sized cubes. In a bowl, season the steak pieces evenly with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Sear the Steak: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned steak bites in batches and sear until browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Onions and Prepare Slow Cooker: In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the thinly sliced sweet onion until translucent and slightly caramelized. Transfer the onions to the slow cooker.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the seared steak bites on top of the onions in the slow cooker. Add the pressed garlic cloves, low sodium beef broth, and the au jus gravy mix. Stir gently to combine without breaking up the steak pieces.
- Slow Cook the Steak Bites: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7 hours (440 minutes) until the steak bites are tender.
- Add Butter and Finish: About 15 minutes before serving, add the sliced unsalted butter to the slow cooker and gently stir to melt into the sauce, enriching the flavor and texture.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve the garlic butter steak bites hot over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Notes
- For best results, cutting the steak into uniform bite-sized pieces ensures even cooking.
- Using sirloin will be leaner, while chuck roast offers more tenderness and flavor due to marbling.
- You can substitute low sodium beef broth with regular beef broth if preferred.
- Serve with a side of creamy mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or steamed rice for a complete meal.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 413 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
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