Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight dinner. These Slow Cooker Steak Bites are the epitome of comfort food, delivering incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef simmered in a rich and savory garlic butter sauce. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort, making it the perfect solution for busy days when you’re craving something hearty and delicious. Forget tough, chewy steak; the slow cooker works its magic, breaking down the beef until it’s perfectly juicy and succulent every single time.
We’re taking simple ingredients and transforming them into a restaurant-worthy meal right in your crockpot. The combination of savory beef broth, a touch of soy sauce for depth, and an abundance of garlic and butter creates a sauce that you’ll want to spoon over everything. It’s a true “set it and forget it” dish that fills your home with an irresistible aroma as it cooks.
Why This Slow Cooker Steak Bites Recipe is a Must-Try
This isn’t just another beef recipe; it’s a game-changer for your dinner rotation. It’s designed to be foolproof, ensuring even novice cooks can achieve perfectly tender results.
- Effortlessly Delicious: After a quick sear to lock in flavor, the slow cooker does all the work. It’s the ideal meal for busy schedules without compromising on taste.
- Incredibly Tender: Cooking low and slow is the secret to breaking down tougher cuts of beef, resulting in steak bites that are unbelievably tender and juicy.
- Flavor-Packed Sauce: The garlic butter sauce is simple yet profound. It reduces slightly in the crockpot, concentrating its savory, rich flavors to perfectly coat every piece of steak.
- Versatile and Family-Friendly: These steak bites are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. They are versatile enough to be served in numerous ways, satisfying even the pickiest eaters.
The Best Cut of Steak for Your Crockpot
For slow cooking, you want a cut of beef with good marbling and connective tissue. These fats and tissues break down over a long cooking time, creating that coveted tenderness and rich flavor. The best choices are:
- Beef Chuck Roast: This is the gold standard for slow cooking. It has excellent marbling, which self-bastes the meat as it cooks, ensuring it stays moist and becomes fork-tender.
- Top Sirloin: A slightly leaner option, but still a fantastic choice. Cut into uniform cubes, it becomes wonderfully tender without falling apart completely.
- Beef Round Steak: Also known as rump roast, this is another lean but flavorful option that works well when cooked low and slow.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe relies on pantry staples to create its incredible flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Beef Chuck Roast or Sirloin: The star of the show, cut into 1 to 1.5-inch cubes.
- Olive Oil & Butter: A combination for searing the beef and creating the rich sauce base.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is essential for the best flavor.
- Beef Broth: Use a low-sodium version to control the saltiness.
- Soy Sauce: Adds a deep, savory umami flavor that complements the beef.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Provides a complex, tangy background note.
- Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that adds aromatic depth.
- Cornstarch: To create a slurry for thickening the sauce at the end.
- Fresh Parsley: For a bright, fresh garnish.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste.
How to Make Slow Cooker Steak Bites: Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps for perfect steak bites every time. The initial sear is the key to developing a deep, robust flavor that makes this dish truly special.
Step 1: Prepare and Sear the Steak
First, pat your steak cubes dry with a paper towel and season them generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the steak bites in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Sear for 1-2 minutes per side, until a beautiful brown crust forms. You may need to do this in batches. Transfer the seared steak to your slow cooker.
Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it. Pour in the beef broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom—this is pure flavor!
Step 3: Combine in the Slow Cooker
Pour the garlic and beef broth mixture from the skillet over the steak bites in the slow cooker. Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together gently to combine.
Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. The steak is done when it’s fork-tender. The “low and slow” method will yield the best, most tender results.
Step 5: Thicken the Sauce
About 30 minutes before serving, create a slurry by whisking together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a small bowl. Pour the slurry into the slow cooker and stir gently. Cover and cook on high for the remaining 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Expert Tips for Melt-in-Your-Mouth Steak Bites
- Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing the meat creates the Maillard reaction, which develops deep, complex flavors that you can’t get from just slow cooking alone.
- Use Low Heat: For the most tender beef, always opt for the low setting on your slow cooker if you have the time. High heat can sometimes make the meat tougher.
- Deglaze the Pan: Those browned bits (fond) at the bottom of your skillet after searing are concentrated flavor. Don’t leave them behind!
- Thicken at the End: Adding the cornstarch slurry at the end allows the beef to cook properly and ensures the sauce thickens without becoming clumpy.
Flavor Variations to Try
This recipe is a fantastic base for customization. Here are a few ideas:
- Steak Bites with Mushrooms and Onions: Add 8 ounces of sliced cremini mushrooms and one sliced yellow onion to the slow cooker along with the steak.
- Creamy Steak Bites: Stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream or a few ounces of cream cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a richer, creamier sauce.
- Herb-Infused Flavor: Add a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme to the slow cooker at the beginning for an extra layer of aromatic flavor.
What to Serve with Steak Bites
The rich garlic butter sauce is perfect for pairing with a variety of sides. Here are some of our favorites:
- Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, or even French fries are excellent choices to soak up the sauce.
- Rice: Serve over a bed of fluffy white rice or some delicious creamy Parmesan Garlic Rice.
- Pasta: Egg noodles or pappardelle are perfect for catching all of that savory sauce.
- Vegetables: Steamed green beans, roasted broccoli, or asparagus provide a fresh, healthy complement to the rich beef.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover steak bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, gently warm the steak bites and sauce in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave until heated through. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the steak tough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Mushrooms and onions are a delicious addition. Simply add about 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms and one sliced onion to the slow cooker along with the seared steak bites at the beginning of the cooking process.
Yes, you can cook the steak bites on HIGH for 2-3 hours. However, for the most tender results, we strongly recommend cooking on LOW for 4-6 hours if you have the time.
To ensure your steak is tender, use the right cut of beef (like chuck roast), don’t skip the initial searing step to lock in juices, and cook it on the LOW setting. Cooking low and slow is the key to breaking down connective tissues for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The best cut is a chuck roast due to its excellent marbling, which breaks down during slow cooking to create incredibly tender and flavorful meat. Sirloin or beef round steak are also great, leaner options.
These steak bites are incredibly versatile. They are fantastic served over creamy mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice to soak up the delicious garlic butter sauce. Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or a simple green salad also make excellent side dishes.
More Delicious Beef Recipes To Try
These Slow Cooker Steak Bites are a testament to how easy and rewarding cooking can be. With just a few simple steps, you can create a comforting, flavor-packed meal that the whole family will love. We hope you enjoy every tender bite! If you make this recipe, don’t forget to share your experience in the comments below and pin it on Pinterest for later!
For more hearty and flavorful beef dinners, check out our popular Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches or these incredible Steak and Cheese Quesadillas. They are sure to be a hit!
Slow Cooker Steak Bites Recipe
Slow Cooker Steak Bites with Garlic Butter Sauce
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat steak cubes dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear steak in batches for 1-2 minutes per side until browned. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Reduce heat to medium, add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in beef broth to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Pour the garlic-broth mixture over the steak in the slow cooker. Add soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the steak is tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 more minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
