These Air Fryer Steak Bites are marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and herbs for extra tender, flavorful bites! The marinade does most of the work, and then they cook in under 10 minutes in the air fryer. Perfect for making the most of cheaper cuts of steak!
Tender & Flavorful Even With Cheaper Cuts of Steak
Who doesn't love a good steak dinner? But steak is expensive, and having rib eyes, T-bones or roast beef multiple times a week is often not be possible. You can often find much cheaper whole cuts of steak, but then you need to cook them low and slow to make them tender.
This recipe is my secret for making cheaper cuts of steak taste expensive. The lemon juice marinade tenderizes tougher cuts, so you get juicy, flavorful steak bites without paying for ribeye. Marinate for 30 minutes minimum (or up to 2 hours), then 10 minutes in the air fryer and dinner is done!
It's similar to my recipe for air fryer skirt steak, so if you like that one - you will love this!
This Marinade Lets Any Cut of Steak Shine
You Can Use Almost Any Cut of Steak
I made this with whole rump steak, but you can use most cuts of steak. I wouldn't use flank steak or skirt steak as they are too thin, or stew meat as it can be too tough even for the lemon juice marinade. But most other cuts will work beautifully!
About That Marinade
I love this marinade and use it almost every time I want to air fry or grill steak. You can switch up some of the ingredients, but some of them should always be there for best results.
Herbs can be swapped for other herbs without problem, and you can switch the dark soy sauce for any kind of soy sauce or use tamari or coconut aminos.
Lemon juice has an important job in tenderizing the meat. If you're using any cut of steak that is not super tender to start, this is a key ingredient. Use fresh, as bottled won't be as good.
Cooking oil is also important. This helps make sure the steak bites don't stick to the air fryer basket, and helps give it a nice sear. I recommend using a neutral kind, not olive oil, unless you really want that olive oil flavor.
How to Make Tender Steak Bites
1. Marinate
Start by cutting your steak into bite-size pieces and mixing together all the ingredients for the marinade. Place steak bites in a plastic bag and pour over the marinade. Close tightly and make sure the marinade covers all of the steak. Let it marinate from 30 minutes up to 2 hours.
2. Air Fry
Place marinated steak bites in a preheated air fryer basket and air fry until done. I recommend to start with 3-4 minutes, then shake them around and air fry 3-4 minutes more.
3. Rest
When the steak bites are done or almost done, remove from the air fryer and wrap in aluminum foil to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips for the Juiciest Steak Bites
Make it quicker with a better cut of meat! If you're using a cut of steak that's already very tender, like rib eye, you can reduce the marinating time. It's still great to marinate for at least 30 minutes for maximum flavor.
Marinate up to 2 hours if you can. A longer marinade means more tender meat and more flavor. But don't marinate too long, or the lemon juice will break down the meat too much.
Marinate in room temperature or in the fridge. If marinating 30 minutes or less, leave it in room temp. If marinating more than 30 minutes, place it in the fridge and bring it back out 30 minutes before cooking.
Cook in a single layer. This is the best way to get an even cook and a nice sear.
Use a meat thermometer. This is the best way to avoid over- or undercooking the steak bites.
Cook time can vary. It will depend on the size of your steak bites, the cut of meat you use and your specific air fryer. Using a meat thermometer ensures you cook them just right.
Recommended Internal Temperature
I recommend cooking beef to about 5 degrees below the setpoint and then allowing it to rest covered for at least 5 minutes. The temperature will rise up to 5-7 degrees Fahrenheit (2-3 degrees Celsius) while resting.
| Internal temperature | Rest from | |
| Rare | 120-125°F / 48-52°C | 118-120°F / 46-48°C |
| Medium Rare | 130°F / 54°C | 125°F / 52°C |
| Medium | 140°F / 60°C | 135°F / 58°C |
| Medium Well | 150°F / 65°C | 145°F / 63°C |
| Well Done | 155°F / 68°C | 150°F / 66°C |
Storing, Freezing & Reheating
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Eating leftovers: You can eat leftovers cold or reheat them. For food safety reasons you should always reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Reheat leftovers in the air fryer: Reheat 2-3 minutes at 360°F (180°C), until almost heated through. Add more time if needed. When it's almost done, wrap in aluminium foil and rest 5 minutes before serving.
Sides to Serve With It
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes17 Minutes
- Ranch Coleslaw15 Minutes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon20 Minutes
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Balsamic20 Minutes
Sauces & Condiments to Serve With It
- Chipotle Ranch5 Minutes
- Whipped Butter5 Minutes
- Avocado Sour Cream Sauce35 Minutes
- How to Make Gravy without Drippings (Step by Step with Video)15 Minutes
Recipe
Marinated Air Fryer Steak Bites
Print RateIngredients
- 1 lb steak cut in bite-size (~1 inch / 2.5 cm) cubes
- ¼ cup cooking oil canola oil or other neutral oil
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice approximately 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil or other dried/fresh herb
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or other dried/fresh herb
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except steak in a small bowl and mix well.¼ cup cooking oil, 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce, 3 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp salt
- Place steak bites in a plastic bag and pour over the marinade. Mix to cover, then leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. If marinating more than 30 minutes, place in the refrigerator, otherwise you can keep it in room temperature.1 lb steak
- When it's time to cook, preheat the air fryer by running it at 400℉ (200℃) for 5 minutes.
- Remove the steak bites from the marinade and place in the air fryer basket. Air fry 3-4 minutes at 400℉ (200℃), then shake them around and air fry 3-4 minutes more. 6-8 minutes is generally good to get it to medium rare, but the exact cook time will depend on your air fryer.
- When the steak bites are done, remove from the air fryer and wrap in aluminium foil. Rest 5 minutes, then serve topped with the cooking juices.
Video
Notes
- Rare: 5-7 minutes, to 120-125°F (48-52°C) (rest from 118-120°F / 46-48°C)
- Medium rare: 6-8 minutes, to 130°F (54°C) (rest from 125°F / 52°C)
- Medium: 7-9 minutes, to 140°F (60°C) (rest from 135°F / 58°C)
- Medium-well: 8-10 minutes, to150°F (65°C) (rest from 145°F / 63°C)
- Well done: 9-11 minutes, to 155°F (68°C) (rest from 150°F / 66°C)
Storing, Freezing & Reheating
Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil for up to 4 days. Freezing: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Eating leftovers: You can eat leftovers cold or reheat them. For food safety reasons you should always reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Reheat leftovers in the air fryer: Reheat 2-3 minutes at 360°F (180°C), until almost heated through. Add more time if needed. When it's almost done, wrap in aluminium foil and rest 5 minutes before serving.Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Bill Kelley
Sounds great but at what temperature should I cook the steak bites????
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Bill! You can find that info in the recipe card along with all the details. Suggested temp is 400 F / 200 C. /Emmeline
Kathy Guerra
Can you make this without an air fryer? Like in the oven?
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi Kathy!
Sure. I'd probably rather cook them stovetop then, until cooked to your liking. You can bake them in the oven as well, if so try 425℉ (or around 220℃) for a non-fan oven or 400℉/200℃ for a fan oven. Should be done in 15-20 minutes depending on size & how well you like them cooked.
/Emmeline