Marinated Air Fryer Steak Bites

Cook air fryer steak bites in under 10 minutes for a quick dinner your whole family will love. Marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and herbs to tenderize any cut of steak and ensure maximum flavor in every single bite.

Course Main Course

Cuisine North American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Marinating + Resting 35

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 555kcal

Author Emmeline Kemperyd

Ingredients

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

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place all ingredients except steak in a small bowl and mix well.
¼ cup cooking oil, 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 3 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon 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

This recipe has been tested in the following air fryer models (affiliate links): Philips HD9252/90 Air Fryer, Ninja DZ401 DualZone XL Air Fryer and Cosori Pro II. Cooking time can vary with your specific model.

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. Here are suggested temperatures:

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)

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.

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