Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites

Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites are fast and full of umami flavor.

The first time I heard the word “umami,” I was over-the-moon happy to be introduced to a term that described what–for me–had previously been an indescribable irresistible flavor. Umami, which means “essence of deliciousness” in Japanese, is the fifth category of taste, alongside sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, and you will fall in love with it in Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites.

It’s the combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and honey that picks up the browned bits you’ll get after searing your steak that brings the exquisite flavor. Infused with all the sweet and savory notes, the meat is luxuriously tender and will melt in your mouth. And when we say easy, we mean it: once you get all your ingredients together, this dish will be ready in no time, which makes it perfect for weeknight dinners or to serve at parties. Of course, white rice is the perfect bed for these steak bites, but wait until you try it over Baked Rice!

Choosing Your Steak

We use top sirloin steak cut into cubes for this recipe because we think it produces the most tender results, but you can use other cuts of beef and it will be delicious. If you’re trying to save a little money, you’ll be delighted at how well stew meat works in Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites. You can also use top or bottom round, beef tips or, if you’re feeling fancy, cubed beef tenderloin. Whatever kind of beef you choose, just be sure to cut all of the cubes the same size and get that dark brown crust on each one when you sear the meat.

Ingredients

1½ pounds top sirloin steak cut into 1-inch cubes
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
¼ cup beef broth or water
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Sesame seeds for garnish
Sliced green onions for garnish

How to Make Honey Garlic Steak Bites

Step 1: Pat the steak cubes dry with paper towels. Season them with sweet paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Step 2: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the low sodium soy sauce, beef broth, minced garlic, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, dried oregano, and cornstarch until well combined.

Step 3: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add half of the steak cubes (do not overcrowd). Sear them for about 2 minutes per side. Reserve and repeat with the remaining steak (you can add more oil if necessary).

Step 4: After removing the steak, pour about one-third of the honey garlic sauce into the skillet. Stir to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Step 5: Return all the steak bites to the skillet and pour the remaining sauce over them. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens (don’t forget to stir).

Step 6: Once done, remove the skillet from the heat. Serve the steak bites on a platter, drizzled with any extra sauce from the pan, and garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days; while you can reheat them in the microwave, we think they’re better reheated in a hot skillet with a little vegetable oil. You can also freeze the steak bites in an airtight container for up to 3 months; thaw them overnight in the fridge and then reheat. And you can make the sauce a day ahead and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.

Some tough love

Tougher cuts of meat, like stew beef, work beautifully in this dish but to ensure their tenderness, you can always marinate them in the sauce (yes, this sauce can also be a marinade!) for a couple of hours before cooking. Just make sure you pat them completely dry before searing.

Can I use my wok to make this dish?

You certainly can. Get the wok really hot so you get the best sear on your beef.

We don’t eat red meat!!

Not to worry!! This recipe works so well with pork and chicken and even a sturdy fish, like halibut or cod. And to make this vegetarian or vegan, substitute tofu cubes for the meat (wait until you see how tofu soaks up this delectable sauce).

Oh, honey…

If you don’t have or don’t want to use honey, you can always substitute it with raw or brown sugar (both will dissolve well when you cook the sauce), agave or even light corn syrup.

Serving Suggestions

Easy Honey Garlic Steak Bites are great on noodles (sesame noodles!) and even Garlic Mashed Potatoes, but they make the best main course for an Asian-inspired dinner. Try serving them with Fried Wonton and Delicious Bok Choy. They are also a perfect appetizer or a great nibble for a party; whip them up and serve them with toothpicks and extra sauce for dipping on the side. We brought them to a Super Bowl party (they travel well!), along with Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls and I don’t want to brag, but those two dishes were the first to disappear (just saying…).

Speaking of disappearing, if you have any leftover steak bites (not likely, but you never know), use them in tacos or burritos, in salads, as part of a Baked Potato Bar, in this recipe for Steak and Eggs, or invent a new pasta dish with them. You’ll be surprised by how versatile these little meaty bites are. And if you have leftover sauce, freeze it in an ice cube tray and you’ll have little portions whenever you need them.