Slow cooker steak bites are juicy, fall-apart tender, and flavorful pieces of meat without all the fuss of having to cook a whole steak! This dump-and-set recipe is pure comfort food that is best served over mashed potatoes or noodles to soak up the delicious gravy!
Crockpot Steak Bites
My whole family loves my garlic butter steak bites done on the stovetop, but you know how I feel about slow cooker meals, so I needed a crock pot version.
They’re bite-size so my kids love them and because they’re so full of flavor, it’s also one of my meat-loving husband’s favorite meals, too! Truly a family favorite.
Steak is no longer reserved for special occasions or Sunday dinner, crockpot steak bites are an effortless way of getting dinner on the table any night of the week!
Serve with garlic mashed potatoes or egg noodles to soak up the flavorful gravy it makes. Or keep it low carb with a side salad.
No matter how you serve them, they will be devoured quickly!
For another variation, try my slow cooker honey garlic steak bites or slow cooker mushroom steak bites next.
Why you’ll love Slow Cooker Steak Bites
- Effortless – No more standing at the grill or stove checking for doneness. You just set the slow cooker and have time to concentrate on side dishes or nothing at all!
- Tasty – The aromatics and seasonings give the beef so much rich flavor. In the end, you’ll even have some au jus to enjoy.
- Freezer-friendly – Keep leftovers frozen for a while. Thaw and reheat and bam! Dinner is served.
- Customizable – Use a different cut of beef or additional seasonings (try Montreal steak seasoning). There are plenty of ways to make it your own.
- Easy weeknight meal – You just dump the ingredients in the pot before school or work and set it and forget it until you’re ready to serve them at the end of a busy day. It is recommended to stir every once in a while, but even if you don’t, they still come out perfect every time.
Helpful Tools
- Slow Cooker – You’ll need at least a 6 quart slow cooker, up to an 8 quart.
- Knife – A good quality kitchen knife can be a game changer. Especially when slicing meat.
- Tongs – For transferring small cubes of beef from the skillet to the crockpot without making a mess.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Sirloin Steak – Round steak, chuck roast, or beef stew meat can also be used. If it doesn’t already come in cubes, cut them into small pieces, usually around 1″ cubes. It can be easier to cut meat when it’s still slightly frozen.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper – A bit of seasoning to draw out the flavors of the meat. We’re using kosher salt which contains larger granules than regular salt, so it’ll extract the flavor without being too salty.
- Olive oil – Used to sear the steak bites to give them that beautiful crust on the outside to lock in the moisture of the meat. Also helps them not stick to the pan. Vegetable oil can also be used.
- Small Sweet Onion & Garlic – The pair of aromatics that give the dish a robust flavor and is the base of the gravy.
- Unsalted Beef Stock – Homemade or store-bought, whichever you prefer. Just be sure it’s unsalted as the au jus gravy mix has quite a bit already. Beef broth can also be used.
- Packet Au Jus Gravy Mix – This will add a lot more seasoning and flavor to the natural au jus that results from slow cooking the beef.
- Unsalted Butter – When added to the meat, it melts into the beef cubes adding even more moisture and buttery, melt-in-your-mouth textures.
- Fresh Chopped Parsley – For a pop of color and a vibrant garnish to finish!
How to make Slow Cooker Steak Bites
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- STEP ONE: First, toss the steak bites in a large bowl with salt and pepper to season.
- STEP TWO: Then, heat half the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear all sides of the beef until nicely brown on the outside. Cook in batches, adding more oil as needed, to not overcrowd the pan.
- STEP THREE: Next, place steak into a slow cooker then toss with the onion and garlic. Pour in the beef stock overtop, sprinkle in the au jus packet and add the sliced butter on top of everything.
- STEP FOUR: Finally, cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours. Stir every 30 minutes if you can.
What to serve with Crockpot Beef Tips
We’re big fans of steak and potatoes whether it’s garlic mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes. I’ll usually do a simple veggie side as well like oven roasted carrots, roasted zucchini, or oven roasted garlic green beans.
When I’m serving a larger crowd, I’ll always have a basket of bread on the table and these one hour dinner rolls are always a hit.
If you’re using these steak bites as an appetizer for game day parties, holiday parties, or another type of gathering, have some toothpicks handy and serve them with a dipping sauce.
Spicy BBQ sauce, yum yum sauce, and this copycat TGI Fridays Jack Daniel’s sauce are my faves.
- Sear the beef in batches in a single layer. Overcrowding the skillet will not leave enough room between each one to brown nicely. Instead, it will transfer steam which stops the crust from forming.
- Stir in some seared cremini or button mushrooms at the end for a nice twist.
- Sprinkle in red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Use unsalted beef broth in place of beef stock if you can’t find it.
- You can add additional herbs to make this even more flavorful. A few sprigs of thyme or rosemary would be fantastic.
- A heaping tablespoon of prepared pesto or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end before serving would be welcomed additions as well.
How to reheat and store leftovers
Once completely cooled, store leftover steak bites in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Can I freeze them?
Yes. Transfer them to a freezer-friendly bag or container and keep them frozen for up to 3 months.
How to reheat leftovers?
Thaw in the fridge overnight and add them back into the slow cooker to warm through. You can also use a skillet over medium-low heat or if you’re just reheating a single serving, you can use the microwave.
FAQs
How to thicken the au jus into gravy?
If you want a thick gravy, you can add a cornstarch slurry or some flour into the juice at the end.
Do I have to sear the steak first?
You don’t. It does add great flavor but it’s completely optional. You can make it a true dump-and-set crock pot steak bites recipe without adding that step and omitting the oil completely.
What steak is best for slow cooker?
There are plenty of different cuts of meat to use, but some are better than others. Using the low and slow method helps to tenderize the steak tips while the flavors penetrate as it cooks.
I use sirloin tips because not only do they cook tenderly and break down easy, but it’s also lean and cost-effective. I’ll usually stock up when it’s on sale and keep it frozen.
Flank steak is also good, as is chuck, stew meat, and round steak. Stew meat is easy because it already comes cut up.
Need more easy beef recipes? Try these:
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Crockpot Roast Beef
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Irish Guinness Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Cube Steak
Click here for my entire collection of slow cooker recipes.
Slow Cooker Steak Bites
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sirloin steak cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small sweet onion thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 cup unsalted beef stock or broth
- 1 ounce au jus gravy mix (1 packet)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter thinly sliced
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Place the steak into a large bowl with the salt and pepper and toss to combine.3 pounds sirloin steak, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Get a large skillet hot over medium-high heat and add half of the oil. Sear off the steak pieces in batches and place them into an 6-quart slow cooker. Add more oil to the pan if needed.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Once all the steak is seared, add the onion and garlic to the slow cooker, toss with the steak bites.1 small sweet onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Pour in the beef stock. Sprinkle the au jus packet over the top. Lay slices of the butter over the top.1 cup unsalted beef stock, 1 ounce au jus gravy mix, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours. Stir every 30 minutes or so if you can.
- Serve with a garnish of fresh parsley if using.fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Notes
- Round steak, stew meat, or chuck roast can be used in place of sirloin.
- Searing is optional but adds great flavor. If skipping, add seasoned steak directly to the slow cooker.
- Serve with egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
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This is a family favorite! I think the cut of meat really makes a difference. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m glad it’s a favorite 🙂 Which cut do you prefer?
These were amazing! I served on top of rice….just wish there had been more leftovers!
I had the same problem last time I made it lol thank you for reporting back!
This is so good! Thank you 🙂
On another note, I got your email about the AI spammers faking your recipe’s. I always go directly to yours. It’s a shame for all you great home cooks with a business have to deal with this. I hope people are smart enough to notice. I maybe old, but as my daughter tells me, mama you are one smart cookie and know when it’s fake. More power to you all, you got this!!!
Thank you for the sweet note! ❤️🍪
Very good i loved it.
Thanks, Jim!
My beef bites tuned out quite tough. What do you think I may have done wrong?
Which cut did you use? How long & which temp did you use?
This recipe is SO easy and is AMAZING!! If you haven’t tried, you must. This will become a regular meal at my house. I used stew meat and it worked great!!!
Yay, thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Can this be adapted for for an instant pot?
I’m sure it can, I just haven’t tested to say for sure. I’m not really an IP girl.
Can I just put the meat in the crockpot and cook all together
You mean without searing it? Yes, I mention that in the notes 🙂
This recipe is wonderful! I will definitely be making it again. I made it for Christmas Eve dinner and my family absolutely loved it! My husband said it melted in his mouth! My daughter went for seconds and she never does that! Thank you!
I’m so happy you loved it! Merry Christmas!
I’d like to make this for meal prep but can you tell me the serving size? One gram would be like …. half a piece of steak?
I assume it serves 8 but to get anything accurate, you would need to measure and calculate with your actual ingredients and serving size.
While cooking the smell was wonderful. Easy to make.
Thank you for this recipe
Thanks, Lauren! Happy New Year 🙂
Easy to make! Great flavor! Big hit!
Thank you, Dina!