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Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites are the ultimate comfort food. Tender, flavorful chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich garlic-butter sauce with sweet onions and savory au jus. This easy recipe makes a delicious dinner, perfect for busy weeknights or weekend family dinners. Serve steak bites with gravy over creamy mashed potatoes, rice, or even pasta for a satisfying and cozy meal the whole family will love.
Crockpot Garlic Butter Steak Bites
This recipe is my take on the classic slow cooker beef tips and gravy, but with a garlic butter twist that makes it even more flavorful.
Try them with my Easy Sautéed Green Beans or Blueberry Spinach Salad.
The combination of tender chunks of sirloin or chuck roast, sautéd sweet onions, and lots of savory garlic creates a mouthwatering dish that’s perfect for everything from Sunday dinner to holiday gatherings.
Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Steak Bites
• Tender & Flavorful – Long, slow cooking makes even chuck roast melt-in-your-mouth tender.
• Easy to Prep – Just a quick sear and mix, then the slow cooker does the rest.
• Generous Batch – Makes a good amount (depending on how many pounds of beef you use) and pairs well with simple side dishes for a complete, satisfying meal.
• Versatile – Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or with some crusty bread.
These garlic butter beef tips are incredibly simple to prepare, thanks to the ease of your slow cooker.
These slow cooker steak bites cook up beautifully, much like braised beef tips, and the sauce is perfect for soaking into mashed potatoes or biscuits.
Ingredients for Garlic Butter Beef Tips
• Beef – Use sirloin steak or chuck roast, cut into bite-sized cubes.
• Seasonings – Kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika give depth of flavor.
• Onion & Garlic – Sweet onion and fresh pressed garlic give that aromatic, savory taste.
• Butter – Unsalted butter makes the sauce rich and delicious.
• Au Jus Mix – Adds beefy depth and helps create a more flavorful gravy.
• Olive Oil & Beef Broth – For browning and braising.
Ingredient FAQs
What people are asking about Steak Bites recipe ingredients:
- What’s the best cut of beef for slow cooker steak bites?
Sirloin is a great choice because it’s lean and tender, while steak bites from chuck roast is more budget-friendly and becomes very tender when slow cooked. The key is using a cut that becomes tender with low and slow cooking. You can even use stew meat, as it will become tender with slow cooking. - Can I use garlic powder or “jarlic” instead of fresh garlic?
Fresh garlic tastes best, but you can substitute 2-3 teaspoons of garlic powder or 2 Tablespoons jarred minced garlic in a pinch. - Is au jus mix necessary, and what can I use instead?
Au jus mix adds a rich, beefy flavor and helps create a savory sauce. Or substitute with a packet of brown gravy mix, or use 1 teaspoon of beef bouillon plus a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Just be sure to adjust the salt, as bouillon can be quite salty. - Can I make this beef tips recipe low sodium?
Yes. Use no-salt beef broth, unsalted butter, and a reduced-sodium au jus mix. You can also reduce the amount of added salt to your taste. - Can I add mushrooms or vegetables to steak bites?
Yes! Sliced mushrooms, carrots, or baby potatoes work well to make this a one-pot meal.
How to Make Slow Cooker Steak Bites
Season the Meat
Cube the beef and toss with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and olive oil.
Brown the Beef
Sear the meat in batches to lock in flavor. This step is optional but highly recommended.
Sauté the Onions
Add the browned beef tips to the crock.
Add sliced onions to the skillet and cook until softened and lightly golden.
Once onion is golden and softened, add to the beef tips in the crock and stir.
Make the Beef Broth Sauce
Whisk together beef broth and au jus mix.
Stir in fresh pressed garlic.
Pour beef broth mixture over beef and onion in the crockpot and mix together.
Slow Cook Beef Tips
Layer sliced butter over the top.
Cover crock pot and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Steak Bites Cooking Method Questions
What people are asking about how to cook Steak Bites:
- Do I need to brown the beef first?
Browning is optional but highly recommended. It adds extra flavor and helps lock in the juices. If you’re short on time, you can skip it and still get great results. - Can I cook this on high instead of low?
Yes, you can cook on high for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally. For the most tender results, low for 6–8 hours is best. - Do I need to stir it during cooking?
If possible, for best results give it a stir every 60 minutes. This helps all the beef get coated in that delicious garlic butter sauce, especially if it’s piled up in layers. - Can I make this in an Instant Pot?
Yes, refer to my Instant Pot Beef Tips recipe and adjust the seasoning ingredients as desired for a garlic butter sauce.
Can Steak Bites Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes they can. Make Garlic Butter Steak Bites ahead for a quicker and easier dinner.
- Prep everything the day before: Season the meat, slice the onions, and mix the broth and au jus. Then store it all in the fridge (in separate containers). Just assemble and cook when ready.
- You can also fully cook beef tips and gravy in crockpot and refrigerate it for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Reheat with some of the garlic butter sauce.
Storage & Reheating
Fridge: Store leftover slow cooker beef chunks in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with some of the sauce to keep the meat moist. You can also reheat them in the air fryer in a covered dish at 325°F for about 5 minutes. Add a little extra sauce or butter to prevent drying out.
More Delicious Dinner Ideas
Slow Cooker Ribs
Apple Cider Pot Roast
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew
If you make this Crockpot Beef Tips recipe, please leave a comment below with a star rating. I’d love to hear from you!
Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Equipment
- 6 quart Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Sirloin Steak or Chuck Roast* (cut into bite-sized cubes)
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika (not the hot one)
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
- 1 large Sweet Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup Low Sodium Beef Broth
- 1-ounce packet Au Jus Gravy Mix
- 6 cloves Garlic, pressed
- 5 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, sliced
Garnish
- Chopped Fresh Parsley
Instructions
Prep the Beef
- Place the cubed meat into a large bowl and add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir to combine.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil and mix to coat all of the meat and further distribute the seasonings.
Brown the Beef
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and as many pieces of the meat that will comfortably fit. It’s okay if they touch a bit.
- Brown the meat in batches (depending on how much you are making), flipping once to brown two sides, and add to the slow cooker.
Sauté the Onion
- In the same skillet, add the sliced onion and cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until they have a little color on them and just start to soften (about 5 minutes). Add a little more oil, if needed.
- Add the onion to the crockpot and mix the beef and onion together.
Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth and au jus mix.
- Press the garlic into the broth mixture and stir. Then pour it over the meat and onion and stir.
- Place the sliced butter over the top of the meat.
Slow Cook
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours. Try to stir every 60 minutes or so to allow all of the meat a chance to braise in the garlic butter sauce.
Serve
- Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or even pasta, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
