Description
Delicious and flavorful spicy Cajun steak bites made by searing perfectly seasoned strip steak pieces in butter, garlic, and jalapeño. These bite-sized steak cubes offer a rich blend of smoky, spicy, and savory Cajun flavors with a tender and juicy interior, perfect for an appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak Bites
- 2–14 oz strip steaks
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium jalapeño thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
Cajun Seasoning
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp cayenne powder
- 1 tbsp red pepper flake
- 1 tbsp fine ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp white pepper
- 1 ½ tbsp oregano
- 2 tsp hot paprika
Instructions
- Slice the Steak: Slice steak into roughly 3/4″ size pieces ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
- Make the Seasoning: Mix together all the seasoning ingredients (smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne powder, red pepper flake, black pepper, white pepper, oregano, hot paprika) in a small bowl.
- Season the Steak Bites: Place the steak pieces into a mixing bowl and toss with one tablespoon of avocado oil until evenly coated. Add two tablespoons of the Cajun seasoning and mix until the steak is evenly seasoned. Set aside.
- Sear the Steak Bites: Heat one tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering and just starting to smoke. Add steak bites and turn them often to sear all sides of the meat, cooking for 3 minutes total. Remove steak bites and place on a plate. Turn heat to low and allow pan to cool for about 2 minutes.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Add minced garlic and use a wooden turner to scrape all crispy bits off the pan bottom. Then add the sliced jalapeños and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Combine Steak with Sauce: Add the steak bites back into the butter, garlic, and jalapeño mixture and stir to coat the steak evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the steak bites and pour any remaining butter sauce over them before serving for maximum flavor.
Notes
- For best flavor, avoid relying on grill marks and instead aim for an overall char to maximize Maillard reaction.
- Cutting steak into bite-sized pieces increases the surface area for more intense searing and flavor development.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the jalapeño and cayenne powder accordingly.
- Use a wooden turner or spatula to avoid scratching the skillet and to help scrape up flavorful fond.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the steak bites hot and juicy.
