Air Fryer Steak Bites and Broccoli
Air fryer steak bites and broccoli is the 17-minute dinner that consistently surprises people. The air fryer produces a proper sear on steak bites in a way that most home cooks don’t expect — the circulating heat at 400°F creates a dark, caramelized crust on the outside while keeping the center at the right doneness. The broccoli chars at the edges without steaming soft. Everything is done in one basket in under 20 minutes, and ~40 grams of protein per serving makes this one of the higher-protein options on the site without any meal prep involved.
Most air fryer steak and broccoli recipes either use a marinade (which means planning ahead) or a sauce (which means more steps). This version uses a garlic butter seasoning blend applied before cooking and nothing else. The steak and broccoli do their own thing in the air fryer and come out properly flavored without any sauce required. Add a drizzle of soy sauce at the end if you want an Asian-inspired direction — or don’t, and eat it exactly as it comes out of the basket.
Preheat the Air Fryer
This is the one recipe on the site where preheating the air fryer is genuinely necessary rather than optional. A cold basket means the steak bites spend the first 2 to 3 minutes slowly coming up to temperature instead of searing immediately on contact. That difference produces gray, steamed steak instead of a properly seared one. Three minutes at 400°F before the steak goes in is the step that makes the air fryer method worth using for beef.
Stagger the Entry
Steak goes in 4 minutes before the broccoli. Steak bites air fried alongside broccoli from the beginning produces overcooked broccoli and undercooked steak — the broccoli is small and cooks faster than the beef. Four minutes of steak alone, then the broccoli joins for 6 to 8 minutes more. Both finish at the right moment simultaneously.
Don’t Overcrowd
Air fryers cook by circulating hot air — overcrowded food blocks the airflow and steams instead of crisps. This recipe is sized for two servings specifically because most air fryer baskets can’t fit more without crowding. If you’re cooking for four, run two batches rather than cramming everything in. The second batch takes 17 minutes. The quality difference is significant.
The Doneness Window
For medium-rare steak bites: pull at 130°F internal. For medium: 140°F. The air fryer cooks these fast — check at the 10-minute mark with a thermometer. The steak will carry over 5°F after coming out of the basket, so pull it 5 degrees before your target. For other steak recipes on the site, the Cowboy Butter Steak Bites and Air Fryer Steak and Potatoes use the same protein in different formats.
Storage
Keeps for 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes to restore some of the crust. The microwave works but the steak overcooks slightly and the broccoli goes soft.
Air Fryer Steak Bites and Broccoli
Ingredients
Meat & Protein
- ¾ lb sirloin steak cut into 1 to 1.5-inch chunks, patted dry
Produce
- 3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 green onion thinly sliced, for garnish
Dairy
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
Pantry & Canned Goods
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings & Spices
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt divided
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. A preheated basket is what allows the steak to sear immediately on contact rather than slowly coming up to temperature.
- In a large bowl, stir together the melted butter, olive oil, and minced garlic. Add the steak bites and broccoli florets. Toss to coat everything evenly. Season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, ¼ tsp kosher salt, and black pepper and toss again.
- Add the steak bites to the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer — the steak goes in first. Air fry at 400°F for 4 minutes without opening.
- Add the broccoli florets around the steak. Season with the remaining ¼ tsp kosher salt. Air fry for another 6 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket once halfway through, until the steak is cooked to your preferred doneness and the broccoli has charred edges.
- Remove from the air fryer. The steak will continue to carry over cook slightly — pull it 5°F before your target temperature. Garnish with sliced green onion and serve immediately over rice if desired.
