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Home » Cuisines » American » Medium Rare Steak Appetizer Bites

Medium Rare Steak Appetizer Bites

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We served these medium rare steak appetizer bites with horseradish aioli sauce and they were a hit!  The steak bites are tender and juicy and one of the easiest appetizers that you can put together.  Use filet mignon or New York strip steak for the best flavor, and serve them at room temperature for a no-hassle appetizer.

Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

There’s something just irresistible about a perfectly cooked medium-rare filet Mignon or New York steak. But it comes at a heavy price tag. That’s why we love these steak appetizer bites! They’re much more budget-friendly and one or two steaks will stretch into twelve servings if you serve them as appetizers.

These steak appetizer bites are even more dreamy, pan-seared, and basted with butter and herbs, then dipped in a creamy horseradish sauce that gives them a punch of flavor.

Why This Recipe Works

Our medium rare steak appetizer bites are cooked to perfection, using a simple method and basic ingredients that really let the flavor of the steak shine.

And is there anything better than horseradish aioli for beef? The combination is irresistible and will please any palate!

These steak appetizers are:

  • Perfect enjoyed at any temperature- even as a cold steak appetizer- that means you can prep them in advance of a party.
  • a delicious and flavorful party-starter.
  • the perfect dippers for horseradish aioli or your favorite steak sauce of choice (creamy peppercorn sauce , chimichurri, and chipotle aioli are quite yummy too!)
  • gluten-free and low-carb

Ingredients for Medium Rare Steak Bites

Less than ten ingredients is all you need to make fabulous steak appetizer bites at home!

Before we get to the ingredient list, let’s talk about the best steak for these beef appetizers.

The Best Steak for Appetizers

We used New York steaks that were a little over one-inch thick in this recipe. But just about any steak, including rib eye, Filet Mignon, porterhouse, tenderloin, etc. will work as steak bites, as long as the steaks are about an inch thick or thicker.

You will need:

  • Steaks. Make sure they are at least 1-1/2-inches thick
  • oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • butter
  • garlic, grated
  • fresh thyme leaves
  • Horseradish Aioli Sauce

To keep this steak appetizer bites recipe as simple as possible, the steaks are seasoned well with only salt and pepper and then pan-seared on a screaming hot cast iron griddle. 

A last-minute basting of butter, garlic, and fresh thyme leaves adds additional amazing flavors.

Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

How to Make Medium Rare Steak Appetizer Bites

You’ll need a good skillet, preferably a cast iron. For the best steak appetizer bites, make sure the pan is very hot before you start searing the steak.

For the full printable recipe card with all of the details, scroll to the bottom of the page. Here’s a quick summary of how to make these meaty, beef appetizers:

  1. Heat the skillet and prepare the steaks: Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat until it begins smoking. While the pan is heating up, trim and season the steaks.
  2. Sear the steaks: Add the steaks to the hot skillet. According to Cooks Illustrated, turning the steaks frequently during the cooking time will produce a much more evenly cooked steak. If you use this method, just keep turning the steaks with some tongs every two minutes. 
  3. Baste the steaks: Add the butter and herbs, then spoon the melted butter over the steaks. Cook the steaks until they are done to your preference. We wanted our steak bites on the rare-ish side so we cooked them to 125°F on our instant-read thermometer.
  4. Cut into steak pieces: When done, place the steaks on a plate and cover them lightly with foil so they can rest. Slice them into 1-inch cubes and insert a wooden pick into each steak bite. Serve the beef steak appetizers with a side dish of fresh horseradish aioli sauce.

Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

Recipe Tips for Medium Rare Steak Appetizer Bites

  • For the Fresh Horseradish Aioli: You can make the aioli in advance and keep it refrigerated for up to one week. Our aioli sauce is smooth, creamy, and does not have the sharp, vinegary taste that you find in commercial horseradish products.  It is easy to put together and perfect for the rare steak bites.
  • You can make these appetizers a day in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator.
  • We recommend taking the steaks off the heat before they reach your desired temperature. The steak will continue to cook for a couple of minutes after you remove it from the stove.
  • When you take it off the heat before it reaches the final internal temperature then you have some insurance against over-cooking the steak. See the Beef Temperature Doneness Chart below:

Beef Temperature Doneness Chart

Doneness levelPull TempTemperature
Rare115-125°F120-130°F
Medium rare125-130°F130-135°F
Medium130-140°F135-145°F
Medium-well140-150°F145-155°F
Well-done155°F +155-160°F
Temperature chart for steak and pull temps

For the best results, use an instant-read meat thermometer  and check the meat intermittently or use a leave-in meat thermometer  so you don’t have to open the oven frequently. The above links are affiliate links from ThermoWorks  . They make the best thermometers we have ever used and we highly recommend them.

Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

More Appetizer Recipes

What to Serve with Steak Appetizer Bites

Juicy and easy steak bites are delicious on their own, but if you’re looking for other party appetizers or dishes to go with them, here are a few ideas!

These delicious steak appetizers with horseradish aioli are an irresistible combination of tender, meaty steak with a zesty horseradish kick!

They’re bound to go quickly, a sign of any good party starter. 😉 We know you and your guests will love them as much as our taste buds do!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you sear a steak?

The timing will depend on the thickness of your steak and your desired doneness. It is better to cook your steak based on doneness than time. Use a meat thermometer for accurate results.

Can I marinate the steak before searing?

Yes. Our sake marinade would taste great with these beef appetizers.

Helpful Tools:

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Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:

Our black rice sushi rolls are simple to make at home and the black rice gives this recipe a unique and nutritious spin! Fresh ahi tuna, pickled ginger, and fresh veggies make these sushi bites a delicious party starter.

Juicy grilled ribeye marinated in a fusion of bold flavors makes this dish spectacular. Sake, soy sauce and toasted sesame oil with fresh ginger and garlic create a fantastic marinade that infuses the ribeye with tons of flavor.

Tender and juicy, you’ll love each bite of these Asian teriyaki meatballs. Enjoy them as party appetizers or as a main course served with your favorite sides. They’re easy to make and oven-baked in a special teriyaki sauce that turns into a delicious glaze.

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Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

Medium Rare Steak Bites

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Perfectly seared beef steak bites dipped in a garlic-horseradish aioli sauce. These bites are one of the easiest appetizers to put together. They are cooked rare and are juicy, tender. Cut into bite-size chunks they are perfect with the aioli sauce.

Ingredients

  • 2 New York steaks, at least 1-1/2-inches thick, or 3 Filet Mignon steaks
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh garlic
  • Fresh thyme leaves
  • Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce

Instructions

  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until it begins smoking.
  2. While the skillet is heating, trim and discard the fat from the edges of the steaks, blot the steaks dry with paper towels. Brush one side of each steak with oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add the steaks to the hot skillet, seasoned side down. Brush oil on the upper side of the steaks and season with salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes, using tongs, turn steaks over and cook the other side for 2-minutes. Continue to flip for 6 minutes, add the butter, garlic and thyme leaves to the pan and spoon over the top of the steaks as you continue to cook and turn them.
  4. Cook to the desired doneness and remove from the skillet when the internal temperature reaches 125°F for rare, 135°F for medium rare or 145°F for medium. (Keep in mind the steak will continue to cook while resting. See notes below). Lightly cover the steaks with foil and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.
  5. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and cut the steaks into 1-inch cubes, insert a wooden pick into each cube and arrange them on a serving plate. Garnish the plate with fresh herbs and serve the beef steak appetizers with a side dish of the fresh horseradish aioli sauce

Notes

  • Nutrition is based on two steak bites of 1 oz. each per serving
  • One-half tablespoon of aioli sauce is: 40 calories and 4.5 grams fat
  • If you want to ensure the steaks are cooked to your desired doneness, remove them from the heat when the internal temperature is 10 degrees lower than what you actually want it to be. For example, if you like your steak rare at 125° then take them off the heat when the temperature reads 115°F. They will continue to cook after you take them off the heat.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 2 pieces
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 40mgProtein: 15.4g

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This recipe was originally published on January 25, 2017. We gave it a fresh update.

Pat Nyswonger

Pat is a wife, mom of four adult children, and grandmother to seventeen beautiful children. She is a self-taught home cook and loves creating delicious meals for her family and friends. Her kitchen is the hub of activity in her home, and she loves to entertain.

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Wednesday 12th of December 2018

[…] 7. Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce […]

Pat Nyswonger

Wednesday 12th of December 2018

Hi, Rebecca...That is a great round-up of appetizers. Thanks for including our Beef Steak Bites with Fresh Horseradish Aioli Sauce :)

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