These Air Fryer Steak Bites are made with marinated venison tenderloin for a quick and easy air fryer recipe full of flavor that is perfectly cooked. These steak bites are great appetizers to serve at game day parties, but also can make a steak dinner for the whole family!
Air frying does an excellent job of quickly and easily cooking these venison steak bites to perfection. Each serving of this juicy bite sized steak packs 34 grams of protein and just 10 net carbs, making it a low carb recipe and keto friendly recipe as well.
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Why you'll Air Fryer Steak Bites
Juicy steak: the hot air cooking method produces the most juicy steak bites that practically melt in your mouth.
Versatile: the marinade adds flavor, but if you don't want to marinate the meat, you can easily just follow the instructions for cooking and add your favorite seasonings.
Simple ingredients: This steak tips recipe has a marinade that works well on venison steak or beef steak.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The recipe was tasty and delicious. I will come to you for more receipts for now on. Thank You.
- Reginald, recipe reviewer
Ingredients
This recipe is a great one for venison. The marinade boosts the flavor of the meat and the air fryer cooks this recipe fast so there is no chance of a tough bite!
- Venison tenderloin or venison steak, or beef cubes of top sirloin, or New York strip steaks, (any of these or combination of)
- Honey, this is my go to brand Iaffiliate link)
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Vanilla Extract
- Ground Cumin
- Hickory Flavored Liquid Smoke (affiliate link)
- Olive Oil
- Minced Onion (dried)
- Garlic Powder
- Balsamic Vinegar
🔪 Instructions
- Trim meat from any silver skin and cut into bite sized pieces.
- Mix together marinade ingredients and add meat. Marinate in refrigerator up to 1 hour.
- Remove steak pieces from marinade and place in a single layer in air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Serve as an appetizer or main dish with your favorite pairings.
- Trim any silver skin from meat and cut into bite sized pieces.
- In a large bowl whisk together the honey, Worcestershire sauce, vanilla extract, cumin, liquid smoke, olive oil, minced onion, garlic powder, and balsamic vinegar. Toss with steak bites and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Remove the steak pieces from the marinade and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Discard the marinade.
- Cook steak bites at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until venison steak bites are at desired level of doneness.
Equipment
The air fryer is an obvious necessity for this recipe, I highly recommend this basket style air fryer! (Affiliate link)
🥫Storage
Store leftover steak bites in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Substitutions
- Meat swap: substitute beef or chicken for the vension.
- Make it low carb/keto friendly: leave out the honey using a sugar free sweetener in it's place.
- Marinade substitution: omit the marinade and season the meat with salt and pepper or steak seasoning.
Variations
- Extra umami: toss cooked steak bites with sautéed mushrooms.
- Garlic butter steak bites: omit the marinade and toss seasoned steak bites with garlic butter.
- BBQ style: 1 minute before end of cook time, toss cooked steak bites with your favorite barbecue sauce; place back in the air fryer for 1 minute.
Top Tips
- Be sure to remove any silver skin from the venison tenderloin before cooking as it can leave a gamey taste to the meat.
- The exact time for cooking the venison will vary depending the different brands of air fryer you use. Be sure to check your operating guide
FAQ's
Tenderloin should be cooked quickly, so the air fryer is one of the best ways to cook it.
No, it is not necessary. The marinade is for flavor. The steaks can be cooked and then tossed with a garlic butter sauce instead of the marinade.
Yes, just heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the butter and let it melt and bubble. Add the venison steak bites to the skillet in a single layer, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook the steak bites until browned on all sides.
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Are you new to using the air fryer? If so, then be sure to read this post on How To Use an Air Fryer to learn the best one to buy, air fryer cooking tips, cleaning tips, and more!
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When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @honeybunchhunts or #honeybunchhunts so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Steak Bites with Venison Tenderloin
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds venison tenderloin , cut into bite sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon hickory flavored liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper , (optional)
Instructions
- Trim any silver skin from meat and cut into bite sized pieces.
- In a large bowl whisk together the honey, Worcestershire sauce, vanilla extract, cumin, liquid smoke, olive oil, minced onion, garlic powder, and balsamic vinegar. Toss with steak bites and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Remove the steak pieces from the marinade and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Discard the marinade.
- Cook steak bites at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until venison steak bites are at desired level of doneness.
Reginald Burden says
The recipe was tasty and delicious. I will come to you for more receipts for now on. Thank You
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Reginald, thank you for trying the recipe and letting me know!
Sara says
The setting for the airfryer, do you cook the steak on airfry or bake? Everything I use the airfry setting my food always burns
Shelby Law Ruttan says
I set it on airfryer. I have used this recipe in a basket air fryer and no burning. In an air fryer with trays, I would put the tray on the center rack or bottom rack. All air fryers are different so I would check my user manual to see what your specific air fryer recommendations are.
Randi says
Delicious, thank you! Definitely a great taste!
Justen Campbell says
I've made this recipe and they're fantastic. Ill use this a bunch. Thanks!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Justen, so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for coming back to rate it for me! ˜Shelby
Melissa M says
Do I need to preheat the air fryer before cooking?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Melissa, I do not preheat the airfryer. Shelby
Alexis says
Amazing! My hubby is picky and he LOVED this
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Alexis, so happy to hear this! Shelby
Gwynn Galvin says
My air fryer is my new best friend in the kitchen and I cannot wait to try this delicious air fryer recipe next! Looks so good!!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Thanks Gwynn! Hope you love it! Shelby
Steve says
I think we have a problem, Houston. You state in nutrition, serving size is 1 gram and then you state calories as 156 kcal. Please enlighten me what the serving size in ounces, and what the serving size is for 1 serving. I just came out of a heart attack, and I don't need these calories: 156,000!!!!
Thank you, I await your answer before I start to cook this.
skaybird@outlook.com
Shelby Law Ruttan says
My apologies for that! I have updated the recipe card. Hope you will enjoy the recipe!
Shelly says
10 minutes in the air fryer is way to long. Venison needs to be on the rare side. I did 7 and that was to long
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Shelly, in my tips I indicate that air fryers and you should check what the recommendations are for your specific air fryer as they vary. I also indicate in the instructions that you should cook to your desired level of doneness.
Kay says
So very good! We laid a pound of backstrap out to thaw earlier and I started looking for recipes. The first one I found, said to marinate for 4 hours so I couldn't do that. I decided to try this recipe. I didn't have honey but I did have agave nectar so I used that. I used Mesquite flavored Liquid Smoke because that was all I had. When I opened the package, the backstrap had been tenderized so I only marinated it for 45 minutes instead of an hour. I have the oven style air fryer so when it said to turn them over, I noticed, some were getting crispy on the edges so I got them out then. Served them up with asian style mixed veggies (all I had in the freezer) and it made a WONDERFUL meal! My husband is just raving over how good it is with every bite! Thank you!
Emily says
We made this recipe over the stove and OH MY GOODNESS it's amazing. Will never forget this recipe! We made it with mushrooms, added peach barbeque sauce, and put it all over some baked potatoes. Can't even compare to the steak tips you get at the fair because it's even better!!!
Dianne says
The cook time was perfect! Delicious tenderloin recipe!