Cowboy butter isn't from cowboys—it's a 2019 TikTok creation that accidentally mimics 1800s chuck wagon garlic herb spreads.
Cowboy Butter Steak Bites
Savor the mouthwatering goodness of our Cowboy Butter Steak Bites, where tender, juicy steak meets rich, flavorful cowboy butter and sweet caramelized onions. Quick to prepare and bursting with smoky, buttery notes, these bites are perfect for a hearty appetizer or a satisfying main dish. Get ready to impress your taste buds with this irresistible, easy-to-make delight!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(5)
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 1 heaping tbsp parsley, chopped (15 ml)
- 1 shallot, minced
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2 pounds ribeye or sirloin steak, cubed (907 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter (168 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (15 ml)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(6)
- 1 tsp cayenne powder (adjust to heat preference) (5 ml)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (10 ml)
- Salt to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp thyme (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(2)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (15 ml)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (10 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 1 heaping tbsp chives, chopped (15 ml)
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (2.5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Toss cubed steak with oil, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and a generous amount of salt & pepper. Set aside while the pan heats.
- 2
Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil or butter.
- 3
Add onions, sugar, and salt. Cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft, golden, and jammy. Remove from pan and set aside.
- 4
Crank heat to medium-high/high. Add steak in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- 5
Sear 2–3 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove and set aside. Lower heat to medium.
- 6
Add butter to the same pan. Once melted, add garlic and shallot — cook ~30 seconds until fragrant.
- 7
Stir in lemon juice, Dijon, parsley, chives, thyme, cayenne, chili flakes, smoked paprika, and salt.
- 8
Add steak back to the pan.
- 9
Toss to coat in the butter sauce for 1–2 minutes.
- 10
Serve over creamy mashed potatoes and enjoy!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cut steak into 1-inch cubes against the grain to break muscle fibers, reducing chewiness by up to 40% compared to random cuts.technique1-inch cubes
- ✓Heat your skillet to 400-450°F before adding steak to achieve proper Maillard browning - test by flicking water drops that should sizzle and evaporate in 2-3 seconds.technique400-450°F
- ✓Don't move steak bites for the full 2-3 minutes per side because premature flipping prevents crust formation and causes moisture loss through broken protein networks.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add garlic and shallots to butter at exactly 250-275°F (when butter stops foaming) to prevent burning while allowing proper flavor extraction.timing250-275°F
- ✓Use a 3:1 ratio of fresh herbs to dried spices in the cowboy butter to balance volatile oils with concentrated flavors without overpowering the beef.ingredient3:1 ratio
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Cowboy butter isn't from cowboys—it's a 2019 TikTok creation that accidentally mimics 1800s chuck wagon garlic herb spreads.
Cowboy Butter Steak Bites
Savor the mouthwatering goodness of our Cowboy Butter Steak Bites, where tender, juicy steak meets rich, flavorful cowboy butter and sweet caramelized onions. Quick to prepare and bursting with smoky, buttery notes, these bites are perfect for a hearty appetizer or a satisfying main dish. Get ready to impress your taste buds with this irresistible, easy-to-make delight!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(5)
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 1 heaping tbsp parsley, chopped (15 ml)
- 1 shallot, minced
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2 pounds ribeye or sirloin steak, cubed (907 g)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter (168 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (15 ml)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (5 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(6)
- 1 tsp cayenne powder (adjust to heat preference) (5 ml)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (10 ml)
- Salt to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (2.5 ml)
- 1 tsp thyme (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(2)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (15 ml)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (10 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 1 heaping tbsp chives, chopped (15 ml)
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (2.5 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Toss cubed steak with oil, Worcestershire, garlic powder, and a generous amount of salt & pepper. Set aside while the pan heats.
- 2
Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil or butter.
- 3
Add onions, sugar, and salt. Cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft, golden, and jammy. Remove from pan and set aside.
- 4
Crank heat to medium-high/high. Add steak in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- 5
Sear 2–3 minutes per side until deeply browned. Remove and set aside. Lower heat to medium.
- 6
Add butter to the same pan. Once melted, add garlic and shallot — cook ~30 seconds until fragrant.
- 7
Stir in lemon juice, Dijon, parsley, chives, thyme, cayenne, chili flakes, smoked paprika, and salt.
- 8
Add steak back to the pan.
- 9
Toss to coat in the butter sauce for 1–2 minutes.
- 10
Serve over creamy mashed potatoes and enjoy!
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cut steak into 1-inch cubes against the grain to break muscle fibers, reducing chewiness by up to 40% compared to random cuts.technique1-inch cubes
- ✓Heat your skillet to 400-450°F before adding steak to achieve proper Maillard browning - test by flicking water drops that should sizzle and evaporate in 2-3 seconds.technique400-450°F
- ✓Don't move steak bites for the full 2-3 minutes per side because premature flipping prevents crust formation and causes moisture loss through broken protein networks.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add garlic and shallots to butter at exactly 250-275°F (when butter stops foaming) to prevent burning while allowing proper flavor extraction.timing250-275°F
- ✓Use a 3:1 ratio of fresh herbs to dried spices in the cowboy butter to balance volatile oils with concentrated flavors without overpowering the beef.ingredient3:1 ratio