A simple stove top steak dinner that whips up in no time! This Mediterranean Steak Bites recipe is juicy and delicious, and perfectly balanced with a tangy yogurt sauce.
Mediterranean Steak Bites for dinner!
While I really prefer my steak on the grill, that's not always the easiest thing since the weather isn't always on our side. We definitely fire up the grill year round, but there are most certainly times we say, ok, it's way too cold for that.
And these Mediterranean Steak Bites are for times just like that--nights when you really want some juicy steak, but the grilling is not looking like it's going to happen.
When it comes to all things Mediterranean flavors, some form of sauce--tzatziki, yogurt sauce or even hummus should always be included. These sauces are the perfect compliment to these dishes and this holds true for these steak bites!
What are steak bites?
They are exactly what it sounds like. Just little bite sized pieces of steak. They are smaller than stew cuts and bigger than you would find beef that is cut for stir fries. I like mine to about 1 ½ inches approximately.
When it comes to cooking steak bites, they are best when all of the pieces are cut close to exactly the same size, they don't cook too fast, and are marinated for as long as possible.
Steak bites are a super simple way to whip up delicious steaks stove top. Definitely worth a try!
What is the best cut of steak to fry stove top?
So, I used sirloin for my steak bites. They were nice and tender and I got some great cuts for a nice price. Is sirloin the best option? Not necessarily. You could most certainly use a better cut of steak for even better steak bites.
Ribeye or New York Strips would be great as well for this Mediterranean Steak Bites Recipe. They will be more tender for sure, and more pricy than a sirloin. Choose what works best for you!
The best part about this recipe? So many ways to enjoy them!
- over rice
- in a pita
- on a salad
- straight up
- on toothpicks as an easy app
- on top of a chilled pasta salad
How else?! Give me your favorites!
What you will need to make these Steak Bites:
- steak: about 1 ½ pounds. Like I mentioned, I used sirloin that I found on sale. You can use a more tender cut if desired.
- olive oil
- garlic: I am guilty of always using more than I actually am told to. If that is you, I get it. And we can be great friends.
- oregano: fresh oregano is harder to find usually where I shop. I always have lots of dried oregano in the house. It's my favorite seasoning in Italian recipes as well as any and all meats. If you can find fresh oregano, go for it!
- thyme: fresh thyme--one of my faves. If you can find it fresh versus dried, I highly suggest it. If not, dry will work.
- rosemary: same with this herb. Rosemary is so great when it's fresh.
- lemon juice: lemon juice is where a lot of mediterranean dishes get that fresh tang. Don't skip it!
- salt and pepper
- feta: top your steak after the steak is cooked, when serving.
- tomatoes: I toss in some tomatoes right at the end and allow them to cook slightly.
For the yogurt sauce:
- greek yogurt
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- garlic
- dill
- peper
Tips for making this Mediterranean Steak Bites Recipe:
- Marinate for as long as you can for even more flavor. If you can only marinate for 10 minutes for so, they will still be delicious, but with any meat recipe, the more time flavor can soak in, the better.
- Do not overcook your steak bites. These cook pretty quickly so you will want to stay near the stove at all times. They will cook a bit more after you remove the skillet from the stove so pull them off just before you think they are ready.
- As I mentioned, there are so many ways to serve these steak bites. My favorite is over rice and with a dollop of yogurt sauce.
Check out these other recipes:
- PARMESAN CRUSTED STEAK SHEET PAN DINNER
- GRILLED STEAK KABOBS WITH CILANTRO CHIMICHURRI
- SLOW COOKER CHIPOTLE LIME STEAK FAJITAS
- 15 MINUTE SHEET PAN STEAK AND BROCCOLI
- MAPLE BACON WRAPPED PORK CHOPS
- SIMPLE BEEF POT PIE
- SLOW COOKER BBQ COUNTRY STYLE RIBS
- BEEF AND SHELLS SKILLET
DID YOU MAKE ONE OF MY RECIPES? LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! I ALSO LOVE TO SEE YOUR LEMONS + ZEST RECIPES ON SOCIAL MEDIA–TAG ME @LEMONSANDZEST ON INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK!
Mediterranean Steak Bites Recipe with Simple Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
For Steak Bites:
- 1.5 lb steak, cut into bite sized pieces approx. 1 ½ in. cubes
- 2-3 T olive oil
- ½ T fresh thyme, finely chopped (¾ teaspoon for dried thyme)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (½ teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon oregano (dried)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- ⅓ c feta cheese
- 1 c grape tomatoes, halved
For the Yogurt Sauce:
- ½ c plain Greek Yogurt
- 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 T chopped dill (or 1-2 teaspoon dried)
- salt, to taste
Instructions
For the Steak Bites:
- In a medium bowl or a large ziplok bag, combine olive oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, lemon juice, salt and pepper and shake or whisk to combine well. Add in raw steak bites and allow to coat each piece. Marinate for at least 30 minutes if possible and can be marinated several hours and up to overnight.
- Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and any extra olive oil from mixture into the skillet. Allow steak to cook 2-3 minutes per side, flipping once, trying to touch or flip minimally. If you like a steak that's more done, you can leave the steak on for an extra minute or so. Remove skillet from oven and toss halved tomatoes in allowing to heat slightly. Sprinkle with feta before serving.
For Yogurt Sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Chill until ready to serve. Salt to taste.
- Spoon over steak or use it as a dip and enjoy!
Notes
- Marinate for as long as you can for even more flavor. If you can only marinate for 10 minutes for so, they will still be delicious, but with any meat recipe, the more time flavor can soak in, the better.
- Do not overcook your steak bites. These cook pretty quickly so you will want to stay near the stove at all times. They will cook a bit more after you remove the skillet from the stove so pull them off just before you think they are ready.
- As I mentioned, there are so many ways to serve these steak bites. My favorite is over rice and with a dollop of yogurt sauce.
Nutrition
Gayle says
Easy and delicious. I used lean stew beef for the recipe (since that was what I had defrosted for the instant pot stew I was going to make for dinner) and cut the meat into smaller bite sized pieces than the recipe called for. Two minutes on each side was perfect for the most tender, juicy beef I think I've ever made.
I also tossed in a splash of white wine just because it was in the house and seemed like it would work well. It did. Campari tomatoes, cut in quarters, substituted well for the cherry tomatoes. I served the dish with couscous and a Greek salad. There were rave reviews from my family and our guest.
Your tzatziki recipe is different than mine and has a more robust flavor, so I'll be making it from now on. Thanks!
Lorie says
Literally sounds perfect, Gayle! Thank you so much for taking the time to share-- I appreciate it so much!
Kathleen says
I’ve always had people say, “Wow! You make restaurant food!” But it’s because of great recipes like these. So much flavor and ease and good, healthy ingredients! Thank you!
Lorie says
Awwww Kathleen, this comment made me smile. But also, give yourself plenty of credit as well. Preparing the food is half the work, if not more!!
MegRin says
easy and yummy!! but I cooked too much meat was dry ....
I'll try it again!
Lorie says
The hardest part is making sure to pull the meat off the heat before it's actually done to your liking as the skillet will keep cooking it a bit. Been there! Hope it works next time!
Jamie Giordano says
So easy to make and such good flavors! Kids and husband loved it and had seconds.
Lorie says
Yay!!! So happy to hear this Jamie. My hubby is not a huge fan of any form of steak not coming off the grill so when he gave a thumbs up, I knew! Thanks for sharing!!