This steak bites recipe features tender steak cubes coated in Chinese black pepper sauce – a healthy, easy-to-share beef stir fry ready in just 10 minutes!

About this Steak Bites Recipe

Who doesn’t love a sizzling steak? Juicy, meaty and satisfying.

Most store-bought steaks are made from aged beef – The aging process naturally breaks down the meat’s proteins, making it tender and flavourful – perfect for stir-fries, with no tenderising required.

By cutting the steak into bite-sized cubes, coating them in Chinese black pepper sauce, and stir-frying with veggies, the flavour reaches a whole new level. And the best part? It cooks just as fast as pan-frying a full steak.

This steak cubes stir fry recipe makes a balanced meal that’s easy to share – and no knife wrestling requied! 😊

How to Keep Your Stir-Fry from Getting Watery

Stir-fry tastes great because the ingredients sizzle in hot oil, locking in their juicy flavours while caramelising and adding a smoky, charred touch. That’s why many Chinese restaurants deep-fry even the veggies first, then toss everything together with sauce.

At home, without deep-frying, here are tips to avoid watery stir-fry for this recipe.

• Cook in small batches: Stir-frying is ideal for 1-2 servings. Adding too much beef and veggies at once causes excess moisture, making the dish watery.
• Dry your ingredients well: for store-bought steak, washing isn’t necessary. Beef absorbs water and then releases it during cooking, which can make your dish watery. If you do wash the steak, do it quickly and pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• High heat and plenty of oil: These help quickly seal the ingredients, locking in their moisture. If you’re health-conscious, opt for olive oil.

How long do I cook steak bites for?

A whole steak that’s 3-4 cm thick typically takes about 4.5 – 5 minutes to cook to medium rare over medium to high heat. When the steak is cut into small cubes, the cooking time is much shorter – around 2 minutes total – to achieve a similar level of doneness.

In this recipe, I pan-fried the steak cubes for 1 minute, set them aside, then cooked them for another minute when mixing with the veggies.

Keep in mind that the steak bites will continue to cook a little after being removed from the pan. The exact timing depends on how big your cubes are and how you like your steak cooked.

I find using a timer really helps keep things on point.

Ingredients for Steak Cubes Recipe

• Steak: Eye fillet is ideal for its tenderness and leanness, or you can choose a steak with marbled fat. But any steak will work. Cut into cubes, trimming off fat and chewy bits. I use about 3 cm cubes, but cut to your liking.
• Veggies: I tested many combos, and this one’s the best. Peppers and onions add sweetness and crunch, while mushrooms are tender and soak up the sauce. Since mushrooms release water, don’t use too many – about 3 medium ones are enough. If swapping veggies, avoid leafy ones or those that let out too much water when cooking. Also, don’t add too many veggies – they can overpower the steak and make the dish soggy. (speak from experience👩‍🍳)
• Corn starch: Corn starch thickens the sauce, helping it stick to the steak cubes and caramelise nicely when pan-fried.
• Oyster Sauce: Oyster sauce not only adds saltiness, but also boosts the flavour. You can swap it with the same amount of soy sauce and add a bit of MSG if you don’t mind.
• Rice Wine: Rice wine adds great flavour to the steak, but if you don’t have any on hand, white wine makes a good substitute.

Instructions for Black Pepper Steak Bites Stir Fry

Step 1: Pan-Fry the Steak Bites

• Mix the black pepper sauce with cornstarch to form a batter, add the steak cubes, and coat them evenly.
• Heat one tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the steak cubes and pan-fry for about 1 minute, until nicely caramelised. Set aside.

Step 2: Pan-Fry the Veggies

• Add the veggies and one tablespoon of oil to the same pan and cook until slightly caramelised. If the veggies look dry, add a little more oil as needed.

Step 3: Add the Steak Bites

• Return the steak cubes to the pan, toss everything together, and cook until sizzling (about one minute or two). Feel free to add salt and pepper if you want.
• Serve hot.

Cooking Tips for this Chinese Steak Stir Fry Recipe

• Prep First: This dish cooks fast, so make sure all your ingredients are prepped and ready before you start.
• Marinate Briefly: The salty sauce can draw out water from the steak. To keep the bites juicy and tender, marinate just before cooking.
• Pan fry Steak: In step one, avoid stirring too much—let the steak cubes caramelise properly.
• Spice it up: You can toss in fresh chilli peppers during Step 2 or sprinkle chilli powder before serving. Add toasted sesame seeds or peanuts for a nice nutty touch.
• Presentation: Stir in a bit more oil for a glossy finish before serving.

This dish is quick and easy – not only does it look great, but it tastes amazing too.

It turns your favourite steak into a healthy, shareable meal. Give it a try! 😍

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