Chimichurri Steak Bites Appetizer
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This steak bites appetizer with chimichurri sauce is perfect for parties! Juicy, bite-size cubes of steak are seared and served with a bold and flavorful homemade chimichurri. It's easy to make, ready in 20 minutes, and with only real ingredients, it's healthy too!
Complete your spread by pairing this party appetizer with some potato croquettes and grilled mini peppers with minty tzatziki.
This recipe was originally published in 2014. We've updated the post with some new photos and more information, but we've left the delicious recipe exactly the same.
These juicy chimichurri steak bites are a delicious and time-saving appetizer for any occasion. Their adorable size makes them great for serving at parties, and they're much healthier (in our opinion) than anything you can buy pre-made at the store.
The chimichurri sauce is easy to make with just a few fresh ingredients. We chop the parsley by hand because we like the rustic texture, but you can use a food processor if you prefer.
The steak cubes are simply seasoned and then seared at a high temperature until they develop a wonderful crust. Let them sit for a few minutes or eat these tender little steak bites right out of the skillet. It's an easy but super flavorful appetizer that everyone will love!
What is chimichurri?
Chimichurri is an uncooked, loose, oil-based sauce traditionally made with parsley, garlic, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. It's traditional to Argentinian and Uruguayan cuisine and originated as a compliment to grass-fed beef that is common in the region.
It's a versatile sauce with many applications but is most often used as a marinade or condiment for meats like steak, fish, chicken, and lamb. Here's our homemade chimichurri sauce.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the steak bites:
- Olive oil
- Sea salt + pepper
- Thick-cut steak
This is everything you'll need for the chimichurri sauce:
- Parsley
- Olive oil
- Sherry vinegar
- Dried oregano
- Red pepper flakes
- Sea salt + pepper
How to make this chimichurri steak bites appetizer
This is a quick and easy appetizer with big bold flavors. Here's how to make it in a few simple steps:
- Start by making the chimichurri sauce, which is as easy as adding all the chimichurri ingredients to a bowl and mixing them up.
- Now prepare the steak bites. Cut the steak into large cubes, place them in a bowl, and then add the oil, salt, and pepper and mix up them well.
- Heat a large cast-iron pan over high heat. You want to make sure you don't crowd the pan, so if your pan is small, work in a few batches. Sear them until they have a golden crust. Keep an eye on the heat – you want the pan very hot to get a nice crust before the steak cooks through, but you don't want the steak to burn.
- Let the steak bites rest for a few minutes (just like when you cook a regular steak), then serve them with the chimichurri sauce drizzled over the top or on the side as a dip.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make the chimichurri ahead of time?
Although chimichurri is best served right away for the best flavor and texture, it will store in a sealed jar or container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Be sure to bring it to room temperature before serving.
What's the best cut of steak?
Grocery stores will often label steaks as ‘grilling steaks' making it easier for you to choose the right cut. Strip loin, rib eye, or top sirloin are all great options. For this recipe, it is best to choose a thick-cut steak, otherwise, the pieces will be too small and will overcook when you sear them.
Ideas for serving chimichurri steak bites
We love steak because it's so versatile and can be served with just about anything.
If you're enjoying these chimichurri steak bites as an appetizer, they pair well with some chunky grilled guacamole and crispy tortilla chips, prosciutto wrapped grilled peaches, or crispy eggplant fries with chipotle aioli.
If you're eating them as a meal, we love them with all sorts of vegetable sides like lemon parmesan cauliflower steaks, smoky roast potatoes, or whole roasted brussels sprouts with garlic. For something a bit heartier, serve them alongside a warm wheat berry salad or a side of garlic butter rice.
We even like to tuck them into a pita or wrap with some fresh greens and chopped tomato. You can't go wrong with these juicy steak bites!
Chimichurri Steak Bites Recipe
Ingredients
The Chimichurri
- 1 cup parsley (minced)
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup sherry vinegar (can sub red wine vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- Sea salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Place all the chimichurri ingredients into a medium-sized bowl and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.1 cup parsley, ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup sherry vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, Sea salt and pepper
- Cut the steak into large cubes and place them into a medium-sized bowl. Add the oil, salt, and pepper and mix well.¼ cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1 ½ lb thick-cut steak, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Heat a large cast-iron pan over high heat. Working in batches, add the steak bites and sear until they have a golden crust, about 3 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed – you want the pan very hot so that the crust develops before the steak cooks through, but you don't want the steak to burn.
- Let the steak bites rest for 10 minutes then serve them with the chimichurri sauce drizzled over the top of on the side as a dip.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
If you're looking for more inspiration of what appetizers to serve at your next gathering, make sure to check out all our appetizer recipes!
On 12 March, 2022, I copied this recipe. Today I noticed you have altered the recipe in some crucial ways, not the least of which is the deletion of the 3 garlic cloves. Not knowing if this represents an in-house error, a data corruption issue, a hacker’s doing or (less likely) a deliberate “downgrade” of a great recipe, I thought it worth letting you and your readers know this is no longer the recipe it was or should be.
This was an in-house error and I really appreciate you pointing it out. It’s been corrected. Can’t have chimichurri without garlic!
These look incredible Kristen!! OMG I am drooling just looking at them!!Making these for sure specially now with my BBQ in full swing–I bet everyone would fight over them 🙂
Haha, these are definitely fighting for worthy!
I totally agree Kristen – there’s NEVER such a thing as too many parties or too much party food. Or too much steak! I second the motion to get more steak recipes on the blog. Especially when they’re as fabulous and delicious looking as this one. Holy moly, come to mama!!!
PS. I love love love my Vitamix!!! I’m super excited to make my chimichurri sauce in it next time. This weekend is supposed to be nice. I’m totally firing up the grill!! Cheers friend!
Parties and party food are the best, aren’t they?!! And my Vitamix … omgeee I lOVE mine too. How did we ever live without one?
I’m a chimichurri fan but have never made my own. This looks so simple but delicious. I never thought of making it into party food either. You get double brownie points on this one!
It is crazy easy to make, especially in your Vitamix!
Oh wow Kristen, this dish look so scrumptious, I can’t wait to try this recipe and use my Vitamix to make the chimichurri sauce!
It’s amazing how easy it is to make chimichurri in your Vitamix. No chopping necessary!
OMG Kristen these steak bites look AMAZING! I am obsessed with chimmichurri these days too – I pair it with roast chicken, grilled steak, potatoes…pretty much any excuse I can get! This would be so easy to make in my Vitamix!
You should def use your Vitamix to make it next time. It’s CRAZY easy!!
It’s all I can do to stop myself from biting into my screen. Wow – what a great idea, Kristen. I love that you can do these hot or cold because I love make aheads for parties.
There may be no Canadian teams in the playoffs this year but even the US teams are full of Canadian players, lol. And we Canucks will watch hockey whenever we can get it!
I’ll be making this for summer parties on the deck this summer.
Ha ha I’m happy you reined yourself in before a chunk of your computer went missing lol! Playoffs are so fun, aren’t they? Any excuse for a party!
love your recipes and your photos and want to know where you purchased that georgous knife in your photo with the wooden platter thank you diana from toronto
Thank you!
I stole it from my handsome man’s knife collection but will ask him where he got it when he gets home from work. Stay tuned!
So the knife is called Old Hickory and it’s sold by Ontario Knife Company on Amazon. He said it is made of high carbon steel so you have to be careful to wash and dry it right away after you use it. But it’s a beautiful knife and very sharp!