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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / AIP / Paleo & Whole30 Korean Steak Bites – Stovetop or Air Fryer (AIP Option)

Paleo & Whole30 Korean Steak Bites – Stovetop or Air Fryer (AIP Option)

Last Updated on July 27, 2020 by Jean Choi 21 Comments

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Grab a copy of my cookbook, Korean Paleo: 80 Bold-Flavored, Gluten- and Grain-Free Recipes!

The most tender and flavorful Korean steak bites cooked on the stovetop or in the air fryer! This paleo and Whole30 dish is sweetened with fruit to recreate an authentic bulgogi flavor that’s so addicting.

Korean steak bites in a skillet

Steak will probably always be my favorite cut of meat. I usually love it grilled plain with just a bit of salt and pepper, but sometimes, I’ll get fancy with a marinade when I want to make it a bit more special. These marinated Korean steak bites are one of those recipes that’s just full of flavor and so easy to prepare.

Paleo & Whole30 Korean Steak Bites Recipes

If you are a fan of bulgogi, you are going to love these marinated Whole30 steak bites. Sweetened with dates, the marinade is just so addicting and full of umami and the steak bites are so tender and flavorful. You can serve them at a party with toothpicks, or just eat them as a meal alongside some cauliflower rice.

Bulgogi marinade poured over cubed Whole30 steak bites

How to Make Steak Bites with Korean Marinade

The cooking process for these Korean Whole30 steak bites are straightforward and simple. You do need to marinate them in the bulgogi sauce for at least 2 hours, then they take just 10 minutes or less to cook! Here’s how to make steak bites on the stovetop or in the air fryer.

  1. Cut the steak into 1 inch cubes or bite-sized pieces and place in a resealable bag.
  2. Make the marinade by blending all its ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour the marinade over the beef, seal, and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
  4. Remove from the fridge and drain the bulgogi marinade when ready to cook.

Stove Top Method

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the steak bites in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes until seared. Flip the pieces then cook for 2 more minutes.

Air Fryer Method

To make air fryer steak bites, preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F. Add the steak bites in a single layer and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the steak bites and cook for another 5 minutes.

You can garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving. Both methods turn out fantastic in both texture and flavor!

steak bites finished cooking in the skillet

Additional Tips

  • I highly recommend marinating these Whole30 steak bites for at least 2 hours. The meat really needs at least this much time to absorb all the delicious flavors of the marinade!
  • If you are not doing the Whole30, you can replace the medjool date with 2 tsp of maple syrup to sweeten the bulgogi sauce. Or if you are eating low carb, you can replace with 2 tsp of monk fruit sweetener.
  • For both the stovetop or air fryer steak bites, cook the meat pieces in a single layer so they cook evenly and to yield the best texture. This means you may need to cook the meat in 2 batches for either method.
  • The suggested cooking times will cook the steak bites to medium rare to medium. If you like your steak well done, I would add a few more minutes of cook time to each method.
Picking up a steak bite with a fork

What to Serve with Steak Bites

These Korean steak bites can served alone as an appetizer on toothpicks. However, if you are serving these as a meal, here are some delicious sides to serve them with:

  • cauliflower rice
  • roasted broccoli
  • steam green beans
  • kimchi or radish kimchi
  • Korean side dishes from Korean Paleo

However you serve these juicy and flavorful Korean steak bites, they are guaranteed to be a hit and please even the pickiest eaters!

close up of korean steak bites

If you enjoyed these paleo and Whole30 steak bites, you might also like…

  • Whole30 Mongolian Beef (Paleo, Keto, AIP Option)
  • Whole30 Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Recipe (Paleo, AIP)
  • Paleo & Whole30 Sesame Chicken – Stovetop & Air Fryer Method
  • Paleo Asian Meatloaf
  • Paleo Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce (Whole30, AIP, Keto)
Korean steak bites

Paleo & Whole30 Korean Steak Bites – Stovetop or Air Fryer (AIP Option)

The most tender and flavorful Korean steak bites cooked on the stovetop or in the air fryer! This paleo and Whole30 dish is sweetened with fruit to recreate an authentic bulgogi flavor that's so addicting.
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Korean
Keyword: air fryer steak bites, bulgogi steak, how to make steak bites, paleo steak bites, what to serve with steak bites, whole30 steak bites
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 2 hours
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 378kcal

Ingredients

  • 1½ lb sirloin steak or ribeye, strip steak, or tenderloin
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil, for stovetop method
  • For garnish: Sesame seeds and chopped green onions omit sesame seeds for AIP

Marinade

  • 1/2 cup coconut aminos
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil or olive oil for AIP
  • 4 garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 pitted medjool date OR 2 tsp maple syrup for non-Whole30
  • 1 inch fresh ginger
  • Optional: 2 tsp gochugaru (Korean chili pepper flakes) – omit for AIP

Instructions

  • Cut the steak into 1 inch cubes or bite-sized pieces and place in a resealable bag.
  • Place all ingredients for the marinade in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Pour over the steak, seal the bag, and massage the steak to coat. Place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours to overnight.
  • Remove from fridge and drain the steak. Discard the marinade.

Stovetop Method

  • Heat avocado oil on a large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Once the pan is sizzling hot, add the steak pieces in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes.
  • Flip the steak pieces and cook for another 2 minutes until cooked through and golden brown.
  • Remove from heat and garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.

Air Fryer Method

  • Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  • Add the steak bites to the air fryer in a single layer. You may need to cook them in 2 batches to do this.
  • Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through.
  • Remove from the air fryer once golden brown and cooked through. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Paleo & Whole30 Korean Steak Bites – Stovetop or Air Fryer (AIP Option)
Amount Per Serving (1 serving – makes 4)
Calories 378 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 104mg35%
Sodium 792mg34%
Potassium 655mg19%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 38g76%
Vitamin A 297IU6%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.


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By Jean Choi | July 27, 2020

Comments

  1. Stacey Crawford says

    August 4, 2020 at 9:17 am

    5 stars
    I’m so exited to try this in my air fryer! It looks so good!

    Reply
  2. ChihYu says

    August 4, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    5 stars
    I love these! Each bite is tender, juicy and full of so much flavor!

    Reply
  3. Sunrita | Spiceitupp says

    August 5, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks so much for the additional tips on making these bites. Will surely be making it soon.

    Reply
  4. Donny says

    August 9, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    Love how easy this is! I have all the marinade ingredients so I can’t wait to try this.

    Reply
  5. Zoe says

    August 18, 2020 at 2:27 am

    5 stars
    These were so good, but super easy! Definitely going to be added to regular rotation in our house

    Reply
  6. Jenn says

    October 16, 2020 at 11:28 pm

    5 stars
    So easy! And I’m a new cook. My korean husband was so impressed and asked to add it to our rotation

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      October 21, 2020 at 5:08 pm

      Ah that’s the best review. Thanks so much!

      Reply
  7. Jenn says

    October 19, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks to this recipe I‘ve recently moved up the ranks to “most popular” at dinner. I used to be “least likely to succeed”…

    Reply
  8. Jayme says

    November 30, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    Made a double batch of marinade and did both filet and chicken. Yummy!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      December 1, 2020 at 11:04 am

      Amazing idea!!

      Reply
  9. Priscilla says

    January 3, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing! Did the stove top version and we absolutely loved it! Will make again!!😋

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      January 4, 2021 at 9:18 am

      Yay, thank you so much!!

      Reply
  10. Gwen says

    February 3, 2021 at 7:08 pm

    Hello! I just found your site recently and am so glad I did. I’ve been working out some autoimmune issues for almost a year so I find your site helpful and encouraging.

    I have the meat marinading for the night. Would you have an idea of how to cool this in an instant pot? Or would that not be recommended.

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      February 5, 2021 at 12:46 pm

      Because it cooks fast fast, I wouldn’t recommend the Instant Pot. It might cook down the meat too much (like a tender roast instead of steak) unless you just use the sauté function of the Instant Pot.

      Reply
  11. Dee-Dee west says

    February 28, 2021 at 4:30 am

    So excited, I just received your cookbook Korean Paleo! I want to make this recipe For tomorrow nights dinner but only have beef stew meat. Will that be okay to use?

    Thank You,
    DeeDee

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      March 1, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      Yes, I think it will!

      Reply
  12. beth says

    August 5, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    5 stars
    So good!!!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      August 6, 2021 at 8:36 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  13. Priscilla says

    February 6, 2022 at 7:02 am

    5 stars
    This was absolutely amazing. I could not find the Korean chili flakes so I just used red pepper flakes and it was really good. I will definitely be putting this in the meal rotation! Yum Yum

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      February 6, 2022 at 12:27 pm

      Amazing! So glad it worked out. Thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  14. Tiffany says

    May 5, 2022 at 10:30 am

    5 stars
    Incredible! I did them stove-top this time, but am excited to try them again in the air fryer. So so delicious.

    Reply

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Welcome!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate I’m Jean and I’m a Nutritional Therapist (NTP) living in Southern California with my husband and 2 dog babies. On WGGA, you’ll find simple and easy gluten-, dairy-, and processed sugar-free recipes that focus on quality nutrients, and of course, never sacrifice on taste. I believe that the food you love should love you back, making you feel amazing inside and out. I apologize in advance for my inappropriate jokes and misunderstood sarcasm! More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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