There are so many ways to enjoy these bite-sized pieces of steak: we passed them around on appetizer skewers with a steak sauce dip for dunking, but they’d also make a satisfying main dish with roasted potatoes and veggies on the side, or would be mouthwatering tossed into a crisp steak salad.

Cooking up these steak medallions in a cast iron skillet gives you meat that’s incredibly juicy on the inside with a crisp browned crust on the outside. Look at that sizzle! Note to those on a marinade crusade: this one is definitely not restricted to steak–we’ve been putting ours on sheet pan chicken, roasted carrots, and pork chops.

Honey Balsamic Steak Bites sizzling in the panTipHero

That’s because this flavor-packed glaze has been perfected to hit all the right flavors: honey for sweetness, balsamic for brightness, soy sauce for saltiness, herbs and garlic to bring out the meat’s savoriness. Balsamic vinegar is a key addition to any marinade because its acids break down and soften any tough muscle fibers, which tenderizes the meat. It might seem weird to add oil to a marinade since there’s already fat on the meat, but don’t skip it–a purely acidic marinade will actually toughen the meat over time, but the oil soaks into the fat in the beef, taking the marinade with it for a deep infusion of flavor. If you fall in love with this marinade, you can make a big batch ahead and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Honey Balsamic Steak Bites


Makes 6 servings
Prep Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • About 2 lbs of top sirloin steak, sirloin tip steak, or hanger steak
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon crushed chili flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary (about 1 large sprig)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • Salt, to taste (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cut the steak into 1-inch cubes and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, vegetable oil, soy sauce, chili flakes, minced garlic, black pepper, and minced rosemary. Whisk to combine.
  3. Place the cubes of steak into a large zip-top plastic bag. Pour in marinade, close up the top of the bag, and allow the steak to marinate for 1 to 4 hours.
  4. Remove the steak from the marinade and allow it to drain well.
  5. Heat a pan over medium heat. Add the remaining oil and cook the steak until it’s done to your liking.
  6. Honey Balsamic Steak Bites cast ironTipHero
  7. If desired, skewer marinated steak bites with small skewers.
  8. Season with salt to your taste.

Chef’s Tips

  • Because of the sugars from the honey in the marinade, the steak may brown faster than you’re used to. Make sure to keep a close eye on it so that it does not burn.
  • If the steak is browned before the inside is cooked to your liking, you can finish cooking the steak on a lined baking sheet in a 350°F/176°C oven.
Honey Balsamic Steak Bites on skewersTipHero

Can’t get enough of this spicy-sweet glaze? Put our honey garlic shrimp recipe on your to-cook list.