The Ultimate 15-Minute Cajun Steak Tips for Dinner

There is a specific aroma that instantly transports me back to my culinary trips through Louisiana. It is the scent of smoked paprika hitting hot butter. My recipe for cajun steak tips captures that exact magic without requiring a plane ticket. This dish has become a staple in my home because it delivers complex, bold flavors in a fraction of the time it takes to make a gumbo or jambalaya.

This recipe fits perfectly into the modern cook’s schedule. Whether you need a protein-packed quick weeknight meal or a festive dish to impress friends on a Saturday night, these steak bites deliver. They are also a fantastic healthy comfort food option. By controlling the spice blend yourself, you avoid the heavy sodium found in pre-packaged mixes. Once you try these tender cajun steak tips, standard steak dinners will feel boring in comparison.

Cajun Steak Tips Recipe Card

Cajun Steak Tips Recipe

Recipe by Soukayna

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Appetizers, SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

8

minutes

Calories

320

kcal

This recipe for cajun steak tips features tender cubes of beef seared to perfection in a homemade spice blend and finished with garlic butter. It is savory, spicy, and ready in under 20 minutes.

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Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Top Sirloin or Ribeye Steak, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 2.0 tablespoons Olive Oil (or Avocado Oil)

• 3.0 tablespoons Unsalted Butter

• 3.0 cloves Garlic, minced

• The Cajun Seasoning Blend:

• 1.0 tablespoon Smoked Paprika

• 1.0 teaspoon Garlic Powder

• 1.0 teaspoon Onion Powder

• 0.5 teaspoon Dried Thyme

• 0.5 teaspoon Dried Oregano

• 0.5 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (adjust for heat)

• 1.0 teaspoon Salt

• 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper

Directions

• Start by preparing the spice blend. In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
• Next, prep the meat. Pat the steak cubes very dry with a paper towel. Place them in a large bowl and drizzle with one tablespoon of olive oil. Toss the meat to coat. Pour the spice blend over the meat and toss again until every piece is evenly coated in the seasoning.
• Heat your skillet. Place a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering and just starting to smoke, add the steak bites in a single layer. Do this in two batches if your pan is small.
• Sear the meat. Let the steak cook undisturbed for 2.0 minutes to develop a crust. Flip the bites and cook for another 1.0 to 2.0 minutes for medium-rare.
• Finish with flavor. Reduce the heat to low. Add the butter and minced garlic to the pan. Let the butter melt and foam. Toss the steak bites in the garlic butter for 1.0 minute. Remove from heat immediately and serve warm.

Notes

• Spice Level: If you are sensitive to spice, reduce the cayenne pepper to 0.25 teaspoon. If you love heat, bump it up to 1.0 teaspoon.
• Meat Choice: Ribeye will be richer and more tender due to fat content, but Sirloin is meatier and more budget-friendly. Both work well.
• Leftovers: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. These are great cold over a salad the next day.

Nutrition Facts

• Fat: 22g
• Sodium: 650mg
• Carbohydrates: 3g
• Protein: 28g

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Getting Ready to Sear

The cooking process for cajun steak tips happens incredibly fast. You will not have time to chop garlic while the meat is in the pan. Here is how to prep so you are not rushing later:

• Cube the Meat: Slice your sirloin or ribeye into uniform 1-inch cubes. Store them in the fridge on a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
• Mix the Spice Blend: Combine your paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and herbs in a small jar. This can be done weeks in advance.
• Mince Aromatics: Peel and mince your fresh garlic cloves.
• Room Temperature: Pull the meat out of the fridge 30.0 minutes before cooking. Cold meat lowers the pan temperature and prevents a good sear.

Why Bites are Better

The brilliance of this cajun steak tips recipe lies in the surface area. When you cook a whole steak, you only get seasoning on the top and bottom. By cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces, every single bite gets coated in the spicy, savory rub. This ensures that the flavor profile is consistent throughout the entire dish.

• The Crust: We use a high-heat searing method. This creates a caramelized crust on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and pink.
• The Butter Finish: Finishing the meat with a knob of butter and fresh garlic blooms the spices. It creates a glossy sauce that coats the meat perfectly.
• Dietary Flexibility: This dish is naturally low-carb and high-protein. It works beautifully for Keto or Paleo diets. If you are gluten-free, this is a safe bet as long as you mix your own spices.

For a deeper understanding of why searing creates such immense flavor, you can read about the Maillard reaction to see the science behind the browning process.

Avoiding Chewy Steak

I have learned a few hard lessons over the years to ensure your cajun steak tips are tender, not chewy.

1. Dry the Meat: Moisture is the enemy of a good crust. Pat the steak bites completely dry with paper towels before seasoning. If they are wet, they will steam instead of sear.
2. Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: This is the most common mistake. Cook in batches if necessary. If the pieces are touching, the temperature of the skillet drops. You want them to sizzle, not stew in their own juices.
3. Use Cast Iron: A heavy cast-iron skillet retains heat better than non-stick. It is essential for getting that blackened Cajun exterior.
4. Let it Rest: Even small bites need to rest. Let the meat sit for 5.0 minutes after cooking so the juices redistribute.

For more information on selecting the right cut of beef, check out the USDA beef grading guide to ensure you buy high-quality meat.

Surf and Turf Options of Cajun Steak Tips

The base recipe for cajun steak tips is versatile. Here are three distinct ways to change up the menu.

The Cajun Surf and Turf

Elevate your dinner by adding shrimp. In the final minute of cooking your steak, toss in raw, peeled shrimp. The Cajun butter sauce compliments seafood perfectly. The shrimp will cook rapidly in the residual heat and spicy butter. This turns a simple meal into a date-night masterpiece.

The Creamy Cajun Pasta

Turn this appetizer into a hearty main course. Once the steak is removed from the pan, do not wipe it out. Add heavy cream and a splash of chicken broth to the drippings to deglaze the pan. Simmer until thickened, toss with cooked fettuccine, and top with the cajun steak tips.

The Vegetable Heavy Skillet

If you want to stretch the meat further, treat this like a fajita hybrid. Sauté sliced bell peppers and red onions in the same skillet before cooking the beef. Remove them, cook the beef, and toss everything back together. The sweetness of the peppers cuts through the spicy cayenne heat.

These steak tips pair wonderfully with my Cheesy Smashed Potatoes to soak up that spicy butter sauce!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts on This Spicy Delight

Mastering these cajun steak tips adds a powerful weapon to your culinary arsenal. It proves that you do not need hours of marinating or slow cooking to achieve deep, restaurant-quality flavor. The combination of the smoky crust, the tender interior, and that rich garlic butter finish is simply irresistible.