Bourbon Steak Tips are tender bites of steak that have been bathed in a sweet, buttery bourbon sauce and have so much flavor!
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❤️ Why you'll love it
Quick prep: rather than marinating the steak before cooking, these steak tips are already cut into bite sized pieces meaning less time to wait for dinner.
No marinating needed: the steak is cooked first, then coated with the sauce cutting prep time down a couple of hours!
Fast cook: the total time for cooking is around 12 minutes. The entire recipe is ready in under 30 minutes (including prep time)
Bursting with Flavor: the bourbon butter sauce is sweet and salty packs a lot of natural flavors from the meat juices.
🥘 Ingredients
Steak: pick a good steak for this recipe, you can use venison tenderloin or sirloin tips cut into 1-inch cubes
Extra-virgin olive oil: you will need just a little oil to coat the skillet and fry the steak tips
Bourbon: this doesn't have to be the most expensive bourbon out there, you can use whatever bourbon you have in the liquor cabinet
Maple syrup: adds a sweet complimentary contrast to the bourbon marinade.
Salted butter: If you use unsalted butter, you will need to add enough salt to the recipe to suit your tastes.
Black pepper or red pepper flakes: for an optional addition of heat
Fresh chives: for flavor and garnish
🔪 Instructions
- Pat the steak bites dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a hot skillet until just smoking.
- Place steak tips in hot skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes, until a rich brown color all over. Transfer steak tips to a platter and tent loosely with foil.
- Remove skillet from heat and add the bourbon, maple syrup, and cider vinegar.
- Return the skillet to the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet while the sauce is cooking.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in the butter and season to taste.
- Return steak pieces and any accumulated juices to skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle with chopped chives to garnish.
🥄 Equipment
Cast iron skillet: I recommend a cast iron skillet because it holds the heat evenly, however a non stick skillet can be used in its place.
Hand whisk: to whisk the bourbon sauce together.
🥫Storage
Store any leftover steak in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
📖 Variations
- Brown sugar or honey can be substituted for the maple syrup
- Substitute balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar for the apple cider vinegar
- Use brandy or gold rum in place of the bourbon
💭 Tips
- If using venison, remove any silverskin from the meat before cooking to prevent any gamey flavor that may come through.
📚 Related Recipes
Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops are another delicious recipe with bourbon.
I love this Salted Chocolate Bourbon Praline Fudge and it makes a great holiday gift.
This Crockpot Venison Stew is a rich and hearty comfort food meal.
🍽 Serve with...
Serve with a side of grilled onions, roasted red skinned potatoes, or garlic mashed cauliflower.
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📖 Recipe
Bourbon Steak Tips
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1½ pounds venison steaks , cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup bourbon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon chili pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives , chopped
Instructions
- Pat the steak bites dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a hot skillet until just smoking.
- Place steak tips in hot skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes, until a rich brown color all over. Transfer steak tips to a platter and tent loosely with foil.
- Remove skillet from heat and add the bourbon, maple syrup, and cider vinegar.
- Return the skillet to the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet while the sauce is cooking.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in the butter and season to taste.
- Return steak pieces and any accumulated juices to skillet and toss to coat. Sprinkle with chopped chives to garnish.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in the butter and chili pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Emily Johnson says
Thank you for sharing your recipes. I always have venison in the freezer and welcome new ideas as to how to prepare. With the bourbon butter bites recipe, do you think one could change out brandy for bourbon? Asking because I have leftover brandy but no bourbon. Although, I could probably figure out something to do with the leftover liquor...
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Brandy is a distinctly different flavor than bourbon but will work in this recipe along with a gold rum. Let me know if you do try it, I would like to know what you thought. 🙂
Jamie says
One of my recipes to cook vension steak. I cover mine in olive oil over night to soften it. I also add mushrooms to the meat and serve it over rice with plenty of sauce.
Shelby says
Hi Jamie! We love mushrooms, a great idea also to cover in oil to soften it (and add fat - if your keto like me!) Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Gloria says
I have never had venison....but we love to cook with bourbon. Sounds like a meat lovers dream. I will have to see if my neighbour has any left in his freezer. Maybe I can convince him to give it to me...if I give him this back in return.
Kristen Greazel says
My husband's friend is always sending venison our way. I can't wait to try this!
Claudia Lamascolo says
my husband would love this. I wish I had some venison . I cant wait till he goes up north to bag another deer .. its been a while now. I am saving this delicious recipe for when we get one again
Dannii says
My husband loves venison but I have never cooked it. I’m going to have to try this.
Natalie says
YUM! This venison looks so tender and moist - simply delicious! Can't wait to try this recipe soon!
Stacy says
This was fantastic! I loved the yummy sauce that cooked down. It coated perfectly. Thanks for a great way to fix our yearly venison!
Shelby says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for letting me know!