Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ribeye steaks (about 8 ounces each), or your preferred cut (sirloin or strip steak work great too)
- Salt, about 1 teaspoon, plus more for seasoning
- Freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (or pressed for extra punch)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional, but adds a lovely aroma)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, for a subtle brightness)
Substitution tips: If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried thyme or rosemary will work—just use about half the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated. Grass-fed butter or ghee can be swapped in if you want a dairy-free option, but the flavor will be slightly different. And if you prefer a leaner steak, flank or flat iron are great alternatives, just adjust cooking time accordingly.
Instructions
- Take your steaks out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to let them come to room temperature. This helps them cook evenly—trust me, I learned this the hard way when a frozen steak met a hot pan once, and it was no fun.
- Pat the steaks dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it shimmer—it should be hot but not smoking.
- Carefully place the steaks in the skillet. Don’t move them around; let them sear for about 3-4 minutes on the first side until a golden-brown crust forms. You’ll know they’re ready to flip when they release easily from the pan.
- Flip the steaks and cook for another 3 minutes for medium-rare. Adjust time if you want your steak more or less done—my family prefers theirs closer to medium.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the butter, minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary to the pan.
- As the butter melts, tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to baste the steaks repeatedly with the garlic butter. This step is pure magic and smells incredible—my kids always come running to the kitchen at this point.
- Continue basting and cook for 1-2 more minutes until the steaks reach your desired doneness. Use a meat thermometer if you want to be precise (130°F for medium-rare, 140°F for medium).
- Remove the steaks from the pan and let them rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. This keeps the juices locked in, which I learned after a few dry meals early on.
- Optional: Stir in a teaspoon of lemon juice into the remaining garlic butter sauce for a bright finish.
- Slice the steaks against the grain, drizzle with the garlic butter sauce, and sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Garlic Butter Steak, recipe, cooking, food
