Garlic-Butter Steak Recipe

If you’ve watched any viral steak recipe videos or visited a popular steakhouse in the last 10 years, you’ve likely seen a sizzling steak served with a pat of butter on top. Other methods call for cooking the steak in butter for the last few minutes of searing. However you do it, adding butter to steak offers a number of potential benefits that can make your next meal stand out from the rest. Become an expert in cooking up a garlic butter steak with the help of a cast iron skillet for a special dinner you can whip up at any time of the year.

What Is The Best Cut Of Steak To Use?

You’ll often see fancy flavored butter added to the better cuts of steak, such as T-bones or Porterhouse steaks. However, these cuts often barely need the extra moisture and flavor that comes from being topped with compound butter. It’s a technique that can make an even bigger impact when put to good use on more affordable cuts like Top Sirloin, Skirt steaks, and Hanger steaks.

Of course, once you try the trick of adding flavored butter to your hot steak, you’re likely to prefer it that way no matter the cut you choose. There’s really no steak that won’t benefit from the addition of butter. Some people even prefer to serve their Filet Mignon this way.

Why Add Butter to Steak?

There are a number of positive effects that occur when you introduce butter at the last stages of cooking a steak. First, the melting fat will absorb into the meat and add a little extra tenderness and richness to the finished dish.

Second, exposure to the heated pan will cause some of the milk solids in the butter to brown. This adds a lot of savory flavor to the steak thanks to the Maillard reaction. 

Third, adding butter right at the end traps moisture by creating a barrier of fat on the surface of the meat. When the steak rests after cooking, this barrier ensures more of the meat’s juices stay inside. Finally, using flavored butter gives you a chance to boost the flavor on the surface without running the risk of burning delicate ingredients like fresh green herbs and minced butter.

Best Cooking Method to Use

Adding compound butter during the last stage of cooking requires a cast iron pan or other pan that can capture the butter as it liquefies and coats the meat. If you’d like to add this butter to a steak that you’re going to grill or smoke, simply add your butter to the meat as soon as it comes off of the grill. This prevents the loss of the melting butter while still giving you most of the positive effects of cooking with the butter. You’ll miss out on a little browning, but that’s not usually a concern with smoked or grilled meat anyway. In these cases, the melting butter will still soften the char or crust on the steak while increasing the juiciness.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Use a high-quality salted butter rather than a basic grocery store generic brand that might have off flavors. You don’t need imported or cultured butter necessarily, but a brand you know has a clean and pure taste is recommended.
• Cook the steak in olive oil or a high-heat oil like avocado or peanut oil before adding the flavored butter. That ensures that the steak gets the searing it needs for good flavor and texture while allowing you to lower the heat at the end to avoid burning the butter.
• Mix the flavorings into the butter when it has been softened but not melted. There’s no need to firm the butter back up before adding it to the steak either, but make sure it doesn’t melt while you’re cooking.

Recipe Variations

There’s no need to stick to just herbs and garlic to flavor the butter in this recipe. With the steak seasoned simply with just salt and pepper, you can get wild with flavored butter variations like:

• Spicy brown mustard and chopped parsley
• Green onions, lime juice, and black pepper
• Smoked or roasted garlic, fresh thyme, and a pinch of brown sugar
• Rosemary, fresh basil, and roasted mushrooms
• Shallots, sundried tomatoes, and fresh basil
• Mixed summer berries and fresh thyme for a sweet twist that pairs well with wild game too.

Garlic Butter Steak Recipe

This garlic butter steak recipe is sure to become part of your regular rotation once you give it a try. If you’re planning to grill or smoke your steaks instead, mix up the same compound butter and simply add it at the very end when you remove the meat from the heat.

Ingredients

• 2 thick-cut Ribeye or New York Strip Steaks, bone-in
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil or a high-heat cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 4 tablespoons/1 half stick of butter, softened
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, stripped from the stems
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, stripped from the stem and chopped

Instructions

1. Mix the softened butter with the minced garlic, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and some cracked black pepper. Take the steaks out and let them come to room temperature, which takes 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Sprinkle the salt and cracked black pepper over the surface of the steaks. Place a heavy cast iron pan on the stove and heat it over medium heat. Add the olive oil or other high-heat oil, letting it warm up until it’s shimmering.

3. Cook each steak separately, flipping every six to seven minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to keep track of the internal temperature. When you’re about 10 degrees below the desired level of doneness, apply about 2 tablespoons of the flavored butter to the steak. Let it melt over the surface, then flip the steak so both sides can brown. Repeat this process with the second steak while the first is resting.

Notes

The steaks will rise another 5 degrees in temperature after being removed from the hot pan. Aim to remove them a little shy of the desired level of doneness to prevent accidental overcooking.

Conclusion

This technique works great for other meats as well. Transform everyday pork chops into succulent medallions with the help of some flavored butter, or make the best chicken breasts you’ve ever had by butterflying them and sliding some of this butter inside. There are so many ways to accent your cooking with the simple combination of garlic, herbs, and butter.