Cast Iron Steak
Make restaurant quality Cast Iron Steak at home with simple ingredients that comes out tender and juicy every time.
There’s no beating a delicious steak dinner. Whether you’re looking for a tasty yet fast busy night’s dinner or fancy-feeling, dine-at-home experience, you can’t go wrong a steak in a cast iron skillet. And it all starts with a well seasoned cast iron pan.
This post has been updated from its original August 19, 2019 publishing with new content, photography, and clarified recipe card.
Learning how to cook a steak in a cast iron skillet is an important rite of passage for the home cook. Cast iron can be intimidating but with a little knowledge, love, and care, that skillet will last a lifetime and yield some of the best food, including steaks, you’ve ever had.
Recipe Ingredients and Equipment:
- Good quality steak — We used New York strip steak. You’ll want at least 1-2 inch thick steak.
- High heat cooking oil — We used canola, but avocado oil and sunflower oil are excellent options too. You want to use a high smoke point oil. We do not recommend using olive oil.
- Salt and pepper — Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper help develop a nice crust but the table versions are great too.
- Butter — To control the saltiness, we used unsalted, but you use whatever you have.
- Seasonings — Garlic and fresh herbs like rosemary, which is what we used.
- 12″ cast iron skillet — a 10- or 15″ skillet will work as well, but you may have to cook in batches if using a smaller pan.
- Instant read thermometer — Cooking by temperature is accurate whereas cooking by time is not. This instrument will ensure your steaks (and all meats) come out to your liking every time…or not make you sick by being under cooked (looking at you chicken.)
Step by step directions:
Step 1 — 20-30 minutes before you’re ready to cook, pull the steaks out to come to room temp, this will allow them to cook evenly. Then pat the steaks dry with paper towels and season all sides with salt and pepper. Heat the skillet on medium high heat and add the oil.
Step 2 — Place steaks in the hot cast iron skillet. If you have a smaller skillet, large cut steaks, or several steaks, you’ll need to cook in batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes for thicker steaks and 1-2 minutes for thinner steaks. Remove steak, and reduce to medium heat.
Step 3 — Add butter, garlic, and fresh rosemary into the skillet and give a quick stir.
Step 4 — Return the steaks to the hot skillet and finish cooking. Use a meat thermometer to determine desired doneness. Remove the steaks from the cast iron pan, place them on a plate or baking sheet and cover will foil. Allow the to rest for 5 minutes.
Steak doneness temperatures and tips
- We can’t stress enough to test for doneness by using a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer. Any given cooking time is a gauge of when you should check the temp.
- Avoid touching fat or bone when taking meat temperature.
- Remove your steaks from the heat when the thermometer reads 5°F lower than desired doneness. The internal temperature will continue to rise while the steaks rest.
- Rare – cool red center 125°F / 52°C
- Medium rare – warm red center 135°F / 57°C
- Medium – warm pink center 145°F / 63°C
- Medium well – slightly pink center 150°F / 66°C
- Well – no pink 160°F / 71°C
- If the steaks are really thick, sear the sides.
- Use tongs to press the steaks down while cooking to get a perfect seared steak.
- While cooking baste or spoon the butter and herbs over the steak.
Recipe FAQs
No, you do not need to oil the skillet if it has been properly seasoned. However, we do add oil to the skillet before cooking.
No, you can use whatever herbs you enjoy most. We love using fresh thyme sprigs.
Absolutely. Most blends have salt and pepper in them as well.
You can use whatever cut you prefer; t-bone, filet mignon, ribeyes, and more.
What do I serve with Cast Iron Steak
The perfect steak needs no adornment like Worcestershire sauce or steak sauce, but it could do with a few side dishes.
Potato Side Dishes:
Baked potatoes, Dutch Oven Potatoes, Scalloped Potato Gratin, Loaded Bacon Cheddar Baked Potato Salad (The Complete Savorist), Melting Potatoes (Family Fresh Meals),
Vegetable Side Dishes:
Asparagus and Peas, Cranberry Cashew Broccoli, Honey Glazed Carrots, Steamed Asparagus, Green Beans and Bacon (The Magical Slow Cooker), Milk and Honey Corn on the Cob (The Magical Slow Cooker),
Other Tasty Side Dishes:
Baked Beans and Bacon, Rice Pilaf (The Complete Savorist), Cheddar Cheese Scones (Family Fresh Meals), Crack Mac and Cheese (The Rockstar Mommy)
Cast Iron Steak
Equipment
- 12" Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp canola oil
- 4 steak
- 3 tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ tsp black pepper ground
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves or 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 3 sprigs rosemary fresh
Instructions
- In a 12” cast iron pan, heat canola oil on medium high heat.
- Season each side of the steaks with salt and pepper.
- Add steaks to skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove steak, reduce heat to medium and add garlic, butter, and rosemary.
- Return steaks to skillet and finishing cooking (2-3 minutes).
- Remove from the skillet, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Looks good!
This was so delicious, tender, and juicy. I added fresh thyme since that’s what I had, it was a nice touch!
Such a great way to cook steak. It looks perfectly cooked too.
After using this method, I refuse to cook steak any other way! Yum!
This cast iron version of steak looks so tender and juicy. I will follow your recipe next time.
This is my new favorite way to cook up steaks! Thanks for the great tutorial.
Such a simple and delicious way to cook a steak!
Delicious steak recipe. Very well explained and well cooked. We loved its flavors and will be making it again for sure.
Nothing beats a good simple steak, and this is just that! I’ve always said a good steak doesn’t need anything more than salt and pepper, BUT I am a total sucker for rosemary and beef together. Something about that combo is just such a cozy win. And butter, well, always. Fantastic recipe!
My husband was the one that made this but he loved it! He said he’s going to use this method from now on!
We had guests over this weekend, and I made these steaks for all of us. They’re some of the best I’ve ever had.
I have to admit I love cooking in cast iron pans and only use a big stainless steel pot for pasta
I love how simple yet delicious this recipe is, the steak comes out so good.
This has become my absolute favorite way to cook a steak. Love all the tips in this recipe!
I love how easily this steak comes together with simply a cast iron skillet! Definitely the perfect delicious and quick meal. So much flavor too.
I really loved how easy to make these steaks were. Thanks for all the great tips!
This is the perfect way to cook steak. Thanks for all the tips.
I have not used a cast iron pan for cooking steak, but I need to try it after reading this! I love the idea of a steak with a crispy crust on the outside and a juicy and tender inside.