Easy Pan Steaks Recipes

SKILLET SEARED STEAK WITH GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Let steaks rest at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat (you want to let it get hot oil should be shimmering near smoking, preheating should take about 3 minutes if using a gas stove, longer for electric).
• Dab both sides of steak dry with paper towels then season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Place steaks in skillet and using metal tongs press down over top surface of steaks to ensure the entire bottom surface is making direct contact with skillet.
• Let cook until browned on bottom, about 3 minutes.
• Flip and continue to cook until steak is about 10 degrees away from desired doneness, approximately 3 minutes longer.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, add butter, garlic and thyme.
• Using an oven mitt grasp pan and tilt pan so butter pools to one side, spoon butter over steaks and continue to cook until steaks registers desired doneness (see notes below for temps, keep in mind they'll rise about 5 more degrees of heat), about 1 minute longer.
• Transfer to plates. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
• Recipe source: adapted from My Recipes

PERFECT PAN-SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• Place steak on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb some of the liquid and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Using half the amount of salt and pepper season one side of the steak.
• Heat your seasoned cast iron skillet to smoking hot (have hood fan on high). Add oil and swirl around to coat. (Normally olive oil would burn at such a high heat but when mixed with butter on the next step, it will not burn and adds flavor). Add steak seasoned-side down (place it in pan away from you so you don't get splattered), and then salt and pepper the other side of the steak. At this point do not touch it for two minutes. Using tongs (never pierce the meat with a fork), flip the steak and add butter, garlic and parsley to the pan next to the steak. Allow the steak to cook for 2 more minutes.
• Right after you flip the steak for the first time, with a spoon or small ladle, keep basting the melted butter over the steak. Baste continually for the full two minutes (tilt pan a little if you have to, to get the butter onto the spoon).
• After two minutes on each side, keep flipping and basting the steak each time, leaving the steak for 30 seconds before turning again. Test the steak with the poke test (see note below) and remove at medium rare at about the five to six minute mark of total cooking time. Cook a minute or two longer for medium to well. A thicker steak (such as a sirloin) may take longer.
• If you are not comfortable with the poke test and want to use a probe thermometer, hold the steak sideways with tongs and insert the probe from the side. Turn burner off at 110 degrees F and let the steak sit in the pan for five minutes. The carry over heat will continue to cook the steak (be careful if your steak is thin, this step may take less than five minutes). Baste one more time and remove to a platter and loosely cover with foil for five more minutes to allow juices to work back into the meat.
• Remove to a cutting board and either cut the steak in half for each serving or for a nicer presentation, slice on the bias and serve slices.
• Discard the pan drippings or if desired, deglaze the pan with a little wine, then add stock and simmer for a few minutes to reduce the drippings. Add a tablespoon or two of butter to thicken for a nice pan sauce .

PAN-SEARED STEAKS

Steps:

• To begin, pat the steaks dry with paper towels.
• Season the steaks all over with the salt and pepper.
• Turn on your exhaust fan and heat a heavy pan (preferably cast iron or stainless steel) over medium-high heat until it's VERY hot.
• Add the oil to the pan and heat until it begins to shimmer and move fluidly around the pan.
• Carefully set the steaks in the pan, releasing them away from you so the oil doesn't splatter in your direction. The oil should sizzle.
• Leave the steaks alone! Avoid the temptation to peek or fiddle or flip repeatedly; the steaks need a few minutes undisturbed to develop a golden crust. Flip the steaks when they release easily and the bottom is a deep-brown color, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook the steaks for another 3 to 4 minutes on the second side for rare to medium-rare. (For medium, cook 4 to 5 minutes on second side; for well-done, cook 5 to 6 minutes on second side).
• During the last minute of cooking, add the butter and thyme sprigs to the pan with the steaks.
• If you are serving the steaks unsliced, transfer them to plates and serve hot. If you plan to slice the steaks, transfer them to a cutting board and let rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 5 to 10 minutes; then slice thinly against the grain.

PAN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron) over high 5 minutes. Generously season steaks with salt and pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon butter to pan, then immediately top with one steak. Repeat with remaining 1/2 teaspoon butter and steak. Cook without moving steaks until a golden brown crust forms, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook 2 minutes more for rare, or 3 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice steaks against the grain; serve with sauce, if desired.
• Heat a 10- or 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat. Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Seconds before adding a steak, drop 1/2 teaspoon of the butter into the pan and immediately top with the steak. Repeat with the remaining steak. Sear for 3 minutes without moving the steak (to form a crust). Turn and cook for 2 minutes for rare or 3 to 4 for medium rare. Remove the steaks from the pan and let them rest on a board or platter for a few minutes before serving.

EASY PAN STEAKS

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 450 F. Heat the butter and olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the sprigs of rosemary as your pan is heating. Salt and pepper the meat to your liking (I recommend a generous pinch of each, which is a THREE-finger pinch.)
• When the butter has melted and the oil is heated, add your steaks to the pan to get a nice golden-brown sear on them. This should take about 2 minutes on each side. Then place your pan in the oven until the steaks are cooked to your preference, 7 to 9 minutes. (Eight minutes makes a perfect medium, my favorite!)
• Allow the meat to rest 5 minutes before slicing and serving. These rosemary-infused steaks are nothing short of delicious.

CAST IRON PAN-SEARED STEAK (OVEN-FINISHED)

Steps:

• Place steaks side by side in large casserole dish. Add orange juice, cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Remove casserole dish from refrigerator. Cover steaks with plastic wrap and let reach room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat.
• Place steaks on a clean work surface and generously rub with steak seasoning and black pepper.
• Cook steaks in the hot skillet until lightly browned on the bottom, 2 1/2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side and red in the center, about 2 minutes more. Place skillet, with steaks, into the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until steaks are firm and reddish-pink to lightly pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read from 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Remove steaks from oven; season with salt. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

PAN-SEARED STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Heat oil in a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet (not a nonstick) over medium-high until it begins to smoke. Pat steak dry with paper towels. Season each side with 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon cracked pepper.
• Cook steak in skillet over medium-high heat until a dark crust has formed, 5 to 7 minutes per side (reduce heat if meat is browning too quickly). Holding steak with tongs, quickly brown all edges, turning as necessary; lay steak flat in skillet.
• Transfer skillet to oven. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of steak registers desired doneness, 5 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate; spread with 1 tablespoon Steak Butter. Cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest 5 to 10 minutes (temperature will then rise another 5 to 10 degrees). Slice across the grain; serve with remaining Steak Butter. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers, up to 2 days.