Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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In This Post

  • Why You’ll Love This Ribeye Steak Recipe
  • What Is Ribeye Steak?
  • How To Cook Ribeye Steak
  • How Long To Cook Ribeye Steak?
  • Tips For Cooking The Best Ribeye
  • Storage Tips
  • Serving Ideas
  • More Easy Steak Recipes
  • My Tools For This Ribeye Recipe
  • Recipe Reviews

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious ribeye steak recipe, look no further! Cooking ribeye steak in a cast iron skillet is simple and produces a juicy, flavorful pan seared ribeye every time. This method is also a bit easier than most of my steak recipes (including sirloin steak, chuck eye steak, and filet mignon) that use a stovetop-to-oven method. Even if you don’t know how to cook ribeye steak yet, this recipe will have you looking like a professional chef!

Why You’ll Love This Ribeye Steak Recipe

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2)
  • Tender and juicy with golden crust
  • Time chart to avoid overcooking
  • Fast and easy to make
  • Simple ingredients
  • Perfect with any side dish, for any occasion
Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

What Is Ribeye Steak?

Ribeye steak, sometimes spelled rib-eye or rib eye steak, is a flavorful, tender cut of beef with plenty of marbling. It’s cut from the rib cage area of the cow (i.e. from the rib roast) and is considered one of the best steaks. When the bone is left in and sticks out, this is called a tomahawk steak.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for cooking ribeye steak, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Ribeye Steaks– I used boneless ribeye steaks, which is recommended because this allows them to cook more evenly (meat near the bone will cook more slowly, which can lead to overcooking other parts). The best ribeyes will be 1 to 1.5 inches thick, as these are less prone to overcooking, with a good amount of marbling.
  • Seasoning – Salting liberally is the key (I use sea salt). Salt draws out the moisture, creating a dry brine that is then re-absorbed back into the steak to make it juicier and more tender. You’ll also need black pepper to bring out the flavor. If you like, you can use other seasonings, such as Montreal steak seasoning.
  • Oil – Restaurants commonly use canola oil to cook their ribeye steak recipes, but I prefer less processed avocado oil instead. Use any high-heat cooking oil you like.
  • Compound Butter – Made with garlic cloves and fresh herbs like parsley, fresh rosemary sprigs, and fresh thyme, compound butter really elevates a simple steak.

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (4)

TIP: Make compound butter ahead to save time.

If you want to cut down on wait time, make the compound butter the night before, so you can start cooking your ribeye steak right away when you’re ready. This also allows the flavors to develop in the butter.

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How To Cook Ribeye Steak

This section shows how to cook a ribeye in a cast iron skillet, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Make the garlic butter. Make thecompound butter according to the instructions here. Freeze for30 minutes, or chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before using.
  2. Season the steak. Pat both sides of the ribeye steak dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.
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Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (7)
  1. Sear the steak. Heat the oil in acast iron skillet, until screaming hot. Move one steak to the pan. Cook for5-6 minutes, flipping every 30 seconds with tongs, but not moving around in between.
  2. Add the butter. With one minute left in cooking, add compound butter to the pan and spoon over the ribeye recipe.
  3. Rest and serve. Remove the steak from the pan and cover with foilfor10 minutesto rest before cutting. Repeat the cooking process with the second steak. Serve the cast iron ribeye steak recipe with an additional tablespoon of compound butter on top.
Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (8)
Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (9)

How Long To Cook Ribeye Steak?

For a perfect medium rare steak, cook it for 5-6 minutes, flipping every 30 seconds, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 130 degrees F. Rest for 5 minutes to reach 135 degrees F.

If you prefer a different doneness, use the ribeye cook time chart below:

DonenessTimeInternal Temperature
Rare3-4 minutes120 degrees F
Medium Rare5-6 minutes130 degrees F
Medium7-8 minutes140 degrees F
Medium Well9-10 minutes150 degrees F
Well Done11-12 minutes160 degrees F

Note: The times and temperatures above are when you should remove the steak from the pan. It will rise an additional 5 degrees while resting. These times also assume that you removed the steaks from the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking (see tips below), so it will take a bit longer if you don’t.

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Tips For Cooking The Best Ribeye

A juicy ribeye recipe is a thing of beauty and may seem like the domain of professional chefs, but it’s actually easy to make a delicious ribeye at home. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

  • Bring to room temp. If you have time, let the steak sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This will help ensure more even cooking. (It’s okay to skip this if needed.)
  • Leave steaks in one place to sear. You do want to flip frequently for this method, but don’t move the steaks around in between. This ensures good browning.
  • Flip with tongs or a spatula. Do not use a fork or squeeze the beef. This will cause the juices to run out.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check the temp. A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure you get the doneness you want (check the temperature chart above).
  • Don’t overcook. To get the maximum flavor and juiciness in your steak, cook medium or less.
  • Let the steaks rest. They will retain their juices better if they sit for 5-10 minutes after cooking, before you cut into them.
  • Slice against the grain. Cutting against the grain helps to break apart the muscle fibers in the meat, resulting in a more tender texture that is easier to chew.

Storage Tips

  • Store: Cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: This ribeye steak recipe is best reheated in the oven at 250-300 degree F. For more details on the method, check the instructions for reheating filet mignon or reverse sear steak, as it will be the same.
  • Freeze: Wrap leftover steak tightly or vacuum seal, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Serving Ideas

Now that you know how to make the perfect ribeye, the next question is what to make to go with it. Here are my favorite sides with it:

  • Easy Veggies – Use the same compound butter to saute your favorite veggies such as sauteed asparagus (shown in photo above), sauteed broccoli, or sauteed zucchini.
  • Healthy Salads – Steak always pairs well with leafy salads, such asspring mix salad,wedge salad (the typical steakhouse starter), or even a7 layer salad if you want to prep ahead.
  • Classic Sides – Serve your ribeye steak with your favorite steakhouse sides! The classics are mashed potatoes or steak fries (but you can sub mashed sweet potatoes ormashed cauliflower) and roasted baby potatoes (as pictured above) or larger diced roasted potatoes or faster air fried potatoes. For your veggies, try creamy spinach, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted green beans.
  • Breakfast – Steak isn’t just good for dinner. You can’t go wrong with steak and eggs for breakfast!

More Easy Steak Recipes

If you liked this ribeye steak recipe, you may enjoy some of my other ways to cook steak:

London Broil

Grilled Steak

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

New York Strip

  • Cast Iron Skillet – Ribeye in cast iron tastes the best! The one I use can be found in red on Amazon or in white at Target. It is ideal for steaks because it provides the intense heat needed to sear the exterior while cooking the interior to perfection.
  • Tongs – A pair with long handles keeps your hands cool when prepping this ribeye steak recipe. You can find them at Amazon or Target.
  • Meat Thermometer – For a perfectly cooked center every time.

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Recipe Card

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (17)

5 from 16 votes☝️ Tap stars to rate or tap here to leave a review!

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!)

Cooking a perfect ribeye at home is surprisingly easy! This ribeye steak recipe comes out juicy, tender, and flavorful every time.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Total: 15 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Make the compound butter according to the instructions here. Freeze for 30 minutes, or chill in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight before using.

  2. Pat both sides of the ribeye dry. Season with salt and pepper. If you have time, let the steak sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, which will help with more even cooking. (It’s okay to skip this if needed.)

  3. Add oil to a cast iron skillet and preheat to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C; on most stoves, this is medium high heat). The oil should be just barely smoking.

  4. For medium-rare steak, set a timer for 5 minutes. Move one of the steaks to the pan. Cook the ribeye for 5-6 minutes, flipping every 30 seconds but not moving around in between. With one minute left in cooking, add a pat (~1 tablespoon) of the compound butter to the pan and spoon over steak. If you want a different level of doneness, aim for about 3-4 minutes for rare, 7-8 minutes for medium, 9-10 minutes for medium well, or 11-12 minutes for well done. The final internal temperature should be 120 degrees for rare, 130 degrees for medium rare, 140 degrees for medium, 150 degrees for medium well, or 160 degrees for well done (internal temperature will rise an additional 5 degrees when resting in step 5).

  5. Once the steak is done, remove from the pan to prevent overcooking, and cover with aluminum foil for 10 minutes to rest before cutting.

  6. Repeat steps 4-5 with the other ribeye steak.

  7. Serve each steak with an additional tablespoon of compound butter on top.

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Try More Of My Recipes

  • Steak And Potatoes

  • Surf And Turf

  • Sirloin Steak Recipe

  • Creamed Spinach Recipe

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/2 12-oz ribeye steak

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories519

Fat42.4g

Protein34.5g

Total Carbs0.7g

Net Carbs0.5g

Fiber0.2g

Sugar0g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keywords:cast iron ribeye, cooking ribeye steak, how to cook ribeye steak, pan seared ribeye, ribeye steak recipe

Calories: 519 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Cast Iron Ribeye Steak Recipe

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FAQs

Ribeye Steak Recipe (Tender & Easy!) - Wholesome Yum? ›

To tenderize a ribeye, you have several options. Marinades that contain ingredients like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar help break down connective tissues. Other ingredients like pineapple juice contain enzymes that tenderize meat.

How to make ribeye steak more tender? ›

To tenderize a ribeye, you have several options. Marinades that contain ingredients like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar help break down connective tissues. Other ingredients like pineapple juice contain enzymes that tenderize meat.

What's the best seasoning for ribeye steak? ›

What seasoning goes well with ribeye? Basic ribeye seasoning is usually just salt and pepper. But ribeye steak also works well with other herbs and spices, including basil, cinnamon, rosemary, paprika, and minced onions.

How is ribeye best cooked? ›

For the perfect medium-rare degree of doneness, your Ribeye steak grill time should be 9–12 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 12–15 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F. Rest your steaks for 5 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil.

How to make steak tender and juicy? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

The Aging. Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

Is it better to cook ribeye with oil or butter? ›

The oil has a higher smoke point which means it won't burn when you crank the heat up high. The butter, however, gives it great flavor. Using both slightly decreases the smoke factor while providing a nice sizzle for the fat on the outside of the steak to crisp up.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook a ribeye steak? ›

To cook your steaks, heat a frying pan – to a moderate heat for fillet, hot for T-bone or very hot for rib-eye. Add a swirl of oil, with a whole garlic clove and a herb sprig. Season the steaks with salt and pepper and cook for 1½-2½ mins on each side.

Should you marinate ribeye steak before cooking? ›

However, should steaks be marinated? Not always. Marinades can add flavor to steak and tenderize it, but not all steaks need it. If you're using a cut that's full of flavor and tenderness, like boneless ribeye, you might want to skip the marinade.

How do you season a ribeye before cooking? ›

How do you prepare and season steak? The best way to season steak is to add a generous amount of salt to both sides about 45 minutes before cooking. Then, just before cooking, add your other spices, like black pepper and garlic powder, ensuring that you cover both sides of the steak.

Should you cook a ribeye fast or slow? ›

As a tender cut of beef, ribeye tastes best when cooked just to the point of juiciness, between rare and medium. This is usually accomplished with high-heat cooking methods such as grilling. Grilling: A ribeye is easiest to grill with a two-zone fire, with one medium-hot zone and one medium-low zone.

How does Bobby Flay cook a ribeye steak? ›

Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium high heat until it begins to shimmer. Working in batches, place the steaks, spice-rub-side down, into the pan and sear until crust develops, about 4 minutes. Turn the steaks over and sear for an additional 4 minutes to develop crust on the second side.

Is it better to grill or pan fry ribeye steak? ›

Grilled has long been one of the most popular ways to enjoy ribeye steak. This yummy cut of steak is tender and full of flavor, and the grill only enhances its texture and taste. In fact, some say that the grilled sear on ribeye makes it taste even better than it would when cooked on a pan.

What does Texas Roadhouse do to make their steaks so tender? ›

How does Texas Roadhouse tenderise their steaks? Season each side of the steak well with the seasoning and set aside to rest for about 40 minutes. This causes the salt to infiltrate the surface (through osmosis) and actually aids in the breakdown of muscle fibres, resulting in more tender meat.

What is the secret to a tender steak? ›

By adding salt to your steak, you will help pull out moisture from the meat, enriching the flavor of your steak while tenderizing it in the process. Salt will act as a natural brine and can be added up to 24 hours before cooking, instilling deep, rich flavors and tenderness to any cut of beef.

Why is my ribeye steak tough and chewy? ›

Meat needs sufficient time and temperature to transform the collagen into gelatin. If removed from the heat too soon, the connective tissue will remain intact. The steak may appear juicier when rare, but can have a chewy, sinewy texture.

How do I make my ribeye not chewy? ›

Slice Against the Grain: When you're ready to serve, make sure you slice your steak against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers and makes each bite more tender. Rest Your Steak: After cooking, let your steak rest for about 10 minutes.

Will pouring lime juice on a ribeye steak tenderize it? ›

Today's ribeye recipe does just that using a Mexican inspired marinade of olive oil, garlic, lime juice, paprika, cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper. The spice mixture adds a nice depth of flavor to the ribeye and the lime juice helps to tenderize the meat.

How do you get the most tender steak? ›

By adding salt to your steak, you will help pull out moisture from the meat, enriching the flavor of your steak while tenderizing it in the process. Salt will act as a natural brine and can be added up to 24 hours before cooking, instilling deep, rich flavors and tenderness to any cut of beef.

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