Pan Seared Steak + Steak Meal Prep Ideas

Pan Seared Steak + Steak Meal Prep Ideas

This Pan-Seared Steak has a garlic rosemary-infused butter that makes it taste steakhouse quality. You’ll be impressed at how easy it is to make the perfect steak – seared and caramelized on the outside, and so juicy inside.

Thank you to Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this garlic butter steak recipe. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.

As everyone is staying home, working from home and homeschooling, people are cooking way more often and looking to improve their cooking skills. You all have been asking for more simple and delicious recipes that come together fast and have minimal ingredients. This steak recipe is so satisfying and will impress your entire family.

The BEST Pan-Seared Steak

This 20-minute recipe is done on the stovetop in one pan (no need to finish it in the oven). This is one of our favorite steak recipes and we make it year-round because it’s such a quick and convenient cooking method. That garlic butter is lip-smacking good! Read on for great tips on how to improve beef sustainability, reduce food waste and you will love our ideas for easy meal prep with leftover steak.

Pan Seared Steak + Steak Meal Prep Ideas

This Pan-Seared Steak has a garlic rosemary-infused butter that makes it taste steakhouse quality. You’ll be impressed at how easy it is to make the perfect steak – seared and caramelized on the outside, and so juicy inside.

Thank you to Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this garlic butter steak recipe. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.

As everyone is staying home, working from home and homeschooling, people are cooking way more often and looking to improve their cooking skills. You all have been asking for more simple and delicious recipes that come together fast and have minimal ingredients. This steak recipe is so satisfying and will impress your entire family.

The BEST Pan-Seared Steak

This 20-minute recipe is done on the stovetop in one pan (no need to finish it in the oven). This is one of our favorite steak recipes and we make it year-round because it’s such a quick and convenient cooking method. That garlic butter is lip-smacking good! Read on for great tips on how to improve beef sustainability, reduce food waste and you will love our ideas for easy meal prep with leftover steak.

Ingredients for Garlic Butter Steak.

It really doesn’t get any easier than this and you don’t need much to make a lip-smacking good steak. We used 2 New York Strip Steaks (pictured below), each weighing 1 pound and 1 1/4″ thick. Keep in mind a thicker steak will take longer to cook through and a thinner steak will cook faster.

Well-marbled steaks will give you the juiciest results. Our favorite steaks to cook on a skillet are:

  • New York Steak
  • Top Sirloin Steak
  • Ribeye Steak
      Ingredients for Garlic Butter Steak.

 

How to Pan Sear Steaks:

  1. Pat dry – use paper towels to pat the steaks dry to get a perfect sear and reduce oil splatter.
  2. Season generously – just before cooking steaks, sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and pepper.
  3. Preheat the pan on medium and brush with oil. Using just 1/2 Tbsp oil reduces splatter.
  4. Sear steaks – add steaks and sear each side 3-4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then use tongs to turn steaks on their sides and sear edges (1 min per edge).
  5. Add butter and aromatics – melt in butter with quartered garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs. Tilt pan to spoon garlic butter over steaks and cook to your desired doneness (see chart below).
  6. Remove steak and rest 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.

Pro Tip: We prefer using a large cast-iron pan for best heat conduction, but a large heavy stainless steel pan will also work.

Pan Seared Steak + Steak Meal Prep Ideas

This Pan-Seared Steak has a garlic rosemary-infused butter that makes it taste steakhouse quality. You’ll be impressed at how easy it is to make the perfect steak – seared and caramelized on the outside, and so juicy inside.

Thank you to Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this garlic butter steak recipe. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.

As everyone is staying home, working from home and homeschooling, people are cooking way more often and looking to improve their cooking skills. You all have been asking for more simple and delicious recipes that come together fast and have minimal ingredients. This steak recipe is so satisfying and will impress your entire family.

The BEST Pan-Seared Steak

This 20-minute recipe is done on the stovetop in one pan (no need to finish it in the oven). This is one of our favorite steak recipes and we make it year-round because it’s such a quick and convenient cooking method. That garlic butter is lip-smacking good! Read on for great tips on how to improve beef sustainability, reduce food waste and you will love our ideas for easy meal prep with leftover steak.

Ingredients for Garlic Butter Steak.

It really doesn’t get any easier than this and you don’t need much to make a lip-smacking good steak. We used 2 New York Strip Steaks (pictured below), each weighing 1 pound and 1 1/4″ thick. Keep in mind a thicker steak will take longer to cook through and a thinner steak will cook faster.

Well-marbled steaks will give you the juiciest results. Our favorite steaks to cook on a skillet are:

  • New York Steak
  • Top Sirloin Steak
  • Ribeye Steak

How to Pan Sear Steaks:

  1. Pat dry – use paper towels to pat the steaks dry to get a perfect sear and reduce oil splatter.
  2. Season generously – just before cooking steaks, sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and pepper.
  3. Preheat the pan on medium and brush with oil. Using just 1/2 Tbsp oil reduces splatter.
  4. Sear steaks – add steaks and sear each side 3-4 minutes until a brown crust has formed then use tongs to turn steaks on their sides and sear edges (1 min per edge).
  5. Add butter and aromatics – melt in butter with quartered garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs. Tilt pan to spoon garlic butter over steaks and cook to your desired doneness (see chart below).
  6. Remove steak and rest 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.

How to Pan Sear Steaks

Pro Tip: We prefer using a large cast-iron pan for best heat conduction, but a large heavy stainless steel pan will also work.

Steak Doneness Temperature Chart:

A steaks internal temperature continues to rise as it rests, so remove steaks from the pan about 5-10 degrees before reaching your desired doneness. Use this chart to determine steak doneness when testing with an instant-read thermometer. For example, if you desire a medium doneness steak, remove it from the pan at 145 degrees F and it should rise to 150-155˚F as it rests. The USDA recommends cooking steaks to at least 145 degrees. Read more beef safety tips here. Use the following steak temperature chart. These numbers reflect the final temperature after resting 10 minutes.

  • Medium Rare (soft, dark pink inside): 145 degrees F
  • Medium (soft, some pink inside): 160 degrees F
  • Well Done (very firm, no pink inside): 170 degrees F

Steak Doneness Temperature Chart

Pro Tip: Check the temperature using an instant-read thermometer, inserting it horizontally into the side of the steak, so it penetrates the thickest part of the center of the steak (without touching the bone or fat portions).

Pro Tip

What to Serve with Steaks:

Steak is so versatile but our favorite sides for making the perfect steak dinner are:

  • Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • Oven-roasted Baby Red Potatoes.
  • Another classic steak pairing is Corn on the Cob.
  • Chimichurri Sauce is a quick way to add tons of flavor

Pro Tips for the Best Steak:

  • Preheat pan 5 minutes before adding steak for a great sear with good color and flavor.
  • Press steak down just as it hits the pan to ensure steak makes contact with the surface of the pan.
  • Loosely cover and rest steaks on a cutting board 10 minutes before slicing so they don’t dry out.
  • Don’t slice too thin, or the steak cools too quickly.
  • Slice steak against the grain and at an angle for a steakhouse presentation

Pro Tips for the Best Steak

How to Buy and Store Beef:

We love buying larger packages of beef, which are often a better value in price per pound. Once we have our meal plan for the week figured out, we refrigerate what we plan to cook within 3-4 days and freeze the rest. To preserve the quality of our steaks, we vacuum seal since air is the enemy of food. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, you can also use a freezer-safe zip bag and squeeze out as much air as possible before freezing. To reduce waste, follow these guidelines:

  • Refrigerate Steaks (at 40˚F) for 3-4 days from purchase date
  • Freeze Steaks for 6-12 months*
  • Refrigerate or freeze right after purchasing
  • Place in freezer bags removing as much air as possible, or vacuum seal.

How to Buy and Store Beef

Steak Meal Prep:

Did you know 40% of all food brought home in America goes uneaten? Some of the things we do to reduce waste are to eat what we have in our kitchen and also to repurpose leftovers. Leftover steak is perfect for meal planning. Cooked beef can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen 2-3 months. We love using leftover steak to meal prep Steak Cobb Salad in reusable to-go containers. Here are some more great ideas for using up leftover steak:

  • Dice or thinly slice cooked steak for tacos or Steak Fajitas
  • Whip up some easy Cheesesteak Quesadillas
  • Make a quick Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

Love Beef? Visit Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. for more great dinner inspiration and recipes.

Steak Meal Prep

Pan-Seared Steak with Garlic Butter

This Pan-Seared Steak has a garlic butter that makes it taste like a steakhouse quality meal. You’ll be impressed at how easy it is to make the perfect steak that’s seared on the outside, and perfectly tender inside.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs New York Strip Steaks (2 steaks), or Ribeye or Top Sirloin Steaks (1 lb each steak, 1 1/4” thick)
  • 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil, or any high heat cooking oil like canola or extra light olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary

BBQ Chicken on the Grill

BBQ Chicken on the Grill

The best recipe for grilling perfect BBQ chicken for summer gatherings and cookouts.

Along with hot dogs and hamburgers, barbecued chicken is about as classic as it gets when it comes time for grilling.

The Trick To Good Grilled BBQ Chicken

But chicken takes longer to cook than either hot dogs or hamburgers and loves lower cooking temperatures, so it’s easy to mess up by under-cooking, over-charring, or both. The trick to good BBQ Chicken?

 

How To Grill BBQ Chicken

How Long To Grill Chicken

Done right, it will take at least an hour, and even up to 2 hours. Remember that barbecue is slow and low, grilling is hot and fast. You can grill a chicken breast, but chicken thighs, legs, or wings are far better barbecued.

The key here is to moderate your heat, however you can. Either set the coals of the grill all on one side so you have a cool spot, put the chicken on the top rack of the grill, farther away from the heat, or, if you have a gas grill, just turn the heat to low. Slow and steady makes the best BBQ chicken.

How To Grill BBQ Chicken

The following is more of a “how-to” than a recipe. We recommend using your favorite barbecue sauce; we have several homemade barbecue sauce recipes which would work beautifully with chicken.

Do you have a favorite BBQ chicken recipe? Or tip you would like to share? Please let us know about it in the comments.

Best Cuts for BBQ Chicken

The good news is that pretty much any cut of chicken is well-suited for barbecuing. Generally speaking, legs and thighs will hold up better to long, slow cooking than will breasts, but as long as you cook your chicken to the proper temperature (160°F for breasts and 170°F for thighs) all should work out deliciously. If you’re looking to barbecue a whole chicken, we recommend

BBQ Chicken on the Grill

PREP TIME5 mins
COOK TIME105 mins
TOTAL TIME110 mins
SERVINGS4 to 6 servings

Chicken thighs and legs will hold up better to long, slow cooking than will breasts, which can more easily dry out. If you barbecue breasts, keep them on the coolest part of the grill or follow this method.

This recipe assumes fairly large chicken pieces (like the main pieces from a 4 to 5-pound whole chicken). If you are working with smaller chicken pieces, they may require a shorter cooking time. If you are cooking wings, they too may be done before the other larger pieces.

A note about the skin. Even if you do not plan on eating the chicken skin, it’s still best to barbecue it with it on. The skin will protect the chicken pieces from drying out.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken parts (legs, thighs, wings, breasts)
  • Kosher salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce, store-bought or homemade

Method

  1. Oil and salt the chicken pieces:

    Coat the chicken pieces with olive oil and sprinkle salt over them on all sides.
    Oil and salt the chicken pieces

  2. Prepare the grill:

    Prepare one side of your grill for high, direct heat. If you are using charcoal or wood, make sure there is a cool side to the grill where there are few to no coals.

  3. Sear the chicken, then move to the cool side of the grill:

    Lay the chicken pieces skin side down on the hottest side of the grill in order to sear the skin side well. Grill uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how hot the grill is (you do not want the chicken to burn).

    Once you have a good sear on one side, turn the chicken pieces over and move them to the cooler side of the grill.

    If you are using a gas grill, maintain the flame on only one side of the grill, and move the chicken pieces to the cooler side, not directly over the flame. Reduce the temp to low or medium low (between 250°F and 275°F, no more than 300°F).

    Cover the grill and cook undisturbed for 20 to 30 minutes.
    Sear the chicken, then move to the cool side of the grill

  4. Turn over, baste, and cook until done:

    Turn the chicken pieces over and baste them with your favorite barbecue sauce. Cover the grill again and allow to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes.

    Repeat, turning the chicken pieces over, basting them with sauce, covering, and cooking for another 10 to 30 minutes.

    The timing will depend on your grill set-up, the size of your chicken pieces, and how cold your chicken pieces are to start with! If you’re grilling smaller pieces of chicken on a charcoal grill, they may be done much earlier. The goal is to maintain a low enough grill temp so that the chicken cooks “low and slow.”

    The chicken is done when the internal temperature of the chicken pieces are 160°F for breasts and 170°F for thighs, when tested with a meat thermometer.

    Or if you insert the tip of a knife into the middle of the thickest piece and the juices run clear, the chicken is done.

    If the chicken isn’t done, turn the pieces over and continue to cook at a low temperature.

    Turn over, baste, and cook until done

    Sear a final time, then remove from heat1

    Sear a final time, then remove from heat2

  5. Sear a final time, then remove from heat:

    If you want, you can finish with a sear on the hot side of the grill. To do this, put the pieces, skin side down, on the hot side of the grill. Allow them to sear and blacken slightly for a minute or two.

  6. Serve:
    Serve

    Use a clean brush to paint the cooked chicken with more barbecue sauce and serve.

Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

Crock pot Tuscan chicken is the perfect comfort dish that combines all the Italian flavors you love into an easy to make weeknight dish. It is full of so much flavor and perfect for the busiest nights. The end result is tender chicken cooked in a creamy parmesan sun-dried tomato sauce that you can serve over pasta or by itself. With only 15 minutes of prep in the morning, you will have dinner ready to go when it is time to sit down at the table. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken will become a part of your weekly dinner routine.

Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

In our family, we love Italian food. It is always full of so much flavor thanks to the herbs and spices. This crock pot Tuscan chicken is just that! It is super tender and is cooked in a delicious creamy sauce that is loaded with seasonings and the sauce is to die for as it combines heavy cream, and parmesan cheese with sun-dried tomatoes. This is guaranteed to be a dish that your family will keep asking for again and again.

If you love Tuscan flavors, be sure to also try our Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Stew. 

Freezer

Ingredients:

  • 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 (8 ounce) jar sliced sundried tomatoes in oil, drained
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach

ups coarsely chopped baby spinach

How to Make Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken

Crock Pot Tuscan Chicken2

  • Prepare a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker,
  • Season the chicken breasts on all sides with the seasonings.
  • Over the chicken, sprinkle the sundried tomatoes, drizzle with the olive oil, and dot with minced garlic. Pour the heavy cream around the chicken.

Over the chicken

  • Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.

  • Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted. Then, add the spinach and stir until wilted.

Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon

  • Serve the chicken over the spinach and sundried tomatoes. Top with additional parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serve the chicken over the spinach and sundried tomatoes

Tips Tricks and FAQs

  • You do not want to put frozen chicken into your crockpot to cook this dish. Be sure it is thawed first.
  • You can use any part of the chicken for this dish. I recommend that you always choose a boneless type of chicken. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are so good because they offer a lot of flavor to this dish.
  • Cooking your dish on low allows your chicken to be more tender and juicer than if you cooked it on high. If you do cook your Tuscan chicken on high you will cut the cooking time in half give or take.
  • You can double the recipe if your crockpot is large enough.

Freezer

You can also freeze your leftovers. Allow them to completely cool and place them in a freezer safe container or bag. This will last for 3 months when properly stored. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you are ready to enjoy.

Crock pot Tuscan chicken is the perfect comfort dish that combines all the Italian flavors you love into an easy to make weeknight dish. It is full of so much flavor and perfect for the busiest nights. The end result is tender chicken cooked in a creamy parmesan sun dried tomato sauce that you can serve over pasta or by itself. With only 15 minutes of prep in the morning, you will have dinner ready to go when it is time to sit down at the table.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 (8 ounce) jar sliced sundried tomatoes in oil, drained
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach

Instructions

  1. Prepare a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker,
  2. Season the chicken breasts on all sides with the seasonings.
  3. Over the chicken, sprinkle the sundried tomatoes, drizzle with the olive oil, and dot with minced garlic. Pour the heavy cream around the chicken.
  4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
  5. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted. Then, add the spinach and stir until wilted.
  6. Serve the chicken over the spinach and sundried tomatoes. Top with additional parmesan cheese, if desired.

Baked Feta Pasta

Baked Feta Pasta

This is the story about another viral TikTok trend that I kinda sorted wanted to hate…but didn’t. It’s not that I didn’t think the idea sounded delicious. It’s just that the whole thing seemed too simple. Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing. But is it good enough to break the internet?

My answer, begrudgingly, is yes. It’s genius. But dare I say, not perfect? Below are my thoughts.

  1. You don’t need to change the oven temperature. The OG recipe calls for baking the feta with the tomatoes at 400° for 30 minutes then kicking up for the last 10 minutes. After 30 minutes in the oven, I found my feta well on its way to a pretty shade of golden on top. To avoid burning additions like garlic and herbs (see my next note), I think it’s best to keep the temperature steady.
  2. You can play add more than just tomatoes and feta. Quartered shallots will get nice and jammy, and smashed garlic will infuse the olive oil. Like spice? Throw in a ton of crushed red pepper flakes. Got thyme? Add a couple sprigs for an earthy touch.
  3. Adding pasta water helps. A scoop of pasta water will help stretch your sauce to coat your pasta more smoothly and generously.

Have you made this recipe? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Editor’s Note: We increased the amount of tomatoes in this recipe on February 9, 2023. One pint is all you need, but two is recommended for a fuller, more flavorful sauce. 

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large ovenproof skillet or medium baking dish, combine tomatoes, shallot, garlic, and all but 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and red pepper flakes and toss to combine.

Step 2

Place feta into center of tomato mixture and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Scatter thyme sprigs over tomatoes. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until tomatoes are bursting and feta is golden on top.

Step 3

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.

Step 4

To skillet with tomatoes and feta, add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, and lemon zest (if using) and stir until combined. Garnish with basil.

Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients

  • 2 pt. cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 shallot, quartered
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 (8-oz.) block feta
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 10 oz. pasta
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

Grilled Chicken Kebabs

Grilled chicken is one of our go-to summer dinners when we’re looking for something fast, easy, and satisfying. That being said, sometimes it can verge towards being slightly boring. The solution? These grilled chicken kebabs. Paired with bok choy and scallions and glazed with a hoisin barbecue sauce, these chicken skewers are juicy, flavorful, and a guaranteed winner at every summer cookout.

Chicken thighs vs. chicken breasts.
If you’ve had less-than-ideal grilled chicken, we bet unseasoned, dry chicken breasts were the culprit. We combat this in this recipe by using chicken thighs instead of breasts. Thighs are a lot more forgiving on the grill due to their natural tenderness and flavor, ensuring that your chicken doesn’t dry out and maintains its juicy, tender bite.

The marinade.
No need to marinate your chicken for hours in this recipe. After assembling your skewers, all you need to do is brush them with your hoisin-based marinade mixture after each flip. The best part of the glaze? There’s no need to cook anything. Just whisk the ingredients together and you’re ready to go.

How long do I grill my kebabs?
Our kebabs were done in a little under 10 minutes: 4 minutes before glazing, 4-5 minutes after glazing. The best way to tell when your chicken is done? Use a meat thermometer. Your chicken is done and ready to go once the thickest piece of chicken reaches 165ºF on an instant read thermometer.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it came out in the comments below!

  1. Step 1 : In a medium bowl, whisk together hoisin, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic until thoroughly combined.
    Set aside.
  2. Step 2 : In a large bowl, add chicken, bok choy, and scallions. Drizzle over vegetable oil, season thoroughly with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
  3. Step 3 : Preheat grill to medium-high for 3 minutes, and soak skewers in a shallow pan filled with water for 10 minutes to prevent scorching. Once soaked, thread chicken, bok choy, and groups of 3 scallions onto skewers.
  4. Step 4 : Transfer skewers to the grill and cook for about 4 minutes, flipping occasionally. After the first 4 minutes, begin brushing the skewers with the hoisin mixture after each flip. Cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, or until the thickest piece of chicken reaches 165ºF on an instant read thermometer.
  5. Step 5 : Transfer to a platter, sprinkle on sesame seeds and serve.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c. hoisin sauce
  • 3 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. sesame oil
  • 1 ” piece ginger, grated or minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
  • 1 lb. chicken thighs, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1 lb. baby bok choy, rinsed, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1 bunch scallions, cut into 2″ pieces
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Toasted sesame seeds