Make the Perfect Grilled Steaks this summer! Keep it simple with this 6-ingredient recipe for the best steaks on the grill with a simple seasoning, no marinating time, and a delicious buttery flavor!
When the weather gets warm, I make everything I can on the grill! I love a simple grilled chicken, but there’s something special about a juicy Grilled Steak. This steak recipe is so simple and delicious with no complicated marinades to make or intricate spice blend.
Dress up your meal prep salads or make a weeknight dinner that feels fancy with this quick and easy recipe. If you like easy summer recipes on the grill, you’ll want to try my shrimp kabobs, grilled tilapia, grilled veggie kabobs, or grilled baked potatoes!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- This simple steak recipe is so full of flavor with almost no effort! Let the beef be the star with a simple seasoning and a beautiful char.
- Skip the restaurant tonight with this buttery steak that’s just like a steakhouse for way less.
- If you want a recipe that’s ready in less than 10 minutes, this is it! Keep the summer side dishes simple for an easy dinner that feels fancy.
Ingredients Used
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Steaks: You can grill any steaks! For this recipe and timing, I like to use a thick cut steak like ribeyes, t-bones, New York strips, or sirloin steaks. The thinner the steak, the less time it needs to reach perfect medium rare.
- Olive oil: If your steaks always stick to the grill, this is the trick! Even with nonstick grates, I always use a little oil. It also helps the spices stick to the steak.
- Spices: With a quality steak, you can keep the seasonings simple. Salt and pepper are always important. I also add some fresh rosemary to the mix for a little extra flavor.
- Butter: You can always skip this step, but I think the melted butter at the end adds a little moisture back to the steak. Simply let it sit on the steaks while they rest.
How to Grill Steak
Follow these steps for the best steaks on the grill at your next summer cookout:
- Preheat the grill. First, turn on your grill and let it warm up to medium-high heat. You can use a gas or charcoal grill.
- Oil steaks. Then, brush some olive oil on both sides. This helps keep the steaks from sticking to the grill and ruining the beautiful char!
- Season steaks. Next, sprinkle salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary all over the steaks. I like to use my hands to press the seasonings into the oiled steaks slightly, too.
- Grill steaks. Now, add the steaks to the grill and reduce the heat to medium. For the best char marks, put them at an angle.
- Check the temperature. For a medium-rare steak, grill the steaks for about 4 minutes on each side until the internal temperature reaches 130℉/55°C. Check out the table below for all the temperatures for your ideal steak doneness.
- Rest with butter. When the steaks are done, set them on a plate to rest with a pat of butter on each. Cover the plate loosely with foil and let the steaks rest while the butter melts.
Tip!
Make sure to pat dry the steak so it’s super dry before it hits the grill. Dry meat forms the best crust!
Tips and Tricks
Whether you’re a grill master or new to cooking over a flame, these tips and tricks will give you the best steaks every time:
- Clean your grill. The first step to a beautifully grilled steak is clean grates! This makes it easier to flip your steaks cleanly and keeps that burnt flavor at bay. You can also oil the grates to make flipping even easier.
- Bring steaks to room temperature. This may sound dangerous, but it helps the steaks cook faster in the center! When you’re prepping dinner, take out your steaks and let them sit on the counter for about half an hour.
- Add more flavor. This is a super simple steak recipe that is perfectly juicy and flavorful every time. However, if you want more flavor, use a marinade or more garlic and herbs! I’ve also used compound butter for even more buttery flavor, too.
- Grill the whole meal. I strive to keep the oven and stove off during the summer. Luckily, there’s tons of amazing sides you can make on the grill, too! Add some asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, corn on the cob, or even baked potatoes to the grates this summer.
- Storing. If you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You can reheat steak, but if not done properly you run the risk of overcooking it so I wrote a full blog post about the best way to reheat steak – make sure to check it out!
Frequently Asked Questions
For grilling, I choose a thick steak that’s 1.5 to 2 inches thick. This lets me get a great char on the outside and still have a beautiful pink inside.
When you’re picking the best steak to grill, look for ribeyes, strip steaks, filets, porterhouse, t-bone steaks, or top sirloin steaks. If you’re using a bone-in steak, be sure to check the temperature of both sides.
There’s also multiple grades for every cut of steak in the United States. In order of quality, they are: Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner.
For grilled steaks, you want to stick to Prime, Choice, or Select. Prime has the most marbling and bright red meat, Choice has slightly less marbling but is great for grilling, and Select, formerly known as “good,” has the least amount of marbling.
Everyone likes their steaks done differently. Personally, I prefer medium rare, which is about 4 minutes per side. To get the perfect steak every time, use a meat thermometer! Steak temps will rise about 5 degrees while resting, too.
Steak Doneness Chart
Here’s a list of steak temperatures to aim for:
- Rare: 120 to 130 degrees ℉ or 49 to 54 degrees ℃
- Medium Rare: 130 to 135 degrees ℉ or 54 to 57 degrees ℃
- Medium: 135 to 145 degrees F or 57 to 63 degrees ℃
- Medium Well: 145 to 155 degrees F or 63 to 68 degrees ℃
- Well Done: 155+ degrees F or 68+ degrees ℃
The USDA recommends cooking steaks to at least 145 degrees ℉ for safety.
Should I Put Butter On My Steak Before Grilling?
To keep the steaks from sticking, I only add oil and spices/herbs before grilling. However, I do put butter on the steaks after they’re grilled for that rich, buttery steakhouse flavor.
Do You Close the Grill When Cooking Steak?
When working with a thick cut steak, you want to close the grill to keep the temperature even. It also helps the steaks roast on all sides more evenly, too. If the grill ever gets too hot, simply open it and let some heat out. You can also move the steaks to a top rack or less hot spot if they’re charring too fast.
What to do with Leftover Steak?
Slice it thinly and make a delicious and healthy steak salad!
Other Easy Summer Recipes I Love
Now that you’re a pro at grilling steaks, you’ll be the hit of the next barbecue! Once you learn how to make steaks on the grill, you can cook anything on an open flame. Make sure to Pin this recipe so more people can enjoy it too!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Grilled Steak Recipe (How to grill steak perfectly)
Ingredients
- 2 thick cut steaks 1½ to 2 inches thick – (use Ribeye, T bone, NY strip, Sirloin steak)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil I used olive oil
To season:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary chopped
To serve:
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Turn on your grill and let it warm up to medium-high heat. You can use a gas or charcoal grill.
- Brush some olive oil on both sides of the steaks.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary all over the steaks. I like to use my hands to press the seasonings into the oiled steaks slightly, too.
- Add the steaks to the grill and reduce the heat to medium. For the best char marks, put them at an angle.
- Check the temperature. For a medium rare steak, grill the steaks for about 4 minutes on each side until the internal temperature reaches 130°F/55°C.
- When the steaks are done, set them on a plate to rest with a pat of butter on each. Cover the plate loosely with foil and let the steaks rest while the butter melts.
Notes:
- Clean your grill. The first step to a beautifully grilled steak is clean grates! This makes it easier to flip your steaks cleanly and keeps that burnt flavor at bay. You can also oil the grates to make flipping even easier.
- Bring steaks to room temperature. This may sound dangerous, but it helps the steaks cook faster in the center! When you’re prepping dinner, take out your steaks and let them sit on the counter for about half an hour.
- Add more flavor. This is a super simple steak recipe that is perfectly juicy and flavorful every time. However, if you want more flavor, use a marinade or more garlic and herbs! I’ve also used compound butter for even more buttery flavor, too.
- Grill the whole meal. I strive to keep the oven and stove off during the summer. Luckily, there’s tons of amazing sides you can make on the grill, too! Add some asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, corn on the cob, or even baked potatoes to the grates this summer.
- Best Steak for Grilling. I choose a thick steak that’s 1.5 to 2 inches thick. This lets me get a great char on the outside and still have a beautiful pink inside.
When you’re picking the best steak to grill, look for ribeyes, strip steaks, filets, porterhouse, t-bone steaks, or top sirloin steaks. If you’re using a bone-in steak, be sure to check the temperature of both sides.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Sam says
Simply wonderful meal that 6 of us enjoyed. Thank you for assistance in preparation of steaks.
J.B. Roux says
All good advice. Especially the olive oil step. And any grilled vegetables are exciting after a winter of creamed corn and such, corn on the cob, asparagus, roasted tomatoes and bell peppers…I’m getting hungry now.