• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Discourse

Southern Discourse

Food, Faith & Southern Hospitality!

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Casseroles
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • Sauces & Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Collections
  • Hospitality
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Everyday
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
Home › Recipes
11 Comments

Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Steak

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Published: May 9, 2025

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

This post may contain affiliate links.

This 3 ingredient, 8 minute, easy recipe guarantees the perfect pan seared, cast iron skillet steak every time!  Not everyone has an outdoor grill.  And even if you do, the weather doesn’t always permit grilling a big juicy steak outside.  But with these easy instructions, you can enjoy top notch, tender, juicy beef steak on the stove top whenever you like!

If you’re making steak, you’ll want to make this recipe too!  Herbed Steak Butter with Goat Cheese & Bacon

A cast iron skillet seared New York Strip Steak with a pat of butter on top for extra flavor and tenderness.


There’s nothing quite like the sear a cast iron skillet creates on a steak with a simple salt and pepper crust.   The caramelized outside and tender, juicy inside creates that steakhouse experience we all crave while minimal seasonings make sure the natural deliciousness and quality of the beef really shines through!   

MORE STEAK GOODNESS:  Steak Caprese Salad

The Engineer loves to be the steak master around here.  He reads all the articles, tries different methods and is a stickler about resting times.  For this recipe, I’ve gathered all his best tips and tricks to share.

A juicy, pan-seared steak cooked in a hot cast iron skillet on the stovetop.

And oddly enough, it’s his bare minimum, basic recipe that turns out the best every time. Hands down. No extras, no marinades, no overnight in the fridge.  Just a room temperature steak, enough salt and pepper to create a nice crust and a smoking hot cast iron pan. 

Recipe Ingredients & Overview

I’ll walk through an overview of ingredients & steps in these next sections along with helpful tips!

Look for specifics at the end of the post in the recipe card.

  • 1 lb New York Strip Steak- 1 to 1.5 inch thick
  • olive oil or avocado oil
  • salt & pepper

What Is the Best Steak to Cook in a Skillet

A New York Strip is my favorite steak, and it’s perfect for cooking on the stove top.  It is a boneless, meaty cut of beef that is always tender, with just the right amount of fat to keep it juicy and delicious.  A boneless ribeye steak or filet mignon are also great candidates for a good sear in the skillet.

How to Cook The Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Steak

The steps to cook a steak in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop for maximum flavor and juiciness.

Get the skillet nice & hot. Heat oil in cast iron skillet on stove top over medium-high heat until the oil is hot and shimmery.

Let it sizzle in the skillet. Add ½ teaspoon salt to the skillet. Cover one side of the steak with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Place the steak seasoned side down in the hot skillet. While the steak is cooking on its 1st side, season the top with more salt & pepper. You can rub them in if you like. For medium steaks, cook for 4 minutes before flipping.

Flip it Once. After cooking for 4 minutes, flip the steak to cook it on other side. Cook it for another 4 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to double check internal temperature. The steak should be about 140° Fahrenheit.

Give it a Rest. Remove your steak from the skillet to a cutting board or serving platter and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting or serving it.

A medium cooked steak sliced on a plate to show doneness and texture.

How Do You Know When Steak Is Done?

How long do you cook a steak? Well, that depends on how you like it! We all like a medium rare steak to medium steak around here.  To get it just right, all that’s really needed is a good timer.  4 minutes on one side, 4 minutes on the other.  Only one flip.  Nothing else.  Keep it simple.  And let the steak be amazing!

Of course, you can always double check with an instant-read thermometer for good measure.   And that’s probably a good idea if you like a different level of done-ness. 

  • rare = 125 degrees Fahrenheit
  • medium rare = 135 degrees Fahrenheit
  • medium = 145 degrees Fahrenheit
  • medium well = 150 degrees Fahrenheit
  • well done = 160 degrees Fahrenheit
Looking down on a New York Strip Strak pan-seared in a hot cast iron skillet, topped with a pat of butter and sliced to show level of doneness.

This cast iron skillet steak recipe is our go-to recipe when it’s just the two of us.  It’s quick, simple and has us enjoying restaurant quality dining in our home with zero fuss.  And that leaves plenty of time for unwinding & good conversation.

What To Serve with Cast Iron Skillet Steak

  • Herbed Steak Butter with Goat Cheese & Bacon
  • Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
  • Tuscan Butter Mushrooms
  • Bacon Parmesan Asparagus Twists
  • Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Wedges or Fluffy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Broccoli Slaw with Apples and Brussel Sprouts
A medium cooked steak in a cast iron skillet topped with a pat of butter after being cooked for 8 minutes on the stovetop.

Tips for Making the Best Pan Seared Steak

Steak experts are unwavering about their methods.  And that’s ok!  This is our method, and this is why it works for us:

  • Not salting the steak beforehand (and letting it sit) keeps all the natural moisture in the steak from leaching out, making sure your steak is always juicy!
  • A very generous salting during cooking makes steak better.  Period.  It just is.
  • We only flip our steaks once.  This ensures that the steak has the opportunity to get a nice sear on both sides.  Flipping back and forth to “check on the steak’s progress” minimalizes the continuous time the steak is in contact with the hot skillet.
  • We cook steak when it is at room temperature. This makes sure that the steak cooks evenly from edge to center.  This also means (coming from the fridge) your steak will have to sit out on the counter for 20-30 minutes to bring it up to (or close to) room temp before it hops in that hot skillet.
  • And lastly, resting time!  Your steak should rest, or sit on a plate or platter, for at least 5 minutes before slicing.  (a) The residual heat from cooking will continue to cook the meat.  (b)  It gives the juices time to redistribute throughout the meat, making sure ALL of the steak is tender and juicy!
  • Add a bundle of rosemary and/or thyme to the skillet for the last 4 minutes of your cook for a nice herb-infused flavor for your steak.

Other Meaty Main Dish Recipes You’ll Love

  • Perfect Peppered Pork Loin
  • Holiday Prime Rib
  • Classic Family Pot Roast
  • The Best Meatloaf Ever
  • Classic Chicken Fried Steak Fingers
  • Sweet & Smoky Coffee Rub

Cast Iron Basics For Your Kitchen

Looking to add some cast iron to your kitchen, but not sure what to get? Or maybe there is a piece or two you’ve been wanting to add to what you already have? Here are few cast iron staples my kitchen would absolutely be incomplete without!

Cast Iron Essentials Graphic
  1. 10 inch cast iron skillet
  2. 12 inch dual handle cast iron skillet
  3. heavy duty scrub brush
  4. hot handle silicone grippers
  5. heavy duty tiered skillet & lid organizer
  6. enamel covered cast iron dutch oven with lid
A cast iron skillet seared New York Strip Steak with a pat of butter on top for extra flavor and tenderness.

Perfect Skillet Steak Every Time

This 3 ingredient easy recipe guarantees the perfect cast iron skillet steak every time!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, Easy Recipe, skillet
Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 person
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Equipment

  • cast iron skillet
  • timer
  • meat thermometer

Ingredients

  • 1- 1.5 lb New York Strip Steak, about 1 inch thick, room temperature
  • 1.5 tsp salt, separated in ½ tsps
  • 1 teaspoon pepper, separated in ½ tsps
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in cast iron skillet on stove top over medium heat.
  • Add ½ teaspoon salt to skillet. Cover one side of steak with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Place steak seasoned side down in hot skillet. For medium steaks, cook for 4 minutes before flipping. While steak is cooking on 1st side, season the top with rest of seasonings. You can rub in if you like.
  • After cooking for 4 minutes, flip steak to cook other side. Cook for another 4 minutes. Test with meat thermometer to double check internal temperature of 145° Fahrenheit.
  • Remove steak from heat and let rest for 5-7 minutes before cutting or serving.

Video

Notes

  • Not salting the steak beforehand (and letting it sit) keeps all the natural moisture in the steak from leaching out.
  • A very generous salting during cooking makes steak better.  
  • We only flip our steaks once.  This ensures that the steak has the opportunity to get a nice sear on both sides.  Flipping back and forth to “check on the steak’s progress” minimizes the continuous time the steak is in contact with the hot skillet.
  • Cooking steak when it is at room temperature is must.  
  • And lastly, resting time!  Your steak should rest, or sit on a plate or platter, for at least 5 minutes before you serve it.  
A cast iron skillet seared New York Strip Steak with a pat of butter on top for extra flavor and tenderness.
Did you make my Perfect Skillet Steak Every Time?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Share this!

  • Facebook
  • Email

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: cast iron, easy meals, easy recipe

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Avatar photoElizabeth

    December 15, 2020 at 4:41 pm

    5 stars
    Going to try this for the 1st time,,wish me luck 😄

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      December 15, 2020 at 10:06 pm

      It’s gonna be great! I can’t wait to hear about it!

      Reply
    • Avatar photoclay.

      January 2, 2021 at 11:17 am

      5 stars
      I bought some prime new yorks and tried this method on New Years Day. My steak was a little thicker, “1 1/2” inch thick. I followed the very simple instructions closely and let it cook for a couple more minutes. It was fantastic. Great. I highly recommend this method.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        January 28, 2022 at 1:32 pm

        Thanks, Clay! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

        Reply
  2. Stacey Pirtlestacey

    December 15, 2020 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    This 3 ingredient easy recipe guarantees the perfect cast iron skillet steak every time! Not everyone has an outdoor grill. And even if you do, the weather doesn’t always permit grilling a big juicy steak on the back deck or patio. But with these easy instructions, some salt, pepper and olive oil, you can enjoy top notch, tender, juicy steak whenever you like!

    Reply
  3. Avatar photoSharon

    April 12, 2021 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh! Who knew cooking a steak in cast iron could be so easy? I was never able to master cooking a steak – either too tough or rubbery. I don’t own a grill, so after yet another internet search for cast iron steak cooking, I found this recipe and there will be no other way I will make it differently going forward. My steak came out awesomely perfect! Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      April 12, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      Hi, Sharon!

      I am so tickled you loved this recipe and that it gave you a way to enjoy juicy, delicious steak without a grill! Isn’t it just so easy and simple? I’m with you- it’s hard to beat!

      Reply
  4. Avatar photoKate

    July 14, 2022 at 9:35 am

    5 stars
    It works every time! I’ve been doing this for several years and both of my favorites (rib-eye & filet mignon) Turn up perfect!
    Love my iron skillets!!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      July 14, 2022 at 11:16 am

      Hi, Kate! Fabulous! I am so glad you love this method for steaks too! Iron skillets are the best!

      Reply
  5. Avatar photoMary

    February 15, 2025 at 6:48 pm

    5 stars
    Came out perfectly & so simple. Will definitely use again

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      March 25, 2025 at 4:27 pm

      Hi, Mary! Awesome!! Thank you so much!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Never miss a new post!

Reader Favorites

  • A finished skillet of Dirty Rice.Louisiana Dirty Rice
  • traditional chicken and dressing for a southern holiday mealSouthern Chicken and Dressing
  • Whipped Feta Dip with honeyWhipped Feta with Honey Dip
  • A forkful of sweet potato casserole to show the fluffy texture of the potatoes.Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
  • pecan pie bars turn traditional pie into an easy dessertBest Ever Pecan Pie Bars
  • Spicy Italian Sub Crescent Ring TitleSpicy Italian Crescent Ring

Recipes by Category

  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Bread
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Casseroles
  • Desserts
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Sauces & Dessings
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups
Southern Discourse
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

Subscribe today to never miss a post!

© 2025 · Southern Discourse · Privacy · Cookies

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.