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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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!
Perfect Skillet Steak Every Time
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
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.
Going to try this for the 1st time,,wish me luck 😄
It’s gonna be great! I can’t wait to hear about it!
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.
Thanks, Clay! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
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!
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!!!
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!
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!!
Hi, Kate! Fabulous! I am so glad you love this method for steaks too! Iron skillets are the best!
Came out perfectly & so simple. Will definitely use again
Hi, Mary! Awesome!! Thank you so much!