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If you’re looking for an impressive and delicious steak to serve at home, try this easy recipe for Pan Seared Ribeye. This method is simple to follow and results in a perfectly cooked steak with a crispy crust every time. Melt the garlic herb butter on top and enjoy!

Two pan seared ribeye steaks in a cast iron skillet with a slice of melted butter and fresh rosemary on top.
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You can make a delicious restaurant-style ribeye steak at home! Use a cast iron pan to make a decadent and flavorful pan seared ribeye steak with butter right on your stove.

Cast iron ribeye steak is the way to go when cooking steak from scratch. A cast-iron pan is a cooking skillet that is made of iron. It has a smooth surface which is ideal for cooking steak.

Cooking oil with a high smoke point is heated until very hot before adding the seasoned steak. Sear on both sides with hot oil to give the the pan seared ribeye steak a classic crust on the outside.

The sear helps to lock in all of the juices so the steak is nice and tender. This makes for a perfect main course to go with a variety of side dishes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Make restaurant-quality pan fried ribeye steak right at home.
  • This skillet ribeye is cooked to perfection in just under an hour including resting time.
  • You can season the steak with your favorite herbs and spices.
  • Cooking ribeye steak in cast iron skillet is the best way to lock in the natural juices and keep it nice and tender on the inside.

Ingredients You Need

Restaurant quality pan seared ribeye requires just a few basic ingredients and under 30 minutes to cook on the stove after allowing the beef to rest for 20 minutes at room temperature.

All of the ingredients for pan seared ribeye steaks in bowls on a white countertop.
  • Boneless Ribeye Steaks – You can find quality steaks at your local meat market, or go for a high-quality cut in your grocery store. Make sure they are at least one inch thick. Ribeye steaks have more marbling which helps create that juicy texture.
  • Kosher Salt & Pepper – Used to season the steak and enhance the natural flavor to taste.
  • Olive Oil & Unsalted Butter – The combination of these two fats make a perfect searing liquid for the steak because olive oil has a high smoke point which “protects” the butter from burning allowing the buttery flavor to seep into the crust.
  • Garlic Cloves – Use fresh garlic cloves for a bold garlic flavor.
  • Fresh Herbs – A few sprigs of rosemary and/or thyme add a light herb flavor to the steak.

How to Make a Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye

  1. Take steaks out of fridge. Remove your steaks from the fridge about 20 minutes before cooking.
  2. Prepare them for searing: Heat up your cast iron pan dry over medium-high heat until very hot. While the pan is heating, pat the steaks completely dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat the oil: To the hot pan, add the olive oil and let it heat up until it’s shimmery and thin.
Cooking the ribeye steaks on a cast iron skillet.
  1. Sear the steaks: Add the seasoned steaks to the hot oil and cook on each side for 3 to 4 minutes allowing a crust to develop on the first side before flipping. The steak should have a nice crust on the second side as well.
  2. Add the butter and herbs: Turn the heat down to medium, then add the butter, garlic, and herbs to the pan. Carefully spoon the seasoned oil on top of the steaks for flavor and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until steaks are at your desired temperature.
  3. Rest and serve: Remove the steaks from the heat, then transfer them to a cutting board. Place a tent of aluminum foil on top to trap the heat and let them rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving with your favorite side dishes.

Best Temperature for Ribeye Steaks

The internal temperature of your steak determines how “done” it is. This is a personal preference for everyone. For best results, use a kitchen thermometer or meat thermometer to gauge how cooked your steak is on the inside.

  • Medium Rare: 145 degrees F
  • Medium: 160 degrees F
  • Well Done: 170 degrees F

The steaks will continue cooking slightly while they rest. So keep this in mind when determining how done you want them. They should be removed from the heat when they are 5 to 10 degrees from your desired doneness.

One cooked ribeye steak in a cast iron skillet with a pat of melted butter on top.

FAQs

How long should you sear a ribeye on each side?

Sear the steaks for three to four minutes on each side, or until a crust has formed for a 1-inch thick steak. If your steak is 2 inches, sear for five to six minutes per side.

Is ribeye better grilled or pan-seared?

Ribeye is delicious pan-seared, grilled, or even baked in the oven. It all depends on your personal preference and what you’re serving it with. However, if you’d like that delicious crunchy crust on the outside, it’s best to pan-sear your ribeye in a cast iron pan.

Expert Tips

  1. “Temp out” the steaks – Before cooking, leave your steaks at room temperature for 20 minutes to “temp out”. This is a method used to help ensure your steak doesn’t get exposed from cold to hot really quickly as this makes the meat tense up and become tough.
  2. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels before adding any seasoning. This helps to remove any moisture on the surface of the steak so the seasonings will stick and not slide right off.
  3. Swap cast iron with any heavy duty skillet. If you don’t have a cast-iron pan, you can use any heavy-duty skillet that can withstand high heat for the pan seared ribeye steaks.
  4. Make sure your pan and oil is hot before adding the steaks. If it’s not hot enough, the steak will stick to the pan and won’t get that nice crispy crust.
  5. Letting the steaks rest for 10 minutes after cooking is important because it allows the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the steak making it more tender and juicy.
A cooked ribeye steak sliced in a cast iron pan for serving.

Serving Suggestions

These pan seared steaks are perfect as a main course to any side. Try out these delicious serving suggestions that pair well with rib eye steak below!

Did you try this pan seared ribeye steak with butter? Leave a recipe rating and review below.

Two pan seared ribeye steaks in a cast iron skillet with a slice of melted butter and fresh rosemary on top.
4.80 from 5 votes

Pan Seared Ribeye

This easy pan seared ribeye steak recipe creates the perfect dinner every time!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 2
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Ingredients 

  • 2 boneless ribeye steaks, 1-inch thick (about 10-16 ounces each)
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary , and/or thyme

Instructions 

  • Remove steaks from the refrigerator 20 minutes prior to cooking.
  • Heat a large cast iron pan over medium-high heat until hot. Meanwhile, pat the steaks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the olive oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Once the oil is very hot, add the steaks to the skillet and sear them on each side for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter, garlic and herbs to the pan. Carefully spoon the butter sauce over the steak and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the steak is 140 to 150 degres F for medium doneness (or 5-10 degrees from your desired doneness.)
  • Transfer the steaks to a cutting board, cover them loosely with foil and allow them to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

The nutritional information is calculated for one 10 ounce steak.
Medium Rare: 145 degrees F
Medium: 160 degrees F
Well Done: 170 degrees F
Storing: This pan-cooked ribeye is best served immediately. If you have leftovers, store them in a covered container in the fridge for up to two days.
Freezing: We do not recommend freezing pan-seared ribeye as it does not thaw well and can become tough. If you must freeze it, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: To reheat cooked ribeye steak, place it on a baking sheet and warm it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F until heated through. You can also reheat it in the pan over medium heat for a few minutes on each side.

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 57g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 22g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 23g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 188mg, Sodium: 149mg, Potassium: 774mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 221IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 27mg, Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @spoonfulflavor or tag #spoonfulflavor!

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4.80 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Turned out nice and juicy but I overdid it on the salt and used salted butter to boot. ย Oops will not do that again next time.

  2. This really did cook up perfectly and that garlic herb butter was so good! I will be making this over and over again!