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    Home » How to Cook Beef

    Best Cuts of Beef (Free Printable)

    Published: Mar 25, 2022 Modified: May 21, 2022 by Isabel Laessig

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    Best Beef Recipes is an Amazon Associate. We receive compensation for purchases made through affiliate links.

    Find the Best Cuts of Beef for every cooking method here! Whether you're looking for the best cut of beef on the grill, roasted, smoked, sous vide, or in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, you will find what you need in this collection.

    slices of gorgeous medium-rare steak on a black background with coarse salt and parsley
    Jump to:
    • Cuts of Beef Chart
    • Beef Chuck Roast
    • Bottom Round Roast
    • Eye of Round Roast
    • Prime Rib Roast
    • Beef Tenderloin
    • Ribeye Steak
    • Beef Short Ribs
    • Eye Round Steak
    • Porterhouse Steak
    • Sirloin Steak
    • Tri-tip Steak
    • Coulotte Steak
    • Tomahawk Steak
    • Flank Steak
    • Skirt Steak
    • Beef Brisket
    • Strip Steak
    • Tips for Cooking Beef
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    Cuts of beef labeled on cow

    Cuts of Beef Chart

    Cut of BeefSection of CowBest Cooking Method
    Chuck RoastChuckslow cooking, roasting, grilling, smoking
    Bottom Round RoastRoundslow cooking, roasting
    Eye of Round RoastRoundslow cooking, roasting
    Prime Rib RoastRibroasting, grilling, smoking, sous vide
    Beef TenderloinTenderloinroasting, grilling, sous vide
    Ribeye SteakRibpan-searing, grilling
    Beef Short RibsChuck, Plate, or Ribslow cooking, grilling, smoking
    Eye Round SteakRoundgrilling, pan-searing, stir-frying, broiling
    Porterhouse SteakShort Loingrilling, pan-searing
    Sirloin SteakSirloingrilling, pan-searing
    Tri-tip SteakBottom Loingrilling, smoking, pan-searing, stir-frying
    Coulotte SteakTop Sirloingrilling, broiling, pan-searing
    Tomahawk SteakRibsmoking, pan-searing, broiling, grilling
    Flank SteakFlankgrilling, stir-frying, broiling, sous vide, smoking
    Skirt SteakPlatepan-searing, grilling
    Beef BrisketBrisketslow cooking, smoking
    Strip SteakShort Loingrilling, pan-searing, broiling, sous vide

    Click here for a free printable version of this chart: Best Beef Cuts Chart

    Beef chuck roast with potatoes and carrots

    Beef Chuck Roast

    Chuck roast is a versatile cut of beef from the shoulder area of the cow. A flavorful but lean cut of beef, chuck roast is suitable for pot roasts, stews, and even as braising for taco meat. In fact, this is one of the best cuts of beef for roasting!

    Most chuck roast recipes will be slow cooker recipes or dutch oven recipes, but you can also cook this incredible cut of beef on the grill or in a smoker.

    Other names for chuck roast include chuck eye roast, chuck pot roast, chuck roll roast, arm roast, 7-bone roast, or blade roast. You may even see it chopped into bite-size pieces and labeled simply as "stew meat"!

    The Best Chuck Roast in the Oven
    My Oven Baked Chuck Roast Recipe is a perfect family dinner or special occasion meal. It's easy to prep in just 15 minutes, then cooks low and slow in the oven all in one pot.
    get the recipe
    Beef chuck roast with potatoes and carrots

    More chuck roast recipes:

    • Smoked Chuck Roast
    • Dutch Oven Pot Roast
    • Instant Pot Roast Beef
    • Beef Birria Recipe
    A white bowl of beef tips and gravy over mashed potatoes

    Bottom Round Roast

    Bottom round roast is a lean and affordable cut of beef perfect for braising or roasting, as well as Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes.

    It is one of the best cuts of beef for roasting, and although it contains less fat than chuck roast, they work as substitutes for each other in most recipes!

    Other names for bottom round roast include rump roast, and you may find similar cuts listed as top round roast.

    Crockpot Beef Tips Recipe with Mushroom Gravy
    My crockpot beef tips recipe is a budget-friendly, easy comfort food with tender beef round roast and creamy red wine mushroom gravy!
    get the recipe
    Slow cooker beef tips in a white bowl with mashed potatoes

    More round roast recipes:

    • Mississippi Pot Roast
    • Instant Pot Beef Stew
    Eye of round roast on a bed of sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and corn

    Eye of Round Roast

    Eye of round roast is an lean, inexpensive cut of beef also from the "round" area of the cow. This is a flavorful cut of beef and is one of the best cuts of beef for roasting or slow-cooking, so much that it's known as the "poor man's prime rib".

    Other names for eye of round roast include beef eye round roast or eye round pot roast.

    Amazing Eye of Round Roast
    Our tender Eye of Round Roast recipe is a budget-friendly solution to the holidays, complete with sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and corn!
    get the recipe
    eye round roast sliced
    Sous vide prime rib sliced on a platter

    Prime Rib Roast

    Prime rib is a gorgeous cut of beef from the rib primal section of the cow. It features beautiful marbling, which renders down to tender perfection during the cooking process.

    Though higher in price than other cuts of beef, prime rib is an excellent choice for a holiday meal or special occasion. Prepare prime rib in the oven, grill, smoker, and even the Instant Pot or Air Fryer.

    Other names for prime rib include standing rib roast and rib roast. Bone-in and boneless varieties are both sold, and it comes in three different grades based on the quality of the meat: USDA Prime, USDA Choice, and Select. Learn more about prime rib recipes here: Best Way to Cook Prime Rib

    Juiciest Sous Vide Prime Rib
    Learn how to cook prime rib using any method, including sous vide prime rib, with this easy guide!
    get the recipe
    sous vide prime rib on a wooden serving board

    More prime rib recipes:

    • Slow Cooked Prime Rib
    • Smoked Prime Rib Recipe
    • Prime Rib on the Grill
    • Air Fryer Prime Rib
    • Instant Pot Prime Rib Roast
    Two slices of tenderloin next to tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans on a plate

    Beef Tenderloin

    Beef tenderloin is cut into both roasts and steaks. If you've ever had filet mignon, you've had beef tenderloin steak! Tenderloin is best cooked in the oven, on the grill, or even sous vide. You can even prepare filet mignon in the air fryer!

    Other names for tenderloin include beef loin tenderloin roast, filet mignon, châteaubriand, fillet, or simply filet. If you buy a porterhouse steak, half of it is the tenderloin cut!

    Beef Tenderloin Recipe
    Juicy, tender, and oh-so-delicious, our Whole Beef Tenderloin recipe makes a perfect holiday meal. Complete with sea salt, pepper, garlic, and thyme, this is the best beef tenderloin with a beautiful crust and so much flavor in every bite.
    get the recipe
    Two slices of tenderloin next to tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans on a plate

    More beef tenderloin recipes:

    • Grilled Beef Tenderloin Recipe
    • Sous Vide Beef Tenderloin
    • Sous Vide Filet Mignon
    • Air Fryer Steak (using filet mignon)
    Seared ribeye steak in a pan

    Ribeye Steak

    Ribeye steak is my personal favorite cut of steak and my first choice for most recipes. It is a very rich cut of beef with plenty of beautiful marbling, making it a great steak to pair with most any side dish.

    This is one of the best cuts of beef for grilling, though you can also cook ribeye in a pan, or reverse sear it in the oven.

    Other names for ribeye steak include sarket steak, Scotch fillet, Delmonico, Spencer, and beauty steak if you visit a butcher, though you will most often find it at your local grocery store simply as ribeye.

    Perfect Pan Seared Steak
    Learn how to make the most incredible Pan Seared Ribeye Steak in under 30 minutes using my fool-proof method!
    get the recipe
    pan seared ribeye sliced on a plate with potatoes

    More ribeye steak recipes:

    • Grilled Ribeye Steak
    • Reverse Sear Ribeye
    • Easy Bulgogi Bowls
    A plate of smoked beef short ribs

    Beef Short Ribs

    Beef short ribs are a versatile rib cut you can find in both bone-in and boneless varieties.

    They are best when braised in a slow cooker or dutch oven, though you can also cook them on the grill or in the smoker, just like chuck roast. Beef short ribs will truly shine and become fall-off-the-bone tender this way!

    You can find short ribs cut in a few different ways, including the English cut or Flanken cut, but generally they will be sold simply under the name "short ribs".

    Tender Smoked Beef Short Ribs
    My Smoked Beef Short Ribs are richly flavorful and so juicy. They're easy to prep and cook to fall-off-the-bone tender perfection!
    get the recipe
    Smoked beef short ribs on parchment paper

    More short ribs recipes:

    • Slow Cooker Short Ribs
    • Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs Stew
    • Korean Beef Short Ribs
    • Grilled Short Ribs
    Steak pizzaiola with pasta on a spoon

    Eye Round Steak

    Eye of round steak is a steak cut from the round area of the cow, and is essentially the same cut as the eye of round roast, making it lean and economical.

    This cut of beef is perfect for grilling, pan-searing, stir-frying, and broiling.

    Other names for eye of round steak include sandwich steak, wafer steak, and breakfast steak.

    Instant Pot Steak Pizzaiola Recipe
    Our Instant Pot Steak Pizzaiola Recipe is the perfect family meal! Made with seasoned steak and a delicious tomato pizzaiola sauce, this simple pressure cooker recipe is hearty and filling, with so much flavor.
    get the recipe
    Close up of Instant Pot steak pizzaiola in a white bowl with a spoon over pasta
    Slices of porterhouse steak with chimichurri sauce

    Porterhouse Steak

    Porterhouse steak is a bone-in steak that is actually two steaks in one: strip steak, and tenderloin. As a result, it is a large, juicy steak often served as a steak for two.

    This is one of the best cuts of beef for grilling, as these are two of the most tender steaks on the grill.

    T-bone steaks are often confused for porterhouse steaks, with the difference being porterhouse is larger. You may also see porterhouse labeled as "king steak".

    Porterhouse Steak Recipe
    My Grilled Porterhouse Steak with Chimichurri Sauce is the steak you've been dreaming of! It's flavorful, juicy, and easy to cook up in under 20 minutes using super simple ingredients.
    get the recipe
    Gorgeous grilled porterhouse steak with chimichurri sauce
    Steak bites in a round dish with baked potato wedges

    Sirloin Steak

    Sirloin steak comes from the sirloin area of the cow, varying in tenderness based on which section of sirloin it is.

    Top sirloin steaks are one of the best cuts of beef for grilling, while bottom sirloin cuts - like tri-tip - are good for both grilling and roasting.

    You will find several varieties of sirloin steak, including petite sirloin steak (also known as ball tip steak), tri-tip, coulotte steak, and top sirloin filet.

    Steak Bites Recipe
    Easy sirloin beef recipes don't get any better than this! This juicy and flavorful garlic butter steak bites recipe is one of the best easy steak recipes, with tender sirloin steak and flavor-packed herb garlic butter sauce.
    get the recipe
    Garlic steak bites in a bowl with seasoned potato fries

    More sirloin steak recipes:

    • Vietnamese Beef Salad
    • Air Fryer Steak Bites
    Sliced smoked tri tip on a white plate with garlic and herbs

    Tri-tip Steak

    Tri-tip steak is a sirloin cut of beef, and is lean, boneless, and tender. This flavorful steak is perfect for grilling, smoking, pan-searing, and cooking in a stir-fry.

    Other names for tri-tip steak include Newport steak, Santa Maria steak, and triangle steak.

    Smoked Tri-Tip Recipe
    Learn how to smoke tri-tip following my easy Smoked Tri-Tip recipe! Complete with a gorgeous sear, herbs, and garlic. Done smoking in 1 hour.
    get the recipe
    Sliced smoked tri tip on a white plate with garlic and herbs
    Two skewers of four cuts of picanha steak

    Coulotte Steak

    Coulotte steak is from the sirloin area of the cow and contains gorgeous marbling. It is a juicy steak with plenty of flavor, ideal for grilling, pan-searing, broiling, or cooking in a pan and then finishing in the oven.

    Other names for coulotte steak include top sirloin cap steak, picanha, fat cap, rump cap, or top sirloin cap.

    Best Coulotte Steak
    Grilled Picanha Steak is the juiciest, most delicious way to enjoy a Brazilian steakhouse classic at home! You will love this sirloin cap recipe!
    get the recipe
    Picanha up close on cutting board
    Sliced tomahawk steak overhead shot on a tray with asparagus and thyme

    Tomahawk Steak

    Tomahawk steak comes from the rib area of the cow, and is best known for its long bone and shape that is its namesake.

    With plenty of marbling, this is a flavorful cut of steak that grills beautifully. You can also cook this steak in a pan, finished in the oven, by broiling, or in the smoker (my favorite!).

    Other names for tomahawk steak include cowboy steak when frenched without the full bone, and rib steak.

    Best Smoked Tomahawk Steak (Reverse Seared)
    My reverse seared Smoked Tomahawk Steak recipe is packed with flavor and so easy to make, even for total beginners to smoking beef!
    get the recipe
    Tomahawk steak on a tray with asparagus and thyme
    A plate of instant pot beef and broccoli next to chopsticks and the instant pot

    Flank Steak

    Flank steak is a lean, boneless cut of beef from the flank area of the cow. It has an intense flavor, and due to the lean nature of this steak, is best marinated to tenderize it before cooking. Cook flank steak on the grill, in stir-fry, by broiling, smoking, sous vide, or in the Instant Pot.

    Other names for flank steak include beef flank and flank steak filet.

    Keto Beef and Broccoli (Instant Pot)
    A tasty and easy Keto Beef and Broccoli made in the pressure cooker. You will love this easy keto friendly recipe!
    get the recipe
    Plate of keto beef and broccoli

    More flank steak recipes:

    • Instant Pot Beef Pho
    • Pepper Steak Stir Fry
    carne asada beef on a plate with taco toppings

    Skirt Steak

    Skirt steak is a similar cut of beef to flank steak, so much that they are interchangeable in most recipes. This is a thin, long cut of beef from the short plate area of the cow.

    It comes in two varieties, the inside skirt steak and the outside skirt steak, with the outside steak being more tender and the inside skirt requiring a marinade to tenderize it before cooking.

    You can tell the difference by the width of the steak; the outside skirt steak is less wide than the inside skirt steak, generally by about 2 inches.

    Best Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
    Learn how to make carne asada tacos using simple ingredients in just 10 minutes after marinating! Carne asada is perfect for taco night!
    get the recipe
    two carne asada tacos in a taco holder
    smoked brisket sliced with red gravy

    Beef Brisket

    Brisket is a cut of beef from the pectoral area of the cow, and begins as a tough piece of meat requiring a slow cooking process to make it tender. Slow cooker brisket and smoked brisket are the best ways to cook this cut of beef.

    You will find brisket sold as one whole cut of brisket, or cut into halves: the brisket flat half or the brisket point half.

    Smoked Brisket Recipe
    My Smoked Beef Brisket recipe is melt-in-your-mouth juicy and delicious. Using a simple but flavorful rub, smoking a beef brisket has never been so easy and so rewarding!
    get the recipe
    smoked brisket sliced with red gravy

    More brisket recipes:

    • Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
    slicing new york strip steak on a cutting board

    Strip Steak

    Strip steak comes from the loin area of the cow, and comes in bone-in and boneless varieties. It is a tender and lean cut of beef perfect for grilling, pan-searing, finishing in the oven, broiling, or cooking sous vide.

    Other names for strip steak include New York Strip Steak, top loin steak, Kansas City strip steak, shell steak, club steak, ambassador steak, strip loin steak, or Omaha strip.

    Amazing New York Strip Steak
    My Grilled New York Strip Steak is a juicy, tender steak recipe that's easy to cook on the grill with a flavorful Asian beef marinade!
    get the recipe
    Close up of New York Strip Steak after grilling

    More strip steak recipes:

    • Mediterranean Beef Kabobs

    Tips for Cooking Beef

    For more tips for cooking beef, and recipe ideas, follow these links:

    • Beef Temperature Chart - our beef temperature chart covers measuring the temperature of any cut of beef, and includes a free printable!
    • Best Steak Dinner Ideas
    • 30+ Popular Beef Dishes

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    Air Fryer Steak Bites with Cowboy Butter »

    About Isabel Laessig

    Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and makes regular television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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