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Cooking steak in a pan is the perfect way to make incredibly tender, crispy, juicy steakhouse-worthy steaks, all from the comfort of your stove! With my tips and tricks, you'll learn How to Cook Steak in a Pan in under ten minutes. Yes- it's really that easy!
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Cooking Steak in a Pan
We all know how good grilled steak is- but sometimes, getting out to a grill just isn't an option! When winter rolls around or there just isn't a grill available, there must still be a delicious way to cook the perfect steak.
The answer is simple perfection: cooking steak in a pan! All it takes is a heavy pan (cast iron or stainless steel work best) and a stove, and you're all set to make incredibly juicy, perfectly seared steak, all in a matter of minutes. No grill required for restaurant-worthy steak!
Short on time, lacking a grill, or just looking for a nice dinner on a night in? This is the best way to cook steak at home! Once you know how to pan fry steak, you'll be ready to wow your family with some of the juiciest steaks they've ever eaten!
Skillet Steak Ingredients
- Steak
- Avocado oil (or other high smoke point oil)
- Salt
- Marinade (optional)
- Butter (optional)
- Fresh herbs (optional)
- Garlic (optional)
Marinades are optional, but I can't recommend them enough. They're fast to make, self-tenderizing, and make for incredibly juicy, flavorful steak! Try out my London Broil marinade, or a perfectly simple Tenderizing Marinade.
Pan-searing is a perfect way to cook almost any cut of steak. I recommend ribeye, porterhouse, tomahawk, skirt steak, or flank steak, but make sure to marinate or tenderize skirt and flank steak.
Check out my list of Beef Cuts for more, and try all of my Steak Dinners from New York Strip Steak to Filet Mignon! Keep in mind thicker or bone-in steaks will take longer to cook.
How to Pan Fry Steak
- Heat a cast iron pan over high heat, then add the avocado oil. While the pan heats, let your steaks come to room temperature (in marinade if using), about 20 minutes.
- Once the oil is hot and the steak at room temperature, add the steak to the pan. Let it cook, undisturbed, for 3 minutes, being careful of spattering oil. Then flip the steak, and cook another 3 minutes. If basting, add the butter and seasonings now to spoon over the steak.
- Remove the steak from the pan, and set on a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes. Once rested, slice against the grain, and serve!
Scroll to the bottom of the page for one of my favorite recipes- or, try out my incredible one-pan Steak Diane with a mouthwatering mushroom sauce! Feeling fancy? You can also use a pan to sear steak before baking it, like my Pan Seared Steak recipe!
How Long to Cook Steak in a Pan
Like all ways to cook steak, the cooking time for steak in a pan depends on how well done you like your steak! It can also vary by cut and thickness, as well as if it's been marinated, brought to room temperature, and more. The only way to truly know how long to cook steak is by using a meat thermometer.
For stove top steak cooked to medium rare, a good starting point is to cook the steak for 3 minutes, flip it, and then cook another 3 minutes. Then remove the steak, let it rest for 10 minutes, and slice! Check out my Beef Temperature Chart for all the details on cooking steak to the perfect temperature.
Pan Frying Steak Tips
- The best pan to cook steak in is always going to be cast iron. The heavy metal retains heat well and can be heated up to incredibly high temperatures without damaging the pan, making it perfect for searing meat!
- The perfect pan for steak is a cast iron skillet. Use cast iron or stainless steel for best results.
- Steak fresh from the store will work perfectly in a pan, but for even more delicious pan cooked steak, be sure to tenderize and salt the meat ahead of time with my easy guides!
- Let steaks come to room temp before cooking them so they cook evenly.
- A well-marbled and salted steak is rich and flavorful on its own, but to kick up the flavor even more without waiting for a marinade, try out my Steak Seasoning! It's sure to add tons of flavor in seconds.
- Remember, cooking at high heat means lots of spattering oil. Make sure to wear oven mitts and long sleeves to avoid any chance of getting burned.
- Avoid touching the steaks once in the pan! Flip them once, check the temperature, and don't move them any more. This will help preserve their natural juices!
Cooking Steak in a Pan FAQ
Cooking steak in a pan is extremely easy: just heat the pan to high heat (assuming you're using a stainless steel pan or cast iron skillet- don't heat Teflon based nonstick to high heat, or it will damage the coating) and add oil. Wait for the oil to be hot, then add the steaks, and sear for 3 minutes per side. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Remove from the pan, let rest for 10 minutes, and serve!
For searing steaks, I highly recommend starting out with oil that has a high smoke point. This is because the pan will get extremely hot, and butter will quickly burn in the time it takes the steaks to heat. Instead, add butter halfway through the cook time!
For medium-rare steaks on high heat, cook the steaks roughly 3 minutes per side, and remove them from the pan once they reach 135°F internally. The cooking time will depend on if the steaks are cold when added to the pan and the thickness of the cuts, so make sure to check them with a meat thermometer.
If you're using a regular nonstick frying pan, make sure to check if your pan's coating can tolerate high heat. Teflon-based nonstick can be damaged by extreme heat, so if your only option is Teflon, keep the heat lower and check the temperatures frequently.
What to Serve with Steak
You're already in the kitchen- why not whip up some delicious sides for your steak dinner? These are some of my favorites, perfect for making alongside your pan-seared steak!
- Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes - the CREAMIEST mashed potatoes!
- Steakhouse Mushrooms
- Perfect Caramelized Onions
- Steakhouse Macaroni and Cheese
- And of course, if you managed to have any leftovers, you've got to try some of my favorite recipes using Leftover Steak!
Ready to try a pan-seared steak like no other? Check out my recipe for Garlic Guajillo steak- complete with homemade guajillo marinade!
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📋 Recipe
How to Cook Steak in a Pan
Equipment
- Heavy pan cast iron or stainless steel
Ingredients
- 1 lb Flank steak about 1" thick
- ½ cup Steak marinade optional, of choice
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado oil
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Heat a cast iron pan over high heat, then add the avocado oil. While the pan heats, let your steaks come to room temperature (in marinade if using), about 20 minutes.1 lb Flank steak
- Once the oil is hot and the steak at room temperature, add the steak to the pan. Let it cook, undisturbed, for 3 minutes, being careful of spattering oil. Then flip the steak, and cook another 3 minutes. If basting, add the butter and seasonings now to spoon over the steak.2 Tablespoons Avocado oil
- Remove the steak from the pan, and set on a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes. Once rested, slice against the grain, and serve!
Notes
- The best pan to cook steak in is always going to be cast iron. The heavy metal retains heat well and can be heated up to incredibly high temperatures without damaging the pan, making it perfect for searing meat!
- Steak fresh from the store will work perfectly in a pan, but for even more delicious pan cooked steak, be sure to tenderize and salt the meat ahead of time with my easy guides!
- A well-marbled and salted steak is rich and flavorful on its own, but to kick up the flavor even more without waiting for a marinade, try out my Steak Seasoning! It's sure to add tons of flavor in seconds.
- Remember, cooking at high heat means lots of spattering oil. Make sure to wear oven mitts and long sleeves to avoid any chance of getting burned.
- Avoid touching the steaks once in the pan! Flip them once, check the temperature, and don't move them any more. This will help preserve their natural juices!
Nutrition
» About Me
- London Broil on the Grill - September 16, 2023
- Steak Seasoning - September 16, 2023
- Prime Rib Rub - September 15, 2023
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