Homemade Steak Seasoning
This easy and simple homemade Steak Seasoning recipe is a delicious way to add flavor to any steaks. Make steak night at home even better with this seasoning that offers way more than just salt and pepper. Bonus: You can store it in your pantry for next time or make a double batch for a crowd.
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Steak Seasoning Recipe
Steak night at our house is one of the best nights every month. I honestly crave it… and when I was pregnant with our second child, I requested a steak dinner after she was born. I got that steak on my birthday… and my family stuck a candle in it as a celebration. 😉
We love it on its own with potatoes and a veggie. We also love it in steak tacos, steak salad and steak alfredo.
This simple steak seasoning rub is the BEST way to elevate your steaks at home.
It makes for some delicious additional flavor to a steak if you don’t want to use regular salt and pepper.
You can use it on any cut of beef, from T-bone to filet mignon to flank steaks. And it is delicious no matter how you cook it.
Why I love this recipe:
This steak seasoning blend is a great addition to any pantry for a few reasons:
- You can keep it on hand to make delicious steaks that are reliably tasty every single time.
- Basic spices are what you will need to make it. There should be no need for you to have to hit multiple grocery stores to find these ingredients.
- It is easy to put together with ingredients you probably already have on your spice rack.
- It makes a great gift for a friend, neighbor or teacher.
It’s akin to Montreal Steak seasoning, but completely homemade. It doesn’t make a huge batch, so you will not need to store leftovers (unless you want to.) And that, to me, is pretty dang awesome.
More seasoning recipes to try: Creole Seasoning | Taco Seasoning | Barbecue Dry Rub
Why you should season steak:
When cooking steak, it’s important to season it and season it WELL. Seasoning brings out the best flavor in red meat, especially a big juicy steak.
First, you should salt your steak generously. Let it rest in the fridge before for 45 minutes or up to 24 hours before you cook it.
Salt tenderizes the meat, but also strengthens the aroma and balances out other flavors. The longer it sits with the salt, the more flavorful the steak will be.
The salt draws out liquid from the meat, then reabsorbs to make a juicy, flavorful steak. You’ll need a lot more salt than you think — so don’t be afraid to use it!
In addition to salt, you’ll also want to season your steak well before you cook it. Salt and pepper (yes, more salt!) are a great start. A dry steak rub seasoning blend like this one brings more flavor to every bite.
Set the steak out at room temperature about 30-45 minutes before you plan to cook it. This promotes even cooking.
Sprinkle on the seasoning and rub it in, then place it on a plate to rest for 30-45 minutes. When you cook the steak, the seasoning will sear into the outer crust.
Another way to flavor steaks is to use a compound butter like this garlic herb butter.
Want to learn more about steak? Check out Steak 101: Everything You Need to Know about Cooking Steak at Home!
What you need to make this recipe:
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Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the grocery store:
- Black pepper — fresh, coarsely ground is more flavorful, but pre-ground is okay.
- Granulated garlic — this is a coarser-ground kind of ground garlic. It’s different than garlic powder, but you can also use garlic powder if that’s what you have.
- Granulated onion — this one is similar to granulated garlic, but made from onions. It’s also more coarse than onion powder, but that will also work too.
- Dried parsley — you can buy this or dry your own from your herb garden. Here’s a tutorial on how to dry fresh herbs.
- Kosher salt — we like Diamond Crystal, but you can also use sea salt. Just don’t use table salt.
- Dried rosemary — like parsley, you can buy this or dry your own from your herb garden.
- Smoked paprika — regular paprika will also work here, but the smoky flavor of this one is unmatched.
- Red pepper flakes — this doesn’t make it spicy, I promise. But if you are hesitant, you can add just a pinch or skip it if you really want to. However, I hope you trust me and add it anyway! You could also add a pinch of cayenne pepper in place of these flakes if you prefer.
How to make Steak Seasoning
Ready to make your spice rub? Here’s what to do:
- Combine the black pepper, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried parsley, kosher salt, dried rosemary, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
- Stir them all together until evenly distributed.
- Then, funnel them into a mason jar or spice jar.
- Don’t forget to add a label with the date you made it.
You can also add them to a mason jar, add the lid and shake it all up together. (This is kind of more fun!)
Use this seasoning on any cut of steak. (I always recommend using a good steak.)
You can use it on any cooking method, too, including grilled steak, broiled steak pan-seared steak and baked steak.
This seasoning isn’t limited to steak, either! You can also use this seasoning on chicken or pork, even on veggies like broccoli, to give them amazing flavor.
How to store
Store this seasoning in a mason jar, spice jar, bottle or even a zip-top bag. Any food-safe, airtight container will work.
The seasoning will be good for as long as the soonest expiration date of all your spices.
For example, if your expiration dates are a year from now, but one of them expires this year, your spice mix should be tossed after this year. That is, if you don’t use it all up on your steaks before then!
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Steak night at home for entertaining? Heck yes! This easy steak seasoning recipe is an awesome one to have on hand. The blend of spices brings the BEST flavor to steak.
Here’s how I would entertain with this homemade seasoning mix recipe:
- Double or triple the recipe. This is enough for about four steaks, depending on how generously you season them. Have extra so you can make more steaks.
- Generously season the steaks with this, no matter what cut or cooking method you are making. Liberally season the sides of the steak, as well as the top and bottom, with your spice blend.
- Send party guests home with a jar of this seasoning to use at home. It makes a great Christmas present you can give to neighbors and teachers, too.
- Skip the red pepper flakes if anyone in your party is very sensitive to spice. However, this seasoning blend really isn’t very spicy.
Frequently Asked Questions
First, salt your steaks well, and let them rest for 45 minutes to 24 hours in the fridge. About 30-45 minutes before you plan to cook the steaks, sprinkle steak seasoning all over them. Let them rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure a more even cook.
Steak seasoning contains salt and pepper, as well as a number of spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs like parsley and rosemary, paprika and red pepper flakes.
Quick tips and tricks to making the best Steak Seasoning
- Make sure your spices aren’t expired. Make a plan to check your spices every year and replace any that are expired. When spices are expired, they lose their flavor and can even go rancid.
- Put all the ingredients in a jar and shake well to get the most even distribution. Store the steak seasoning mix in a glass jar in a cool dry place.
- Let seasoned steak rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before cooking. This will help it cook more evenly.
Steak recipes to try:
Homemade Steak Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Equipment
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Instructions
- Combine the black pepper, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried parsley, kosher salt, dried rosemary, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. (You can also do this in a small mason jar.)
- Stir them all together until evenly distributed.
- Use immediately on steaks, or funnel the dry rub into a mason jar or spice jar. Don’t forget to add a label with the date you made it.
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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