Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

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  • Beef
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  • Ribeyes

By

Nick Kindelsperger

Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe (1)

Nick Kindelsperger

Nick Kindelsperger is a food critic at the Chicago Tribune. His food writing appears in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Epicurious, Baltimore Sun, Serious Eats, Grub Street, New York Magazine, and Tasting Table, among others.

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Updated June 10, 2019

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Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe (2)

About once or twice a year, I'm struck by a desire to eat steak—and not just any old cut of meat, but a gigantic, thick-cut monster. While most of my cravings can easily be satisfied by going out to eat, I find the whole steakhouse experience prohibitively expensive. Plus, I feel like I'd have to wear a tie, and I really don't want to do that. Fortunately, recreating the experience at home can be done fairly easily. Just purchase one gorgeous, well-marbeled steak, pick out a classic side—like, say, creamed spinach—and you're set to go.

Fortunately, I didn't have to spend long looking for a pan-seared ribeye steak recipe, because Kenji did all the hard work for me. Basically, it goes like this: heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet, add the steak, flip it constantly, add butter halfway through, baste it like crazy while also flipping occasionally, remove, let rest, and you're done. Works like a charm. Just make sure to have some exhaust fans going or open some windows, because there will be smoke.

Unlike the steak, I was initially unsure where to start with the creamed spinach. I read through numerous recipes, many of which were overly complicated and fussy. In the spirit of simplicity, I just focused on the cream and the spinach. To help thicken the cream so it'd stick to the leaves, I made a quick roux with butter and flour, and then seasoned it with nutmeg and salt. For the spinach, I cooked it carefully with a little more butter until it just started to wilt, and immediately turned off the heat, so that the leaves were soft but not a pile of mush. Then I just combined the two. Done.

While still something of an extravagance, I find that my wife and I can share a large steak, and there will still be some leftovers.

Recipe Details

Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe

Active30 mins

Total30 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 large ribeye steak, approximately 1 1/2-inches thick (24 to 30 ounces)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 cup vegetable orcanola oil

  • 5 tablespoons butter, divided

  • 6 sprigs thyme or rosemary (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 3/4 pound spinach, washed and rinsed, cut into thin strips

  • Pinch gratednutmeg

  • Coarse sea salt

Directions

  1. Season ribeye well with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy-bottomed cast-iron skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke. Carefully add steak and cook, flipping every 30 seconds or so with a pair of tongs, until a pale golden brown crust starts to develop, about 4 minutes total.

  2. Add two tablespoons of butter to skillet. Continue flipping steak every 30 seconds, while using a spoon to baste the steak with foaming butter. (See here for a step-by-step slideshow of the process. If butter starts to smoke excessively, reduce heat to medium. Continue process until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 125°F (for medium rare), 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove steak and set aside on a large plate to rest for 10 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, melt one tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir with a whisk until there are no lumps. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook until the roux becomes blonde and smells toasty, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and whisk continuously to avoid lumps. Season with 1/8 teaspoon salt and a pinch of grated nutmeg, and simmer gently until thick and creamy.

  4. Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and stir with a pair of tongs until leaves have just wilted, but still have some integrity. Turn off heat. Pour half of the cream sauce in the skillet and stir well. Add more if necessary to help bind the spinach together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  5. Slice the steak into 1/2-inch thick slices (if desired), sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and serve with spinach on the side.

  • Ribeyes
  • North American
  • Gluten-free Mains
  • Stovetop Beef
  • Spinach
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1442Calories
127g Fat
11g Carbs
71g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories1442
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 127g162%
Saturated Fat 56g278%
Cholesterol 342mg114%
Sodium 1072mg47%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 71g
Vitamin C 17mg85%
Calcium 311mg24%
Iron 12mg69%
Potassium 1574mg33%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak with Quick Creamed Spinach Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to sear a 1 inch ribeye? ›

For the perfect medium-rare steak, sear in a skillet for 12–14 minutes for a 1-inch steak, and 14–16 minutes for a 1½ inch steak, turning about 1 minute before the halfway point. A meat thermometer should read 130°F.

How long to cook ribeye in the oven after searing? ›

Medium-rare is the go-to cook for ribeye steak. To reach this doneness level, sear on each side in a preheated skillet with butter, flipping only once. Then, cook the steak in the oven for 20-45 minutes, depending on its thickness, until it reaches 120-125℉.

How do you make a ribeye steak more tender? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

How to pan sear ribeye without cast iron? ›

The Easiest, Cleanest Way to Sear Steak
  1. Use a nonstick or carbon-steel skillet, not stainless steel. ...
  2. Don't add oil.
  3. Start in a cold pan (no need to preheat).
  4. Flip the steaks every 2 minutes.
  5. Start with high heat, and then after a few flips, turn it down to medium.
Jan 1, 2022

How do you get the best sear on a ribeye? ›

How to Sear Ribeye Steak
  1. Dry and season the steak. Pat the steak dry of excess moisture; dry steaks brown better. ...
  2. Really heat the pan. Heat a little bit of vegetable oil in a medium frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until you see a wisp of smoke. ...
  3. Flip often. ...
  4. Finish with butter. ...
  5. Rest the steak.
Jul 22, 2023

How many minutes do you pan sear a steak? ›

Place the steaks 3 to 5 inches from the flame to sear the outside and seal in the juices. Sear the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. After the steaks have been seared on both sides, remove from heat, and brush both sides with extra virgin olive oil.

Is it better to cook a ribeye in the oven or on the stove? ›

But when it comes to cooking steak indoors, you shouldn't choose between the stovetop or oven — instead, use both. In fact, whether they are seared on a grill or in a pan, finishing steaks in the oven is the standard in fine restaurants everywhere, and for good reason.

How to cook ribeye steak in a pan Gordon Ramsay? ›

Give both sides a light coat of SPG rub. Throw the steak on the cast iron, and let the steak sizzle for about 1 minute, then flip. Keep flipping every minute. Once the internal temperature hits 105ºF, add some butter, rosemary, thyme, and garlic cloves to the skillet, and let it all come together.

What is the best temperature to sear steak? ›

The searing process (also known as the Maillard reaction and carmelization) begins at temperatures as low as 300°F, and the effective searing range is about 300°F to 500°F. Searing at temperatures beyond 500°F can dry out food excessively fast, and usually result in disappointing, burnt food.

Is it better to cook ribeye with oil or butter? ›

The oil has a higher smoke point which means it won't burn when you crank the heat up high. The butter, however, gives it great flavor. Using both slightly decreases the smoke factor while providing a nice sizzle for the fat on the outside of the steak to crisp up.

What is the secret ingredient to tenderize meat? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

How do you keep a ribeye juicy? ›

Remove pan and place cooked steaks on a plate and add butter pats to each piece. Make a foil tent and let the steaks “rest” about 5 to 10 minutes. Resting is important to keep them juicy!

Is ribeye better grilled or pan seared? ›

Grilled has long been one of the most popular ways to enjoy ribeye steak. This yummy cut of steak is tender and full of flavor, and the grill only enhances its texture and taste. In fact, some say that the grilled sear on ribeye makes it taste even better than it would when cooked on a pan.

How long to cook ribeye on the stove? ›

Cooking Times and Temperatures for Ribeye Steaks
ThicknessDonenessPan Searing Time
1 inch thickRare (125°F)3-4 minutes per side
1 inch thickMedium Rare (130°F)4-6 minutes per side
1 inch thickMedium (135°F)6-8 minutes per side
1 ½ inches thickRare (125°F)5-6 minutes per side
5 more rows
May 11, 2022

How do you pan sear steak without burning butter? ›

As such, do your searing with a neutral vegetable oil. Don't use olive oil since it too has a low smoking point. Then toward the end, throw in a bit of butter and spread the melted butter all over the steak. Allow to brown and then immediately take off the heat to prevent burning.

How long does it take to reverse sear a 1 inch ribeye? ›

It takes about 30-60 minutes to reverse sear ribeye steak, depending on the thickness of the steak and the temperature of your oven. Generally, we recommend setting the oven to 275 degrees and cooking to an internal temperature of 110 degrees before searing for 1-2 minutes on each side.

How long do you cook a 1 inch ribeye for medium? ›

SIRLOIN STRIP STEAKS, RIBEYE STEAKS & PORTERHOUSE STEAKS
ThicknessRare 110 to 120 FMedium 130 to 140 F
1"4 minutes EACH SIDE6 minutes EACH SIDE
1.25"4.5 minutes EACH SIDE6.5 minutes EACH SIDE
1.5"5 minutes EACH SIDE7 minutes EACH SIDE
1.75"5.5 minutes EACH SIDE7.5 minutes EACH SIDE
1 more row

Should you reverse sear 1 inch steak? ›

You'll probably find that a reverse-seared steak needs no sauce at all. Finally, the method doesn't work very well for steaks thinner than an inch and a half or so, since they end up cooking through too quickly.

How do you sear a steak for 30 seconds? ›

Immediately place steak(s) in the middle of the hot, dry pan. Cook 30 to 60 seconds without moving. Turn the steak(s) with tongs and cook another 30 to 60 seconds, then put the pan straight into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes.

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