Why You’ll Love This Recipe
When it comes to a hearty, crowd-pleasing dinner, steak and potatoes never disappoint. But when you throw in a rich garlic butter sauce? It takes the classic up a notch. This dish is not only bursting with flavor but also quick and easy to prepare—making it ideal for weeknights. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, this one-pan recipe has got you covered.
What makes this dish so appealing is the balance of textures and flavors. You’ll enjoy tender, juicy steak paired with crispy, golden potatoes that soak up all the buttery goodness. Not to mention, the ease of cleanup thanks to using just one skillet makes it a lifesaver for busy folks!
Quick Overview of Ingredients
The ingredients are simple, yet they come together to create something extraordinary:
- Steak: Choose a tender cut like ribeye, sirloin, or even filet mignon.
- Potatoes: Baby potatoes work great, but Yukon Gold or red potatoes will also do the trick.
- Garlic and Butter: The star of the show! Infuse butter with minced garlic for a rich and savory sauce.
- Herbs and Spices: A touch of thyme, parsley, and salt will enhance the overall flavor.
Ingredients
Essential Ingredients for Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Skillet
One of the reasons why this garlic butter steak and potatoes skillet is so popular is because it uses common ingredients you probably already have on hand. But don’t let the simplicity fool you—these ingredients come together to create a meal that’s full of depth and flavor.
Selecting the Best Steak
The choice of steak makes a significant difference in this dish. For the best results, you’ll want to go with a steak that’s tender enough without a long marinade. Options like ribeye, sirloin, or filet mignon are top choices. Why? Because these cuts are marbled with fat, which renders down during cooking, making the steak bites juicy and flavorful. When buying, look for prime or choice grades, as these tend to be more tender and flavorful than lower grades.
If you’re curious about how to properly care for your skillet while cooking steak to perfection, you can read more about cast iron skillet care here.
Choosing the Right Potatoes
The humble potato plays a starring role in this dish, too! For the crispiest, most delicious results, baby potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes work wonders. Why? Baby potatoes have a natural creaminess inside while getting wonderfully crispy on the outside when cooked. If you’re using larger potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes, cut them into bite-sized pieces to ensure they cook through evenly.
To ensure those perfect, crispy potatoes, consider boiling them for a few minutes beforehand. This step helps them develop that golden-brown crust in the skillet later.
With your steak and potatoes sorted, you’re ready to dive into the fun part—cooking this heavenly combination!
Preparation & Cooking Process
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
Now that we’ve got the ingredients ready, it’s time to get cooking! The key to nailing this dish lies in mastering each step—from seasoning the steak to ensuring those potatoes are golden and crispy. Follow this guide to get that perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Preparing the Steak
To begin, it’s important to season your steak generously. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are your go-to spices here, but feel free to add a sprinkle of thyme or rosemary for an extra layer of flavor. Remember to let the steak come to room temperature before cooking. Why? Because cold steak won’t cook evenly! Give it about 20 minutes out of the fridge while you prep the rest of the dish.
A critical tip here is to avoid cutting the steak into pieces that are too small. Aim for 1-inch cubes—this ensures that the steak bites stay juicy and tender rather than overcooking. Larger pieces also make it easier to get that nice caramelized sear when you throw them in the skillet.
Preparing the Potatoes
While the steak is coming to temperature, get started on your potatoes. If you’re short on time, here’s a pro tip: parboil your potatoes for about 5-7 minutes before adding them to the skillet. This ensures that they’ll cook through without burning the outside.
Once the potatoes are parboiled, pat them dry and toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper. These simple seasonings will work wonders in the skillet.
Cooking the Steak
Time to heat up that skillet! A cast iron skillet is the best choice here because it holds heat well and gives your steak a beautiful sear. Drizzle some olive oil into the hot pan, and then add your steak bites in a single layer. Be careful not to crowd the pan, as this can cause the steak to steam rather than sear.
Sear the steak for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Don’t move the steak too early! Let it sit undisturbed for those 2 minutes to develop that golden-brown crust, which locks in flavor.
Once seared, remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside. Don’t worry if it’s not fully cooked through yet—we’ll finish it up later when we bring everything together.
Cooking the Potatoes
In the same skillet, toss in the prepared potatoes. The trick to perfect crispy potatoes is to leave them undisturbed for a few minutes before flipping them. This allows them to develop that golden crust on the outside while remaining fluffy on the inside.
Cook the potatoes for about 10 minutes, turning them occasionally, until they’re browned and crispy on the edges. If you parboiled them earlier, this should happen pretty quickly.
Bringing It All Together
Now for the magic moment—adding the garlic butter. Once your potatoes are crispy, push them to one side of the skillet and return the steak bites to the pan. Lower the heat to medium and add the butter and minced garlic. Stir gently to combine everything, allowing the butter to melt over the steak and potatoes.
This is where the dish really comes alive! The rich, garlic-infused butter coats everything, creating a savory, decadent finish. Sprinkle some fresh parsley and thyme on top for a pop of freshness, and voila—your garlic butter steak and potatoes skillet is ready to serve.
Pro Tips for Success
Expert Tips for Perfect Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
Cooking the perfect garlic butter steak and potatoes skillet is all about technique. While the ingredients themselves are relatively simple, a few pro tips can make the difference between an average dish and one that’s absolutely mouthwatering. Let’s explore some tried-and-true techniques that will help you nail this dish every time.
The Best Skillet for Cooking
If there’s one piece of kitchen equipment that can elevate your cooking, it’s a cast iron skillet. Cast iron distributes heat evenly and holds onto that heat, which is exactly what you need to get that beautiful sear on your steak and the crispy edges on your potatoes. Not to mention, cast iron skillets develop a natural non-stick surface when properly seasoned. That’s why they’re a favorite for dishes like this( Eatwell101 )( Carlsbad Cravings ).
Don’t have a cast iron skillet? No worries—heavy-bottomed stainless steel pans can work too. Just be sure to get the pan nice and hot before adding the steak to prevent sticking. If you’re curious about how to season and care for a cast iron skillet, check out this guide on cast iron skillet care here.
Achieving the Perfect Steak Doneness
One of the trickiest parts of cooking steak is getting it to the right level of doneness. The secret? A meat thermometer. By using a thermometer, you can avoid the guesswork and ensure your steak is cooked to perfection every time. Here’s a quick guide to internal temperatures:
- Rare: 120–130°F
- Medium-rare: 130–135°F
- Medium: 140–150°F
- Well-done: 155–165°F( Averie Cooks ).
For best results, take the steak off the heat about 5 degrees before it reaches your desired temperature. Why? Because the steak continues to cook as it rests, a phenomenon known as carryover cooking.
Using Garlic Without Burning It
Garlic adds an unmistakable depth of flavor to this dish, but it can quickly turn bitter if overcooked. To avoid this, make sure you add the minced garlic to the skillet only once the heat has been lowered to medium. Garlic cooks fast—just a minute or two is all it needs to release its rich flavor without burning.
Here’s a little trick: once you’ve melted the butter, let the residual heat in the skillet cook the garlic. This way, you’ll infuse the dish with that perfect garlic butter flavor without risking burnt garlic ruining the dish.
The Importance of Resting the Steak
After cooking the steak bites, resist the urge to dig in right away! Letting the steak rest for about 5 minutes is crucial for preserving its juiciness. During this time, the juices redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is as tender and flavorful as possible( Averie Cooks ).
By following these expert tips, you’ll ensure that your garlic butter steak and potatoes is bursting with flavor, perfectly cooked, and ready to impress!