The carnivores in my family definitely approve of these grilled steaks. If you have hungry meat-eaters at your house as well, they will also love our Texas Smoked Brisket, Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs, Indiana Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, and our Garlic Herb Butter Beef Tenderloin Roast. I wasn’t a fan of steak growing up. It wasn’t until I met my husband in college and he made medium-rare, perfectly cooked steaks for us one night that I realized what I had been missing out on all those years. The tender, juicy meat has the most succulent flavor ever! Since then, I have enjoyed many amazing steaks, from New York Strip to Filet Mignon, and pretty much everything in between, including these grilled ribeye steaks, which are high on my list of favorites. I wanted to share how we make this popular cut of beef to represent one of the foods that Kansas is known for as part of my American Eats series where I’m making some of the most popular recipes and flavors of each state in the USA, one state at a time. I knew that beef production was a big part of the Kansas economy, but I had no idea that cattle outnumber people 2-to-1 in Kansas! So fire up that grill and get ready for the best ribeye steak of your life!
What is a ribeye steak?
A ribeye steak comes from the rib section of a cow. It is beautifully marbled and super juicy for a supremely tender, rich texture and flavor that hardly needs anything beyond salt and pepper. You can use any kind of steak rub you want with additional spices, or even marinate ribeye (I have a great meat marinade in my beef kabob recipe), but really, when it comes to this quality cut of beef, the simple approach of just salt and pepper is the best way to go.
How to choose a ribeye steak
I typically choose boneless ribeye steak because it is easier to cook than bone-in. Look for steaks with good marbling – those thin lines of white fat throughout the meat that indicates that it will not only have amazing flavor, but also that it will be tender and juicy when cooked. Steaks are labeled with a grading system set out by the USDA. “Prime” meat is the best quality, followed by “Choice”. The lowest quality steaks are called “Select”. I always go for Prime or Select when grilling because as long as you are going to the expense of making steaks, they really ought to be good ones.
How long to grill a steak
Keep in mind that the information in this post is based on boneless, approximately 1 ¼ to 1 1/2-inch thick ribeye steaks. If you have thicker steaks, they will take longer to cook. This is why I highly recommend relying on a good digital meat thermometer (affiliate link) to tell when your steak is ready to take off the grill.
How to grill ribeye steak
Temperature guide for steak
Use the following guidelines to determine when you are ready to pull your meat off the grill. Keep in mind that the temperature of the meat will continue 5-10 degrees while it rests before slicing. My personal preference is a lovely medium-rare where the meat is a warm red inside, so I pull it off the grill when it hits 130 degrees F.
Rare (120-125 degrees F): cool red center; about 3 minutes per side.Medium-rare (130-135 degrees F): warm red center; about 4 minutes per side; super moist, tender, and juicy.Medium (140-145 degrees F): warm pink center; about 5 minutes per side; still tender, but not as juicy.Medium-well (150-155 degrees F): pale pink center; about 5-6 minutes per side; tougher, not very juicy.Well-done (160 degrees F): Little or no pink; 6+ minutes per side; dry, not as flavorful.
Garlic herb compound butter for steaks
These grilled ribeye steaks are amazing all on their own, straight off the grill. But I cannot resist letting a simple garlic herb compound butter melt over the top of them while they rest. It’s so incredibly delicious! Just finely mince a few cloves of garlic along with some finely chopped fresh rosemary. Thyme, oregano, or tarragon would also be good. Mash the minced garlic and herbs into softened butter. Place this in the fridge to firm up until the steaks are done, then slice off a tablespoon-sized knob or two of butter and let it melt over the top of the steaks before serving.
What to serve with ribeye steak
Almost anything seems to go well with a good steak, but some of our favorites are a classic baked potato (or better yet, twice baked potatoes!), some grilled or roasted asparagus, corn on the cob, or a nice salad with homemade Italian dressing. And don’t forget dessert!
More satisfying main dish recipes
Alaskan King Crab LegsGarlic & Rosemary Rack of LambBacon-Wrapped Pork TenderloinHow to Make a Brined & Smoked TurkeyPan Seared ScallopsAuthentic German SauerbratenPan Fried TroutSriracha Mayo Marinated Grilled Lamb ChopsSmoked Pork Belly Burnt EndsGrilled Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip
More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
