One of my favorite ways to prepare steak is this recipe for Pan Fried Lemon Garlic Rib Eye Steaks.
Pan Fried Lemon Garlic Rib Eye Steaks
This is a recipe from The Recipe Girl Cookbook. It’s one that we like to have for dinner now and then. It’s just a simple and delicious steak recipe. Add a potato and a vegetable/salad, and you’re all set with an easy, family-friendly dinner!
You can always make these steaks on the grill, but the grill isn’t accessible for everyone all-year-long, and PLUS… these are fried in a little oil+butter, which is ALWAYS a good thing. FRYING STEAKS IN BUTTER. Yes, that’s a good thing.
🛒Ingredients needed:
- rib eye steaks
- garlic
- freshly ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh oregano
- salted butter
- kosher salt
- lemon
✏️How to make Pan Fried Lemon Garlic Rib Eye Steaks:
*The complete, printable recipe with all ingredients and instructions is at the end of this post.
- Rub both sides of the steaks with the split garlic halves. Coat both sides of the steaks with a generous sprinkle of pepper. Coat each steak with ½ tablespoon oil and press on ½ tablespoon of the oregano. Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour (see tips).
- Preheat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Remove the steaks from the plastic wrap and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon salt. Add the steaks to the hot pan and cook 2 minutes on the first side, or until they are seared a nice, deep brown. Turn the steaks over and add the lemon to the pan, cut-side-down. Turn heat to medium low and cook for 2½ minutes more, or until the steaks become browned on the bottom. Your steaks will be medium rare at this point. Add a little more cooking time if you prefer your steak more well done.
- Remove the steaks to the cutting board and let them rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Squeeze the pan-fried lemon over the two steaks. Serve immediately.
➡️Recipe Tips:
- Cooking a steak at room temperature will allow for it to cook more evenly and quickly.
- You’ll get a better result in pan-frying your steaks if you avoid using a nonstick skillet. The steaks will brown nicely and hold a better texture if you opt for a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet.
- MAKE-AHEAD TIP: Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or up to 1 day. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
- USING THE GRILL INSTEAD: Preheat your grill to medium and grill the steaks 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill the lemon cut-side-down.
✔️What to serve with Pan Fried Lemon Garlic Rib Eye Steaks:
- A classic baked potato is perfect with these steaks or you might want to opt for something a little special.
- I also like these with roasted butternut squash or roasted carrots.
- Serve this alongside a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon or a savory Syrah.
❤️Why I love this recipe:
- Not many recipes are designed for two and I love that this makes a perfect “date night” meal.
- We grill steaks so often that it’s really nice to have one cooked a little differently.
- I love that drizzle of pan fried leman. It adds the perfect zing to these steaks.
Savory recipes enhanced with lemon!
Pan Fried Lemon Garlic Rib Eye Steaks
For best results, search high and low for some good quality rib-eye steaks (good quality meat can make a big difference in the resulting flavor).
Ingredients
- Two 8-ounce rib eye steaks, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano, divided
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ medium lemon
Instructions
- Rub both sides of the steaks with the split garlic halves. Coat both sides of the steaks with a generous sprinkle of pepper. Coat each steak with ½ tablespoon oil and press on ½ tablespoon of the oregano. Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour (see tips).
- Preheat a large skillet to medium heat. Add the butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Remove the steaks from the plastic wrap and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon salt. Add the steaks to the hot pan and cook 2 minutes on the first side, or until they are seared a nice, deep brown. Turn the steaks over and add the lemon to the pan, cut-side-down. Turn heat to medium low and cook for 2½ minutes more, or until the steaks become browned on the bottom. Your steaks will be medium rare at this point. Add a little more cooking time if you prefer your steak more well done.
- Remove the steaks to the cutting board and let them rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Squeeze the pan-fried lemon over the two steaks. Serve immediately.
Notes
- To make this recipe dairy free, leave out the butter and use all olive oil instead.
- Cooking a steak at room temperature will allow for it to cook more evenly and quickly.
- You’ll get a better result in pan-frying your steaks if you avoid using a nonstick skillet. The steaks will brown more nicely and hold a better texture if you opt for a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet.
- MAKE-AHEAD TIP: Wrap the steaks in plastic wrap and let them marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or up to 1 day. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
- USING THE GRILL INSTEAD: Preheat your grill to medium and grill the steaks 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Grill the lemon cut-side-down.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 659kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 52g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 27g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 153mg, Sodium: 2490mg, Potassium: 663mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 255IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 69mg, Iron: 5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this last night with roasted red potatoes. One of the best steaks I’ve had!! My 23 month old son polished his plate then went over to my husband’s plate & ate some of his food lol it was so juicy & tender. Trying this tonight with pork chops. Thanks for sharing!
Did anyone actually try this, or does it just “look good” to everyone?
I’ve made it several times before publishing in my cookbook. Looks like one of the commenters made it and liked it.
Do you think this would taste ok with a leaner steak? Filet?
Probably! Just watch the timing for desired doneness.
Looks so yummy! I would so like to try this!
Yum! Just made this for dinner. This was great and easy!
Love the addition of tangy citrus to steak! This looks fantastic, Lori!
Oh, Lori…your Pan-Fried Lemon & Garlic Steak looks divine! Definitely making this! Pinning…
Oh My! Thanks so much for starting back with this yummy one.
And this looks a lot more easy than I thought it would be.
The photos help me visualize the steps. You’re the greatest.
Love all the lemon with the steaks, what great flavor!
Oh goodness these steaks look incredible! I cant wait to make them for my hubs soon! 🙂