There are many different opinions on what the best seasonings are for steak. Some people prefer to keep it simple with just salt and pepper when cooking steak, while others like to get a little more creative. So what options are there? Below we cover some of the best seasonings for steak, and why you may find a place for each in your flavor rotation.
Note, many of these spices can be paired together to create a homemade steak seasoning all your own. Feel free to experiment with your own DIY dry rubs.
Table of Contents
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic
- Onion
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Chili Powder
- Montreal steak seasoning
- Brown Sugar
- Red Pepper Flakes
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Salt
It might seem obvious, but salt is a great way to bring out the flavor of steak. In fact, it’s considered by most the best steak seasoning around. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too much salt can really take over the taste. A good rule of thumb is to start with about a teaspoon per pound, and then go from there according to your own taste.
See our post on best salts to use. The short of it: Coarser crystals are better for steak. Our recommended option is coarse kosher salt. Coarse sea salt also works well. Avoid table salt if you can.
Black Pepper
Another classic seasoning, pepper is a great way to add some heat and spice to your steak. Black pepper is the most common option, but you can also find white and green peppercorns. Or use a peppercorn medley to add both that delicious warmth and some color to go along with it.
Start with about a teaspoon of black pepper per pound, and then go from there based on taste. As mentioned, many steak purists believe salt and pepper alone are the perfect blend of spices for a good steak.
Garlic
For a real flavor punch, try seasoning your steak with garlic. This can be fresh garlic, garlic powder, or even garlic salt. Just be careful not to add too much, as the strong, pungent flavor of garlic can easily take over.
If you’re using fresh garlic, you’ll want to use about two cloves per pound of steak. If you’re using garlic powder, you’ll want about 1/4 teaspoon per pound. And if you’re using garlic salt, you’ll need 1/2 teaspoon per pound.
Onion
Onion is another great way to add flavor to your steak. You can use fresh onions, or opt for onion powder if you want an easier (though not as pungent) option. Again, be careful not to go overboard as too much onion can be overwhelming.
If you’re using fresh onions, you’ll want to use about two tablespoons per pound of steak. If you’re using onion powder, you’ll want 1/4 teaspoon per pound.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a great herb that can add a nice flavor to your steak. Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that has a pine-like flavor. It can be used fresh or dried, and is often found in seasoning blends, rubs, and marinades. It pairs especially well with garlic, so feel free to use both in your seasoning.
When using rosemary, you’ll want to use about 1/4 teaspoon per pound of steak.
Thyme
Thyme is another great herb that can add flavor to your steak. It has a slightly earthy-sweet flavor that goes well with the taste of meat.
When choosing thyme, you’ll want to use about 1/4 teaspoon per pound of steak.
Note: Rosemary and thyme work well as a pairing with steak. They are both herbs with a slightly earthy flavor, so they complement each other nicely. When using both herbs, you’ll want to use about 1/4 teaspoon of each per pound.
Oregano
Oregano is a great herb that can add flavor to your steak. Oregano tastes slightly bitter and earthy, which goes well with the taste of meats as a whole. When spicing steak with oregano, you’ll want to use about 1/4 teaspoon per pound of steak.
Paprika
Paprika is a great way to add some color and spice to your steak. It can be used on its own or in combination with other seasonings. There are many types of paprika, from generic “sweet” to paprika that’s nearly as hot as cayenne. So, be sure to understand the differences before shopping.
Smoked paprika is one of the best steak seasonings among paprika types. It’s mildly spicy with an earthy smokiness that’s so good with red meat.
Like with many of the other herbs and spices here, you’ll want to use about 1/4 teaspoon of paprika per pound of steak.
Cumin
Ground cumin is a great way to add some earthy warmth to your steak. It pairs well with other spices like paprika and chili powder. Though note, there’s cumin already in chili powder, so add more to taste.
If you’re just using cumin on its own, use 1/4 a teaspoon per pound of steak to start.
Chili Powder
There are two types of chili powder: the seasoning blend (starring cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried chilies) or a single-ingredient powder (like ancho powder, chipotle powder, or cayenne pepper powder).
Single-ingredient chili powders (often differentiated by the use of chile powder as the descriptor) can make excellent spices for steak. Ancho and chipotle, specifically, make excellent choices here as they bring a tasty smoky flavor to the meat.
But take care, each is pure, uncut heat with bold flavor. If you’re using chipotle powder as a rub (or even finishing spice), you’re getting the full heat of jalapeño in that powder. Start with a modest amount and add more to taste. Or mix the chile powder with other spices, like onion powder or garlic powder to cut the spiciness.
Chili powder, the seasoning blend, is already a mix of spices, so the heat from the chilies is typically mild. It makes an excellent dry rub or finishing spice for steak. If you are using chili powder, start with 1/4 teaspoon per pound of steak.
Montreal steak seasoning
This is a great all-purpose spice blend that can be used on steak, grilled chicken, pork chops, or vegetables. It’s a blend of salt, garlic, onion, black pepper, and other spices. On its own it makes a great steak dry rub.
Like above, if you are using Montreal steak seasoning, start with 1/4 teaspoon per pound of steak and adjust to taste from there.
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar is a great steak seasoning because it has an earthy-sweet flavor that goes well with the taste of meat. It also has a slight caramel flavor that goes well with grilled foods.
Start with 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar per pound of steak and adjust to taste.
Red Pepper Flakes
Also known as crushed red pepper, red pepper flakes are a quick way to add some heat to steak post-cooking. There’s not much to the flavor here, so this is all about getting spicy.
Take care: crushed red pepper, being flakes, can lead to uneven distribution on the steak. That can mean one bite is much hotter than the next. Do your best to evenly distribute those flakes.
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