Curious about the best way to grill ribeyes? This mouthwatering grilled ribeyes recipe starts off on the grill and then finishes to perfection in a sizzling cast-iron skillet, all while being basted with rich, herbed garlic butter. Pair these ribeye steaks with my easy scalloped potatoes for a delicious dinner for two!
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There seems to be a big debate as to the best way to grill ribeyes. Is it on the grill over an open flame or in a hot cast iron skillet? Well, we think it's both! The best way to grill ribeyes is to start them on the grill and finish them in a sizzling hot cast iron skillet, all while being basted in a yummy compound butter blended with garlic, rosemary, and thyme!
A ribeye steak is one of the tastiest cuts because of the fat that is weaved throughout the meat. This is commonly referred to as marbling. This extra fat makes a ribeye steak juicy and oh-so flavorful!
For this special recipe, I'm going to ask you to splurge and get the thickest ribeyes that you can find. I suggest right around 2" in thickness. Yes, they'll be pricey, but still a lot less than you would spend at a steakhouse. The ribeyes should be fresh, and not previously frozen, if at all possible.
Grilling the perfect ribeyes takes 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how well you like them cooked and the steak's thickness. You may also want to try this steak seasoning recipe! If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to try my reverse-seared smoked steak recipe too!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This grilled ribeyes recipe is fancy enough to serve on a special occasion but simple enough for anyone to master.
- The cooking time is really short, so you can prepare these delicious steaks when you're short on time!
- The detailed instructions in this grilled ribeye recipe are easy to follow!
- There are so many leftover steak recipes you can make with your leftovers!
🔖 Ingredient & Substitutions
- Ribeye Steak: Choose steaks that are 1-¾" in thickness, preferably 2". The last thing you want to do is serve your sweetie an overcooked steak. This is coming from someone who used to like her steak well done...ok, burned. 😬
- Salt and Pepper: Use plenty of sea salt or, even better, smoked salt, and freshly ground black pepper to season the steaks. The steaks should be coated on both sides and along the edges, too.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter, as the steaks will already be seasoned with salt.
- Herbs: Instead of using fresh herbs, this recipe calls for dried thyme and rosemary.
🥩 Best Way to Grill Ribeye Steaks
Step 1: Generously salt and pepper both steaks and place them on a rack in the fridge overnight, uncovered.
Step 2: Remove steaks a few hours before cooking to bring them to room temperature.
Step 3: Mix room-temperature butter with pressed garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Set aside two tablespoons of the herbed butter, which will be added on top of the steaks just before serving.
Pro Tip: If your steaks are less than 1¾ to 2" in thickness, see adjusted cooking times in the recipe expert tips.
Grilling Instructions
Step 4: Turn all of the burners on the grill to max heat and allow the grill to heat up for 20 minutes. We're shooting for 500 degrees F. or higher. A few minutes before adding the steaks, turn the burners on one side down to medium heat and place a 12" cast-iron skillet on that side of the grill.
Step 5: Add the ribeyes to the grill and set a timer for 1 minute. Close the lid after each time you flip the steaks to keep the heat from escaping. After 1 minute, flip the steaks and cook for an additional minute. Flip the steaks 2 more times, 1 minute per side, for a total grill time of 4 minutes.
Step 6: During the last 30 seconds of cooking, melt 6 tablespoons of herbed butter in the heated cast-iron skillet. Transfer steaks to the skillet and cook for 90 seconds per side. Use a spoon to baste the steaks with the melted butter in the pan.
Step 7: Plate the steaks and top with the remaining herbed butter and tent with foil. Allow the steaks to rest for approximately 5 minutes before serving them.
For ribeyes 1-¼" to 1-½" thick:
Grill for 1 minute, flip, 1 minute, flip, 30 seconds, flip, 30 seconds, flip. Add steaks to a hot skillet and cook for 1 minute on each side. The cooking time will be 5 minutes total (3 minutes on the grill and 2 minutes in the pan).
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These grilled ribeyes can be easily paired with a variety of side dishes, including this cowboy butter recipe. Try them with this delicious French potato salad, Bourson mashed potatoes, or these incredible Air Fryer twice baked potatoes!
If you prefer a lighter side, try this yummy pear arugula salad or this colorful seven-layer salad.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
The general consensus is that a ribeye should be cooked for 4 to 6 minutes per side or approximately 10 minutes total for a medium-rare (135 degrees F). Add a couple of minutes more per side for medium (140 degrees F), and an additional minute per side for medium-well (150 degrees F).
However, cooking ribeyes in the method described in this post allows you to BBQ the ribeye for a much shorter time because we're using a high heat setting and finishing the steaks in a hot cast-iron skillet.
The best way to grill ribeyes is to set your grill to a minimum of 500 degrees F. This allows you to grill the ribeyes for a shorter time, locking in the flavor and juices of the steak.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- The cook times in this Best Way to Grill Ribeyes post are for medium-rare steaks. Add an additional 30 seconds to a few minutes if you prefer your steaks less rare.
- If possible, the ribeyes should be USDA prime-cut ribeyes.
- If you can't rest the steaks in the fridge overnight, start them off in the morning and cook them later in the day.
- Make sure you don't skip the resting time after the steak is ready. During this time, the juices will redistribute throughout the steak, resulting in a juicier steak.
- Have everything you need handy before you start. This includes the steaks, herbed butter, tongs, pan, oven mitts to remove the hot pan from the grill, and your phone to time the cooking.
🍖 More Meat Recipes
If you enjoy this grilled ribeye recipe, check out these related recipes!
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Generously salt and pepper both steaks and place on a rack in the fridge overnight, uncovered.
- Remove steaks a few hours prior to cooking to bring to room temperature.
- Mix room temperature butter with pressed garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Set aside two tablespoons of the herbed butter which will be added on top of the steaks just before serving.
- Turn all of the burners on the grill to max heat and allow the grill to heat up for 20 minutes. We're shooting for 500 degrees F. or higher. A few minutes before adding the steaks, turn the burners on one side down to medium heat and place a 12 inch cast iron skillet on that side of the grill.
- Add the ribeyes to the grill and set a timer for 1 minute. Close the lid after each time you flip the steaks to keep the heat from escaping. After 1 minute, flip the steaks and cook for an additional minute. Flip the steaks 2 more times 1-minute per side, for a total grill time of 4 minutes.
- During the last 30 seconds of cooking, melt 6 tablespoons of herbed butter in the heated cast-iron skillet. Transfer steaks to the skillet and cook for 90 seconds per side. Use a spoon to baste the steaks with the melted butter in the pan.
- Plate the steaks and top with the remaining herbed butter and tent with foil. Allow the steaks to rest for approximately 5 minutes before serving them.
Nutrition
Notes
Grill 1 minute, flip, 1 minute, flip, 30 seconds, flip, 30 seconds, flip. Add steaks to hot skillet and cook for 1 minute on each side. The cook time will be 5 minutes total (3 minutes on the grill and 2 minutes in the pan).
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- The cook times in this Best Way to Grill Ribeyes post are for medium-rare steaks. Add an additional 30 seconds to a few minutes if you prefer your steaks less rare.
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- If possible, the ribeyes should be USDA prime-cut ribeyes.
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- If you can't rest the steaks in the fridge overnight, start them off in the morning and cook them later in the day.
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- Make sure you don't skip the resting time after the steak is ready. During this time, the juices will redistribute throughout the steak, resulting in a juicier steak.
-
- Have everything you need handy before you start. This includes the steaks, herbed butter, tongs, pan, oven mitts to remove the hot pan from the grill, and your phone to time the cooking.
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Erica Martinez says
This recipe is amazing and East , we used New York stripes, tonight using petite sirloin. We didn’t have a cast iron pan, so a regular Stainless steel pan is what we used.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks so much for reviewing the recipe, Erica. I'm glad you guys enjoyed them! ❤️
Kelly Methey says
Oh my gosh! This recipe sounds so fantastic! I can’t wait to try it! I’m dying for this steak Right. This. Minute.
Hilda Sterner says
Haha, yes, that's what I said the first time Scotty sent me a pic of the steaks. They do not disappoint!