Chipotle Steak Recipe

This chipotle steak recipe is an excellent choice for dinner. The chipotle seasoning and marinade make these pan-seared ribeye steaks extra tasty while creating a juicy, tender texture. The smoky-sweet and slightly spicy flavors are sure to please even picky eaters. Simple to make - only a handful of ingredients and a skillet are just about all you need!

Jump to:

• 🎥 Recipe Video
• ❤️ Why You'll Love This
• 🥘 Ingredients and Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🥗 How To Serve
• 📖 Variations
• 💭 Top Tips
• ❓ FAQs
• ✔️ More Steak Recipes
• ⭐ Let's Connect
• 📋 Recipe

🎥 Recipe Video

❤️ Why You'll Love This

"You'll LOVE the smoky, spicy, and earthy flavors of a this tasty chipotle steak recipe! When your steak starts sizzling and the Tex-Mex aromas start to fill your kitchen - you will be in Heaven!"

So Much Flavor

The combination of chipotle seasoning, Worcestershire, and garlic marinade creates the most fantastic flavor - literally one of my favorite ways to make ribeyes or NY strips.

I highly suggest you make our chipotle seasoning rub instead of buying a store-bought brand. I used a surprise ingredient (Chinese five-spice) to take this seasoning to a new level. It's like a fusion of Southwest, Mexican and Asian flavors all one - unique and delicious!

Easy

A simple marinade, ribeyes, and a skillet are all you need for this pan-seared chipotle steak recipe!

Healthy

• If you use our chipotle seasoning recipe, this recipe is gluten-free, low carb, keto, paleo, with no added sugar.
• Anyone following a vegan or vegetarian diet won't want beef, but some grilled veggies seasoned with the chipotle rub would be a nice touch! Served in a few warm corn tortillas and you end up with some delightful veggie tacos.
• Want to lower the fat in this recipe? Some options are much leaner than others. Flat iron, sirloin, and filet mignon are 3 of the leaner options.

🥘 Ingredients and Equipment

Here are the ingredients and equipment you will need to make this chipotle steak recipe:

• Ribeye Steak or New York Strip - Use either, the nice marbling and fat content make them quite tender.
• Chipotle Seasoning - A delicious seasoning blend you're going to love. You can certainly buy your own chipotle rub, but there is no need - our recipe is so easy and it's super good!
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Using olive oil adds flavor, unlike regular oil like canola.

Equipment

Equipment and tools needed to make this chipotle steak recipe:

• Cutting Board or Large Plate - For resting your steak plus slicing if desired.
• Gallon Sized Plastic Zip Lock Bags - For marinating.
• 12" Cast Iron Skillet - For best results, use a cast-iron skillet.
• Metal Tongs
• Instant Read Thermometer
• 10" Chef's Knife - Can be smaller or bigger. Make sure it's sharp!

🔪 Instructions

Here's how to make the chipotle steak:

For complete instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.

Season

Place all four ribeyes on a large tray or cutting board and thoroughly season with chipotle seasoning on all sides, front and back.

Be thorough with your rub, which will help drive more flavor during the marination process.

Marinate

In a plastic zip-lock bag, add the Worcestershire and garlic.

Note: If your ribeyes are larger, you may need more than one bag and will need to divide the marinade between the bags.

Place each ribeye in the plastic bag(s) and remove as much air as possible.

Lock the bags tightly and ensure that the ingredients have covered all sides of the steak.

Put them into the refrigerator to marinate for 6 to 8 hours.

Sear

In a 12-inch skillet, add extra virgin olive oil and turn it onto medium-high heat.

Once the oil is smoking, add the ribeyes to the hot pan and sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side at medium-rare temperature.

Remove the steak from the heat when its internal temperature reaches between 125 to 130 degrees.

Let it rest for 5 minutes. While it rests, the temperature will rise and end up around 130 to 135 degrees which is the ideal medium-rare temperature.

Serve

Serve whole, or cut into thin slices. Enjoy!

🥗 How To Serve

Here are some ideas for serving your chipotle steak:

• Toppings: Serve with a side of sour cream, a chipotle crema, roasted corn salsa, or blue cheese dressing. Fresh cilantro, scallions, or chimichurri are other great pairings for this recipe.
• Easy side dish: Make a little extra marinade in a plastic bag and add cubed/diced zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. Sprinkle with chipotle seasoning. Marinate the same amount of time as the ribeyes. While the ribeyes are resting, use the same skillet and saute the vegetables! Salt and pepper as needed.
• Serve with a blue cheese wedge salad, Baked Zucchini Casserole With Cheese,
• On a salad or used as a protein for tacos or fajitas. I made myself a side of caramelized onions and green beans with scalloped potatoes and that did not disappoint!
• Open face sandwich idea! Lightly toast a piece of crusty bread like sourdough. Spread it with some sour cream, crema, or chimichurri spread on the bottom like jam. Thinly slice your steak and layer it onto your sandwich. Turn this idea into bite-sized pieces and you are looking at one heck of an hors d'oeuvre!

📖 Variations

Here are a few ways you can vary or make substitutions to this chipotle steak recipe:

• Not big into red meat? Feel free to marinate other types of protein. Pork and chicken are other great candidates as well as fish and vegetables. I would marinate the fish and vegetables no longer than 4 to 6 hours as their flesh is less forgiving than a cut of beef, pork, or chicken, which allows the seasoning to penetrate even easier.
• Try different cuts of steak. There are many options to choose from, but my favorites are ribeye, NY strips, flat iron, filet mignon, and sirloin.
• Carne Asada: Marinate a few flank steaks to make a killer carne asada, tacos, or burritos!
• Shredded Beef: Sirloin or chuck roast can be cut into stew meat chunks, marinated, and slow-cooked to make shredded chipotle beef for tacos, casseroles, pasta, or simply on a Mexican style salad with an array of toppings.
• Got a vegetarian or vegan in your house? Make the extra marinade and use on their favorite veggies (mine are mushrooms, zucchini, onions, peppers) then saute the vegetables in the pan while your ribeyes are resting.

💭 Top Tips

• Make the chipotle seasoning ahead of time (keep extra on hand for a multitude of uses).
• Marinate your steaks in the morning and they will be ready to go when it's time to cook dinner.
• The ribeyes need to be as close to room temperature as possible before cooking. Remove from the refrigerator 45 minutes to 1 hour before cooking.
• When searing your ribeyes, make sure your heat is high enough to achieve a sizzle so you can create caramelization a flavor! Once that ribeye hits the pan leave it alone - don't poke or prod it. Just let it sear then turn after 4 minutes.
• Remember to watch your cooking time and temperature. The rule of thumb for a 1" medium-rare steak is to sear it for approximately 4 minutes on each side. Remove it from the heat when the internal temperature reaches between 125 to 130 degrees F. Let them rest for 5 minutes. The steak will continue cooking and the internal temperature should rise to about 130 to 135 degrees (ideal medium-rare temp).

❓ FAQs

How far ahead can you marinate your steak?

You should marinate your steaks for no longer than 10 hours. Any longer than that, they will start to oxidize (turn brown) in the marinade. The ideal marinating time for this recipe is anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.

What temperature should steak be cooked to?

USDA Guideline

According to the USDA, steaks should be cooked to 145 degrees F and allowed to rest for 3 minutes beyond that. This results in a steak cooked to the high end of medium doneness. Letting it rest for another 3 minutes means it will be closer to medium-well by the time you serve it.

As a point of reference, the steaks cooked in our video were cooked according to USDA guidelines and would be considered medium-well. They were still tender and delicious.

My Personal Preference

I like my steaks medium-rare and will pull them from the heat when they're between 125 and 130 degrees. Let them rest for 5 to 6 minutes. The temperature will increase slightly, and the juices will re-distribute - ending in a most delicious and juicy steak!

Steaks are at their most tender and flavorful when cooked to medium-rare. A steak cooked to rare is primarily pink but is often cool inside. Whereas, one that is well-done will be cooked all the way through will be much chewier (with a tiny bit of pink - or no pink at all).

Steak Temperature Doneness Guide

Here are the ideal temperatures when checking the doneness of a steak.

Medium-Rare: 130 to 135 degrees F

Medium: 140 to 145 degrees F

Medium-Well: 150 to 155 degrees F

Be sure to remove a steak from the heat when it is 5 degrees cooler than the ideal temperature you are looking to achieve. Let the steak rest for 5 to 6 more minutes, and as you do, the temperature will increase by approximately 5 degrees.

See the USDA guidelines above for their recommendations on cooking temperatures.

Can I grill my chipotle steak?

Absolutely! Grilling your steak would be so delicious.

While you're at it, throw some bell peppers and onions on the grill, and you'll have the makings for some fabulous fajitas! Between all of the beautiful spices and the char of a grill, you would be entering Grilled Asada territory.

✔️ More Steak Recipes

If you are looking for more delicious steak recipes, check these out:

• How To Grill A Ribeye Steak
• Pan Seared Ribeye Steak
• Herbed Butter Steak (Simple Steak Recipe Grilled)
• Fusion Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe
• Crock Pot Cube Steak
• Cube Steak in the Oven

⭐ Let's Connect

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