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Cowboy Steak is an extra-thick ribeye with a French-trimmed bone for a stunning presentation. This mouthwatering cutting is exceptionally tender and juicy. Larn how to brand the perfect cowboy ribeye in the oven or on the grill!

Cowboy steak cooked in the oven and served with green beans and sauteed potatoes for a delicious steak dinner

Await no further than the cowboy ribeye when you want to enjoy one of the best types of steak. It tops the tenderness and flavour scales with an impressive look. All-time of all, it's versatile and like shooting fish in a barrel to prepare in the oven also every bit on the grill or stovetop.

What is a Cowboy Steak?

A cowboy steak is a thick-cut ribeye where the rib bone is french-trimmed so it extends out a few inches from the meat for presentation purposes. When the os is longer than 5 inches, it's called a tomahawk steak. The typical cowboy ribeye volition be one 1/2 to 2 one/2 inches thick and weigh 18-36 ounces each.

Coming from the rib primal of the cow, the cowboy cut steak contains the tender longissimus dorsi musculus known for its marbling and flavor. The origin of the proper noun cowboy steak is unclear, although the steak has a rustic look to information technology. Basic bone-in ribeyes are usually cut thinner with a smaller piece of bone that's non trimmed.

Raw cowboy steak showing the frenched bone and marbling of the meat

How to Cook Cowboy Steak

You lot can melt a cowboy steak in the oven, on the grill or on the stove just similar a ribeye. Here's how to prepare the steak for cooking:

  • Remove it from the fridge an hour ahead to approach room temperature for even cooking.
  • Pat dry the steak with paper towels to remove backlog moisture that could interfere with searing.
  • Rub the steak with a high-temperature oil similar canola oil, sunflower oil or refined olive oil.
  • Season the steak generously with salt and pepper as well as any dry out rub seasonings yous may exist using.

Cowboy Steak in the Oven

Blistering is the virtually common oven method, whereby you pan-sear for 1 minute per side over high oestrus in a cast iron pan. Then you transfer the pan to a 400°F oven to end cooking for 10-fifteen minutes more depending on desired doneness.

Broiling avoids the pan-searing footstep and is a great option when you take a reliable broiler. Position the oven rack and then the meat is 3-4 inches from the heat source and let the broiler preheat for at least 10 minutes. The steak will need 8-15 minutes per side depending on thickness and the broiler.

A cowboy ribeye cooked medium showing a pale pink interior

Cowboy Steak on the Grill

Making BBQ cowboy steaks is easy using a reverse sear. Melt low-and-slow on indirect heat at 275°F until the steak reaches an internal temperature of 100°F. Then raise the rut to maximum and sear two-3 minutes per side until your desired doneness is reached.

If y'all want crosshatch grill marks, rotate the steaks 90 degrees halfway through each side.

When Is It Done?

The most reliable way to check cowboy steak doneness is by measuring the internal temperature using an instant-read thermometer. Insert the probe into the middle of the steak to bank check your desired doneness:

Desired Doneness While Cooking Later on Resting
Rare 120°F (49°C) 130°F (54°C)
Medium Rare 125°F (52°C) 135°F (56°C)
Medium 130°F (54°C) 140°F (lx°C)
Medium Well 135°F (56°C) 145°F (63°C)

Even afterwards you lot remove the steak from the rut, the temperature keeps rise about 10°F more on a thick cut like a cowboy steak due to carryover cooking.

Annotation that the USDA states that 145°F is the safe final temperature for steak even though it's non always observed.

Checking doneness of a cowboy cut using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the steak. The reading is 131°F indicating medium doneness

How to Serve Cowboy Ribeye Steak

Afterward cooking, allow the steak rest for 5 minutes covered with foil or a plate before serving. This will let the juices to redistribute through the meat for the juiciest steak.

To serve, you cutting along the os to split it from the meat for easy slicing. The following are delicious side dishes and condiments for cowboy ribeye steak:

  • Broiled potato, mashed potatoes or rice
  • Broccoli or green beans
  • Homemade garlic butter or steak sauce

More than Steak Recipes:

  • T-bone steak
  • Porterhouse steak
  • Sirloin steak

View all steak recipes

Sliced cowboy ribeye steak on a serving plate

Cowboy Steak Recipe

Cowboy Steak is an extra thick-cut ribeye with a French-trimmed bone for presentation purposes. It's an peculiarly juicy, tender and flavorful cut of beef!

  • 2 cowboy steaks,  1½-ii½ inches thick (xviii-36 oz each)
  • 2 tablespoons oil, canola oil or refined olive oil, divided
  • 2-3 teaspoons fibroid salt, or kosher salt
  • ii-3 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, optional

  • Remove the cowboy steaks from the refrigerator i-2 hours so they tin can arroyo room temperature for fifty-fifty cooking.

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). As well, identify a cast atomic number 26 pan over high heat for v minutes to get very hot while you get the steaks gear up.

  • Pat dry the steaks with paper towels to remove backlog moisture that could interfere with searing.

  • Rub the steak with 1 tablespoon oil on all sides. So season with table salt and pepper.

  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the hot pan and using swirl to coat. Notation: the pan handle will be hot, and then use oven mitts to avert burns.

  • Using kitchen tongs, advisedly place the seasoned cowboy steak into the pan. Sear for 1 minute. Flip and sear the other side for i minute more.

  • Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and cook for 10-15 minutes more or until desired doneness is reached. Halfway through, add together the butter and spoon the pan juices on top of the meat to baste.

  • Bank check doneness past inserting an instant-read thermometer into the eye of a steak: 120°F is rare, 125°F is medium-rare, 130°F is medium and 135°F is medium-well.*

  • Remove the steaks from the oven to a carving lath or serving platter. Embrace with foil and let them residual for five-x minutes so the juices can redistribute throughout the meat.

  • Cut along the os to divide the meat from the bone. Then slice crosswise against the grain to serve.

  • Yield: One cowboy ribeye yields ii to three 8-oz servings depending on how thickly it's cutting.
  • * Doneness: Avoid cooking a tomahawk to more than than medium in order to get the most tender steak.
  • Grilled Cowboy Steak: Ready the steak according to the instructions in a higher place. So grill at 275°F (135°C) for 30-forty minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 100°F (38°C). Raise the rut to maximum and sear for 2-3 minutes per side or until your desired doneness is reached. Remove from the grill to residual covered with foil for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Pan Fried Cowboy Steak: Preheat a cast atomic number 26 skillet for five minutes over medium-loftier to high heat until very hot. Add together 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl to glaze. Then add the steak and fry, flipping every one infinitesimal for fifty-fifty searing until desired doneness is reached. Notation: You lot can usually only fit 1 cowboy steak into a pan due to its large size.

Nutrition Facts

Cowboy Steak Recipe

Amount Per Serving (10 oz)

Calories 772 Calories from Fat 495

% Daily Value*

Fat 55g 85%

Saturated Fatty 24g 120%

Cholesterol 215mg 72%

Sodium 1133mg 47%

Potassium 944mg 27%

Carbohydrates 2g 1%

Fiber 1g iv%

Carbohydrate 1g 1%

Protein 69g 138%

Vitamin A 152IU 3%

Calcium 35mg four%

Atomic number 26 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please read our nutrition disclaimer.

Did you make this recipe? Exit a comment beneath!

Recipe tools:

  • Cast fe pan
  • Kitchen tongs
  • Instant-read thermometer

Cowboy Steak is a thick-cut ribeye with a beautiful french-trimmed bone for an impressive presentation. An exceptionally tender, juicy and flavorful cut. Learn how to make cowboy steak the oven or on the grill #cowboysteak #cowboyribeye