How to Cook Ribeye Steak in the Oven Without a Cast Iron Skillet

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The ribeye is one of the most popular cuts; it is incredibly marbled and robust in flavor, making it a perfect cut for cooking at home. What makes a ribeye steak so special is the crust that forms on the outside edges while being juicy and tender on the inside. It is perfect for a special occasion, but it doesn’t have to be a restaurant-only meal.

Cooking ribeye steak perfectly is all about the technique. If you’re looking for options for how to cook the steak inside the oven and have a great steak experience on the stovetop, you’re in the right place. There are different ways and tips to cook steak, plus home-cooked meals are much healthier than eating out and are perfect for any meat lover. Using cast iron skillets is not your only option.

This post will explain everything you need to know about cooking ribeye steak in the oven without cast iron skillets, no grill required, as well as listing some recipes.

4 Methods to Cook Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet

Follow the easy recipes listed below if you want to cook a steak without using a cast iron skillet.

1. Cook in an Oven Safe Pan 

Cooking steak in the oven is really easy to make amazingly. It is the best way to cook steaks without a cast iron skillet. However, at the same time, it’s also easy to fail; you’re only seconds away from the steak being overcooked or undercooked, depending on how you like your steak.

Although you can use different cuts of beef, this method can also depend on whether or not you are cooking thick steaks. It’s the timing and the way you cook steak that makes it great.

To cook the best steak in the oven, follow the instructions for this oven method listed below:

Equipment:

  • Oven-safe pan
  • Meat thermometer
  • Tongs

Ingredients:

  • Ribeye steak cuts
  • Butter
  • Olive oil
  • Minced garlic
  • A pinch of salt
  • A pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: Steak seasoning

Instructions:

  1. Remove the steak from the fridge and leave it on a cutting board for 30-45 minutes. This process of resting helps the steak to cook all the way through.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Pat the steak dry with paper towels before rubbing both sides of the steak with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
  4. Place the steak in the oven-safe pan and put it on the middle oven rack to ensure it cooks evenly. You can use the meat thermometer to check the steak’s internal temperature to ensure it is cooked through.
  5. Cook for 15 minutes or until the desired doneness. This should roughly be 7 minutes per side.
  6. Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving with your choice of sides.

2. Use a Baking Sheet

If you don’t have an oven-safe pan or cast iron skillet to cook steak in, you can use a baking sheet instead. This cooking method is shown below:

Equipment:

  • Baking sheet
  • Metal tongs

Ingredients:

  • Ribeye steak
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Optional: Steak seasoning

Instructions:

  1. To cook steak using a baking sheet, you need to preheat the oven to 275°F. 
  2. Place your steak on a baking sheet and season it. When seasoning your steak, simple is better, so stick to sea salt and ground pepper. This creates a flavorful steak.
  3. To achieve the perfect medium-rare steak, place the meat thermometer in the middle of the steak and check if the steak’s temperature matches the room temperature. Approximately 30 seconds later, the steak should reach the desired temperature of 125°F.
  4. Sprinkle olive oil on a large pan and set a high temperature to sear the steak. Once the oil is hot, sear each side of a steak for about 45 seconds (for a medium-rare steak). This can vary depending on your preferred doneness.
  5. After you take the steak out of the pan, let it rest for 5 minutes for the best results, and slice it to check if it’s done based on your preferences. 

3. Use the Oven’s Broil Setting

how to cook ribeye steak in oven without a cast iron skillet - cut steak

Broiling, otherwise known as grilling, is a great way of cooking ribeye steak in the oven. Similar to the second method listed in this post, the broiling method is especially useful when you are in a hurry and want to get dinner on the table quickly.

Equipment:

  • Baking pan
  • Aluminum foil
  • Metal tongs

Ingredients:

  • Ribeye steak
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Additional seasonings (fresh thyme, etc.)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to the desired temperature to cook a steak using the broil setting.
  2. Season the steak with salt, pepper, and any additional herbs and spices you choose.
  3. Place the steak on a baking pan that has been lined with aluminum foil and slide it under the broiler.
  4. Cook for 10 minutes, flipping the steak halfway through or until the desired level of doneness is reached.
  5. Allow the steak to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

4. Use a Wire Rack Inside of a Baking Sheet

Using the last method, you can make a delicious oven-baked ribeye steak if you add the right type of seasoning! If you want to bring a whole new flavor to your ribeye, it is suggested to try cooking in a dirty style

The first thing to do is to get the meat seasoned on all sides (front, back, sides, etc.) on a rack. The reason a rack is preferred over a plate is because all the excess salt would stick on the plate, and you might get more on it than you want. With this rack setup, whatever salt is not hitting the meat goes right to the bottom. A lot of fine-dining restaurants around the world use this technique as it may be simple, but it helps with the seasoning.

Dip the meat in the dirty dust, a blend of 9 spices, to season steak. Dip the rib eye on all sides and then bake it in the oven on a rack at 375°F for 10-15 minutes. In between the cooking, you will have to flip it over so that the meat stays crispy. If you leave it on one side, this side will steam, and the meat won’t be as juicy. 

The wire rack allows the heat to penetrate the steak fully. It is perfect for steaks with high-fat content as the wire rack helps the fat marbling to render down. Once your steak is cooked to your desired doneness, let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Sides to Pair With a Ribeye Steak

steak and sides

For a delicious steak dinner, you need sides to pair with it. After all, it is the sides that can complement and make the steak a family-favorite meal.

Here are some of the best sides to serve with a ribeye steak:

  • Roasted vegetables – Roasted vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, are great for pairing with a ribeye steak. They add a healthy crunch to the meal.
  • Mashed potatoes – Mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes are a classic side dish that goes well with any steak. This is a great alternative to chunky fries.
  • Salad – A light and fresh salad is the perfect side to balance a heavy steak dish.
  • Sauteed mushrooms – Sauteed mushrooms are a delicious and savory side dish that goes great with steak. Mushrooms often pair nicely with steak sauce.
  • Grilled vegetables – Grilled vegetables, such as asparagus, zucchini, and bell peppers, are a great way to add some more flavor and texture to your steak dinner.

You should ensure whatever sides you choose also pair well with the steak sauce you have selected, too.

FAQs

What steak to choose?

When choosing a steak, it is best to buy grass-fed beef instead of grain-fed. The former has more nutrition and flavor; it can also contain more marbling than grain-fed steaks. It is said that tougher cuts of steak, which have more fat, will become more tender as they are cooked.

Although thin steaks are better cooked on the stove, there are multiple cuts of steak you can buy that are perfect for oven cooking, as shown below:

  • Sirloin Steak – This cut of steak comes from the cow’s upper-middle part, the primal loin section.
  • Filet Mignon Steak – This is a leaner cut than other steak cuts as it was taken from the tenderloin section of the cow.
  • T-Bone Steak – This is a thick-cut steak taken from the cow’s short loin section.
  • Porterhouse Steak – This cut of beef is similar to the T-bone but has a bigger tenderloin.

Thicker cuts of steak can be used, but they can sometimes develop dry edges during the cooking process.

How thick should my steak be?

Make sure you’re getting a steak that’s 1 inch to 1 ½ inches thick because if you go any thinner than that, then you’re gonna overcook the inside before the outside is properly browned. 

What is the right temperature for the steak?

Make sure your steak comes up to room temperature before you sear it off. If you do not let the steak rest, it’s not going to have this crispy crust on the outside, and it’s going to look gray. Also, pat your room-temperature steak with a paper towel to ensure it’s dried off, and season it generously for a juicy steak. 

What oil should I use for cooking in an oven-safe pan?

Ensure the oil you use to cook steak has a high smoke point.

How long does steak take to cook in the oven?

If you want a perfectly cooked steak that is 1 ½ inches, then the cooking times are estimated below:

  • Rare steak – cook at 125°F for 8-10 minutes
  • Medium rare steak – cook at 135°F for 14-16 minutes
  • Medium steak – cook at 145°F for 16-18 minutes
  • Medium-well steak – cook at 150°F for 18-20 minutes
  • Well-done steak – cook at 160°F for 20-23 minutes

Thinner steaks will require less cooking time and lower heats. If you are cooking thicker steaks, the temperatures and cooking times will need to be adjusted, too.

To Sum Up

After reading this article, you should understand how to cook the perfect ribeye steak in the oven without a cast iron skillet. You should follow the steps of the recipes above to make sure your tender steak has the same delicious taste that it would if you were able to use cast iron skillets.

If you want to know the best sauce to use when eating a Philly cheese steak, click here.

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