How To Cook Thin Steak

Name: How To Cook Thin Steak
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 0.5 - 1.0 pound thin sliced steak (✅); olive oil; salt and pepper

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Learn how to cook thin steak in less than 5 minutes! Use this quickly seared steak in sandwiches, fajitas, on a salad, or serve as is. Gluten-free.

Cook a juicy and tender seasoned steak each time with our simple step-by-step directions. Inspired by our popular How To Bake Thin Sliced Chicken Breasts recipe, we are excited to share yet another easy method for making a dinner staple.

To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

Equipment

large skillet
tongs
pastry brush
small bowl

Ingredients

0.5 – 1.0 pound thin sliced steak ✅
olive oil
salt and pepper

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

ingredients for how to cook thin steak on sheet pan

How To Sear a Steak

Preheat the pan and prep the steak. Place the large skillet over high heat. Let the pan heat up while you prep the steak. Brush the steaks with olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Flip the steaks over and repeat.
Using tongs, place the steaks into the hot pan, moving them around a little with the tongs. Cook for 1 minute. Flip and cook for about 30 seconds. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.
Serve as is or use in a sandwich, on a salad, or in fajitas.

thin steak seasoned with black pepper on a plate

Expert Tips

Choose the Right Cut: Different cuts of steak have different textures and flavors. For skillet cooking, lean cuts like sirloin, ribeye, or filet mignon work well.
Preheat the Pan: Heating the skillet over high heat before adding the steak is crucial for achieving a good sear. You can tell if the pan is hot enough when a drop of water sizzles and evaporates instantly.
Oil and Seasoning: Brush the steak with a high smoke point oil like canola or grapeseed oil. This prevents sticking and promotes even browning. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: If you’re cooking multiple steaks, make sure there’s enough space between them in the skillet. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of searing.
Using Tongs: Always use tongs instead of a fork to flip and handle the steaks. Piercing with a fork can cause juices to escape, resulting in a drier steak.
Resting Period: After cooking, let the steaks rest for about 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a juicy and tender result when you cut into them.
Slicing Against the Grain: When you’re ready to serve, slice the steak against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers and makes the steak more tender to chew.
Variations: While you mentioned serving options, you can also experiment with different seasonings, marinades, or finishing touches like compound butter or a simple pan sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which steak is best?

Select flank, skirt or thin sliced rib-eye steak for best results.

How long to cook thin steak?

You will cook until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Overcooking the steak will result in a tough, chewy piece of meat. Allow the steak to rest for a few minutes then serve.

How to season steak?

Marinate with your favorite recipe prior to cooking or add fresh herbs, smashed garlic cloves, onions, shallots or butter to the pan when searing.

How to store?

Store leftover steak in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What To Serve with Steak

These popular side dishes pair extremely well with thinly sliced steak to create a complete meal for your family.

Air Fryer Twice Baked Potato
Baked Potato in the Air Fryer
Steakhouse Baked Potato
Gluten Free Pasta Salad
Gluten Free Potato Salad
Roasted Frozen Broccoli
Brussels Sprout Apple Salad
Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

Spread olive oil on the steak with a silicone pastry brush or the backside of a large spoon
Pick a 1-2 new herbs or spices to season steak each time you make it to find your favorite combination
After flipping the steak, stand back from the stove to prevent the oil from popping on you
Pick any of these 100 Sides for Steak to serve alongside this recipe

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Gluten-Free Ground Beef Recipes
Crockpot Irish Beef Stew
Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot
Korean Beef Bowl Recipe

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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