Best Steak Seasoning Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Apr 11, 2025 
The Best Steak Seasoning Recipe – This easy homemade steak rub recipe combines the best herbs and spices for beef steak for that perfect steakhouse finish!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
The Best Steak Seasoning Recipe
Over the years we have used many different steak seasonings with an endless list of herbs, marinades, dry rub blends, and seasoning mixes. Some store-bought and some homemade.
Although there is a time and place for beef marinades, I firmly believe that dry steak rubs are best for providing flavor and that perfect steakhouse taste and texture.
Our Best Steak Seasoning Recipe is a family favorite, with bold spicy notes, and a touch of tangy sweetness. It’s the perfect blend of salt, sweetness, robust herbs, smokey essence, spicy heat, and acidity.
Ingredients You Need
- Sea salt – or any coarse salt
- Brown sugar – helps to balance the flavors
- Smoked paprika – for a slightly smoky flavor, use smoked paprika
- Ground ancho chile pepper – or regular chili powder as a substitute
- Dried thyme – for an herby addition, you can add a little rosemary too if you’d like
- Black pepper – pepper and steak always go well together
- Garlic powder & onion powder – both provide a savory depth of flabor
- Ground mustard – for a hint of mustard
- Ground cumin – slightly spicy and floral
Together, these pantry staples make the most amazing steak rub you will ever try!
How To Use Steak Seasoning
If you rub the spices into the surface of the meat a few minutes before grilling, the seasoning has time to sneakily work its magic. This steak seasoning is the best because it gently infuses the interior of the beef with a mild level of flavor, so the rich beefy essence shines through. Plus, the exterior is left with a bold crusty texture that provides the perfect contrast to the luxurious center.
Find the full Steak Seasoning Recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Tips & Tricks
- Add some spice! If you like a little bit of spice in your food, you can add red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper!
- Make it ahead! This seasoning can be made ahead or made in large batches and saved for later. That way you’ll always have the tastiest seasoning ready for any BBQ or steak night. Store the homemade spice blend in a jar or airtight container and place it in a cool dry place for up to 3 months.
- Wrap it up and gift it! This is a great edible gift to share with friends. (Think summer party takeaways, Father’s Day or even holiday gifts!) It’s a thoughtful and flavorful gift that keeps on giving.
Serving Suggestions
Here are my favorite side dishes that go along with a fabulous steak!
- The Best Potato Salad Recipe – Potatoes are a staple with any steak dinner. This is a fan-favorite recipe that is sure to please a crowd.
- Roasted Cauliflower Rice – For a grain-free and healthier side dish, try this Roasted Cauliflower Rice!
- Oven Roasted Broccoli Recipe – Balance this hearty meal out with some broccoli. This recipe makes perfectly oven-roasted broccoli every time!
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad – For a Mexican twist, make this super yummy Street Corn Salad! Perfect for summer barbeques.
Frequently Asked Questions
I get this question a lot, because I think that a lot of people are scared to season their steak incorrectly and mess it up! Since steak is generally more expensive than other cuts of meat, I totally get it. You can season steak with a lot of different spices and seasonings, or you can go simple with just salt and pepper (heavy on the pepper)! I really like this bold steak seasoning blend though, which will enhance the flavor of the steak without taking over!
There are a lot of different steak seasoning options out there. If you typically use Montreal steak seasoning, it usually consists of garlic, coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dill seed and salt. This steak seasoning differs a little bit and uses cumin instead of coriander, with the addition of bolder spices like paprika and chili powder!
Absolutely! This best steak seasoning recipe is great on chicken wings, burgers, pork chops, pork tenderloin or even fish! I also like this flavor combo on vegetables. You can really use it for all your grilled proteins. Feel free to experiment with your steak seasoning, and let me know how it turns out in the comments below!
If you need help grilling your steaks, check out our post on how to judge meat temperature and 10 perfect steak toppings!
Looking for More Steakhouse Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Steak Platter)
- Steak Fajita Stuffed Avocado Recipe
- Lieutenant Dan’s Steakhouse Salad
- Balsamic Steak Sheet Pan Dinner
- Grilled French Onion Steak Sliders
- Harissa Baked French Fries
- Oven Roasted Salmon with Peppercorn Sauce
- Best Homemade Refrigerator Pickles
- Truffle Parmesan Biscuits
- Warm Blueberry Sauce (For Ice Cream!)
- Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Best Steak Seasoning Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Either use immediately, or store in a small airtight container until ready to use. Makes enough to season 4 large steaks.
- When ready to use, rub the seasoning over all sides of the steaks, and allow them to rest at least 20 minutes before grilling or searing.
I never have brown sugar on hand since it tends to clump and harden. I just mixed this up with unrefined cane sugar instead. Here’s to hoping it still turns out well🤞🏼
hi kari! to keep the brown sugar from clumping, put 1-2 slices of bread or marshmallows(yeah weird, i know😂) in the container. just change it out periodically and your sugar will stay fresh!
Or an apple slice. Or you can spring for a terra cotta ceramic disk that you presoak
Absolute gasssss 🔥 do this on your next steak
So far the best steak rub I’ve found.
Will this work for a whole eye of round oven roast piece of meat??
Hi Juron,
Sure! If you give it a try, let me know what you think. :)
I make steak quite often too and usually only season with a gourmet salt and pepper, so this is a nice change, wouldn’t have thought to include brown sugar, thank you!
Used this for my wife’s birthday steak dinner on a cast iron grill. It tasted like smoked perfection.
Hands down the best steak I’ve ever made!
I had to make a few adjustments to what I had available and it still came out amazing.
No Chile pepper-substitute red pepper flakes
No thymes- substitute with Parsley
Also didn’t have cumin and ground mustard.
Sounds like a lot missing but I promise it still came out delicious
Why are you giving this recipe 5 stars when you made something completely different? Literally my biggest pet peeve in life are substitute food reviews. Ugh!
I dissagree. Many times I have been short on ingrediants and I peruse the comments for substitutions and always find some helpful information. If they never left a review I wouldnt have their perspective.
I didn’t have onion powder but this is the best seasoning I have ever had ! We cooked out lobster tails in the leftover juice from the steak and spice and it was amazing!
This is definitely going to be my go to spice for more than just steaks. Thank you for sharing this diamond!
This is crazy good. It’s our go-to steak rub this summer. Thanks Sommer.
I did put only half the salt but its an amazing recipe. I absolutely loved it, so did the family and guests.
This recipe is so delicious it is going to be difficult to use any other recipe! My husband and i thank you very, very much!
I tend to not use the sale in a rub, opting to apply salt dierctly to the meat and adding the rub later on in the process.