Last Christmas, Dave’s parents gave us a quarter of a cow as our Christmas gift — everything from boatloads of fresh ground beef to delicious roasts and steaks. We got the meat in March, and 7 months later, we still have a nice supply of beef in our freezer!
Prior to our humongous meat delivery, Dave and I didn’t eat steak all that often — partially because it’s more expensive than other meats, but also because we didn’t have a great recipe for seasoning it.
However, after I neatly stacked a pile of delicious steaks in our deep freezer last spring, I decided I needed to find a really great dry steak rub that I could make ahead and have on hand whenever we wanted to grill up a few steaks.
After the very first time I used this “amazing steak rub” on our steaks, I knew this would be my go-to rub for steaks and other meats!
The flavors in this spice rub are fabulous — strong enough, but not TOO strong that they take away from the taste of the meat itself.
This recipe is easily doubled or tripled if you want to make a lot at one time… and I’m certain it will still taste great even if you need to omit or swap out a few ingredients.
Recipe for Amazing Steak Rub
makes enough for 8-10 steaks
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Tbl. coarse salt
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. Paprika
- 1/2 tsp. Chilli Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Onion flakes or onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Turmeric
DIRECTIONS:
- mix all ingredients in a small bowl
- rub mixture onto all sides of steak
- cover and let sit for 30-40 minutes
- grill or cook meat as desired
- store leftover steak rub in a ziptop bag or an empty spice jar
I often make a double batch of this steak rub, and store it in my spice cabinet to use on steaks (or other meats).
I have a couple other meat marinade recipes (see below) we really like… but I love that it’s a DRY rub so I can store it easily — or even take it with us if we’re going to a BBQ at another house. Plus, it only requires 30-40 minutes on the meat to make a huge flavor impact, so it’s great if you’re short on time.
LIQUID MARINADE RECIPES:
If you’re looking for a good dry rub that uses relatively “normal” spices and can be stored for several months, this rub is for you!
Do you have any favorite meat rub recipes?
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Carla says
Sounds yummy! Andrea, I am wondering what paper product is under the steaks. Several years ago I purchased the most amazing “disposable cutting boards” and have not been able to find them since. They were great to use when preparing meats without worrying about cross-contamination. I’m hoping you found this type of product and can share the brand and where you got it. Thanks! 🙂
Andrea says
haha — I KNEW someone would ask about this 🙂
They are Saran Cutting Sheets. I got a HUGE pack of them years and years ago but I only have a handful left now. I’ll be looking to buy more soon as well 🙂
Brandette Winblad says
Sad! It looks like those Saran cutting sheets are an old item no longer made. The price of the 2 available through Amazon is ridiculous! If you find a source selling them at a normal price point, please please let us know.
I am very curious to purchase these, I have never heard or seen them before. It’s possible they came into market while I was still living at home before my husband and I moved in together, long before I started cooking in my own kitchen. They are a great idea though, I am so surprised someone does not have these available readily now days.
Karlyn Nance says
Sorry, I accidentally posted this under another one of your blogs on marinades that I had accessed. It probably wouldn’t be seen there, at least for a while, so I am reposting under today’s blog. It’s too good to miss!
MY FAVORITE MARINADE
Whisk together one 16-oz. bottle each of:
1. dales seasoning
2. Italian dressing (I use fat free zesty, but any type works)
3. Asian toasted sesame dressing
After mixing, I pour the marinade back into the bottles for easy use, & re-lable the bottles. For thinner cuts and hamburgers, this can be poured on just prior to grilling . For thicker cuts, marinate longer, even overnight. Use a small amount for thinner cuts (maybe a teaspoon on each side of a hamburger), or the meat may be too salty.
I’ve used this marinade on steaks, hamburgers, chicken, pork chops, salmon filets, tuna steaks, shrimp, etc. It has gotten a thumbs up from everyone who has tasted it.
Heart and Haven says
Ok, I’m more interested in your quarter cow! 😉 Where did you (or your in-laws) source it? Was it grass fed, etc.? How much space does it take in the freezer, and how to you keep track of the quantities & cuts of meat for later use? I’ve been considering doing this so I’d love more details!
Andrea says
Just contact a butcher in your area (Google it if you’re not sure) and they will tell you everything you need to know — where to find meat in your area based on what you’re looking for. They will also divide everything up for you, label it, and let you know when it’s ready to be picked up. It’s a pretty slick process.
Our meat is not grass fed and I have no system for keeping track of what meat we have. I just look in the freezer and pull out what I want 🙂 Oh, and it takes up A LOT of room. We would never be able to fit more than a 1/4 of a cow in our deep freezer.
Christine from The (mostly) Simple Life says
We love the Montreal Steak Seasoning from Sam’s Club, but I’d love to mix it up and try this! Now I need steak!
Kellie Denton says
Mmmm! This is perfect timing – I bought a bunch of steaks on sale this week and need to grill them up! Thanks Andrea!
Andrea says
yum! Happy grilling!