The Best Damn Sous Vide Steak

This Sous Vide Steak recipe is a foolproof way to achieve a flawlessly cooked steak every time. It delivers even cooking from edge to edge, complemented by a nice brown sear that locks in delicious butter flavor. The result? A tender, juicy steak you’ll never forget.

What is Sous Vide?

The sous vide method of cooking involves vacuum-sealing food in a plastic bag and cooking it in a water bath at a precise, controlled temperature. This technique might sound fancy, but it’s super simple and yields amazing results. For steak lovers, sous vide offers complete control, allowing you to achieve your desired level of doneness with incredible consistency.

Why Sous Vide is the Best Method For Cooking Steak

We’ve all been there: you start with a beautiful steak, only to end up with a less-than-stellar result. Maybe the outside is charred, but the inside is still raw, or maybe it’s overcooked and dry. 

Traditionally cooked steak can be unpredictable. A minute too long on the grill or in the pan can turn a perfectly good steak into a disappointing dinner. That’s why this sous vide steak is such a game-changer. It takes the frustration out of cooking and ensures every steak you prepare tastes like it came straight from one of the best steakhouses.

I fully believe sous vide makes the most flavorful steak, and it’s all thanks to its gentle cooking process, followed by a quick sear in a hot pan. While the sous vide method takes a couple of hours, the cooking time takes a couple of minutes, offering an almost completely hands-off experience.  

Ingredients for Sous Vide Steak

• Ribeye or filet mignon steak: The most important ingredient for this recipe is, of course, the steak! My favorite cut to use in this recipe is ribeye. If you want to splurge, filet mignon is also a great option.
• Fresh herbs (optional): I like to place thyme and rosemary in the bag with the steak while it cooks in the water bath, as well as fresh parsley as a garnish. This is optional but highly recommended for maximum flavor. 
• Seasoning: The steak will be seasoned with a simple combination of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Unsalted butter: You’ll need butter to sear the steak and to make the garlic butter sauce. It adds a rich flavor and gets the meat deliciously brown.
• Garlic: If you want to pair the steak with a delicious garlic butter sauce, you’ll also need to grab some minced garlic and extra butter! 

Equipment You’ll Need

If you’re ready to dive into sous vide cooking, you’ll need the right equipment. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Sous Vide Cooker: This gadget will heat and circulate your water bath. You can find one on Amazon for under $100.  
• Ziploc Bags: You will throw your steak in a vacuum-sealed bag before submerging it in the water bath. You can either buy a vacuum sealer or seal the bag using the water displacement method.
• A Large Container: You’ll need a container or pot deep enough to completely submerge the steak.

Preparation

Making sous vide steaks takes time, but it isn’t hard. The preparation comes together in just a few simple steps.

Start by setting up your sous vide water bath. Fill a large container with water, place your sous vide cooker inside, and set the temperature to 130°F.

Next, pat your steaks dry with a paper towel and season them generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Transfer the steaks to a Ziploc bag, add herbs if using, then vacuum seal the bag.

And that’s it. Your steaks are ready to start cooking!

Cooking

Place the bagged steak in your prepared water bath and let it cook for 1.5-2.5 hours.  

About 10 minutes before the cooking time ends, make the garlic butter sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and add the garlic. Sauté the garlic in the butter for 3-4 minutes, until it turns golden brown.

Remove the saucepan from heat and add a pinch of salt and pepper.  

Finishing Touches

After you take your steak out of the water bath, pat it dry with a paper towel. At this point, it may look gray and unappetizing, but don’t worry—we will fix that in the next step!

Heat up a skillet until it’s super hot, add butter, then sear the steak for 60 seconds on each side. Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and pouring on the garlic butter sauce. Enjoy!

What Goes Well with Sous Vide Steak?

Sous vide steak was destined to be the star of your dinner plate, but what’s a star without its supporting actors? These Best Damn Mashed Potatoes are a classic and delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with sous vide steak.

Other great options include Oven Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan, Instant Pot Roasted Potatoes, or Air Fryer Honey Maple Roasted Carrots.

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