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    Home > Main Courses > Main Dishes Beef > Grilled T-Bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter

    Grilled T-Bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter

    Published: Jun 15, 2022 · Modified: Dec 24, 2022 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Already beefy with flavor, Grilled T-Bone steaks don’t need much attention before they hit those hot grill grates. Sprinkle steaks with a simple seasoning and serve with a Cowboy Butter dipping sauce, a rich garlic butter sauce for steak. A for a perfect easy grilled steak dinner.

    Grilled t-bone steaks served with potatoes and cowboy butter dipping sauce.

    For me, grilled T-Bone steaks are the least intimidating cut of steak that one can grill. It’s a cut of steak that has moderate marbling to keep the meat moist and tender while cooking and it’s got a bone to add even more flavor.

    When ever I’m looking for a special steak dinner option, grilled t-bones are one of my first choices. It’s a quick and flavorful steak dinner that’s ready in about 15 minutes.

    And who doesn’t love the fact that you’re basically getting two steaks in one. The Filet Mignon sits on the smaller side of the bone, and the New York Strip is the larger piece of meat on the other side. Both very desirable cuts of meat.

    T-Bones come from the area below the backbone which is home to some of the most tender and popular cuts of beef, such as the tenderloin, strip steak and Porterhouse. And each of these cuts are very well suited for grilling. Source: Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

    Grilled T-Bone Steaks

    So with that said, let’s talk about my favorite way to serve grilled t-bones. That’s with Cowboy Butter.

    Cowboy butter is not a compound butter, but rather a garlic butter sauce for steak that is simply out-of-this-world loaded with flavor.

    With an ingredient lineup that includes horseradish, Dijon and hot sauce, this butter sauce will win over your heart. You’ll want to slather it on everything. It makes for a perfect steak recipe.

    Let’s take a look.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients to make grilled t-bone steaks with cowboy butter.
    • T-Bone Steaks: Most of the T-Bones that you’ll find in a general grocery store will be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick and will weigh around 12 ounces. I personally find this size very easy to manage on the grill and much less fussy than a thick cut tenderloin.
    • For The Cowboy Butter (Garlic butter sauce for steak):
    • Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed
    • Prepared Jarred Horseradish
    • Fresh Parsley: Chopped
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Unsalted Butter
    • Seasonings: Paprika, Chile Powder (preferably New Mexico Chile Powder) and Thyme
    • Garlic
    • Shallots
    • Chives
    • Your favorite brand of Hot Sauce.

    Ingredient Subs and Swaps

    • Steak: Substitute Porterhouse Steaks for T-Bones.
    • Thyme: Use either dried or fresh thyme. Dried herbs are more potent so a good rule of thumb for substitutions is one tablespoon of fresh herbs to one teaspoon dried.
    • Chives: You can use dried chives in place of fresh.
    • Garlic: Substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder or garlic salt for fresh garlic.

    Step by Step Instructions

    Be sure to see the recipe card below for complete ingredients and instructions.

    Making cowboy butter dipping sauce for grilled t-bone steaks.
    Cowboy butter in a saucepan for grilled t-bone steaks.
    • Step 1: Make the Cowboy Butter: In a saucepan over low heat melt the butter. Once melted stir in lemon juice, garlic, shallot, mustard, horseradish, chile powder and paprika.
    • Step 2: Whisk to combine. Stir in parsley, chives and thyme and hot sauce and season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat but don’t remove the pan from the stove. This will keep in warm while you grill the steaks.

    Pro-Tip: Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling. If the meat is cold when it hits those hot grates, it may cause the muscle fibers to tense up, resulting is a less tender steak.

    A t-bone steak cooking on the grill.
    • Step 2: How do you cook T-Bone steaks on the grill? It’s easy. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Season the steaks with salt and fresh ground black pepper or Montreal Steak Seasoning is good here. Using either a charcoal grill, or gas grill. Heat a gas grill to 500 degrees. For a charcoal grill, heat charcoal briquettes until turn white and are glowing. Once those grates are nice and hot, turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Cook the steaks until golden brown on one side, about 4 – 5 minutes. Turn the steaks and continue to grill another 3 – 5 minutes for medium rare (135 degrees internal temperature) 5 – 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees) or about 8 minutes for medium well (150 degrees).
    • Step 3: Transfer the grilled T-Bones to a wooden cutting board. Loosely tent the steaks with foil and let rest for five minutes before serving.
    A slice of grilled t-bone steaks dipped in Cowboy Butter.
    • Step 4: To serve place a small bowl of Cowboy Butter on each plate for dipping.

    Storage

    This recipe for Cowboy butter makes enough for several steaks. If you’re grilling only two T-Bones, you’ll most certainly have left over butter. Store the butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week. To reheat, simply microwave in increments of ten seconds in the microwave until melted. Or reheat stovetop on low in a saucepan. Serve Cowboy Butter over grilled chicken, grilled salmon, drizzle it on baked or fried potatoes.

    FAQ’s, Grilled T-Bones

    How Long Do You Cook Grilled T-Bone Steaks?

    Cook time completely depends on the thickness of the steak and the desired doneness. A thicker cut T-Bone may take about six minutes per side. Whereas a thinner steak will take 4 – 5 minutes. How do you know when a T-Bone steak is done? PRO TIP: Use a digital instant read meat thermometer to determine if the steaks are cooked to your desired doneness.

    Can I Cook T-Bone Steaks Stovetop?

    If you don’t have a grill, a grill pan, cast iron skillet or carbon steel pan (all oven proof) will work beautifully for pan-seared T-Bone steaks. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add two tablespoons oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned T-Bones. Sear two minutes, then turn and sear the other side for two minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven and cook until the steaks reach desired doneness.

    What’s the Difference? T-Bone vs. Porterhouse

    A T-Bone steak is smaller than a porterhouse and delivers that same tenderness and beefy steak flavor we all crave. Both steaks are cut from the short loin. The Porterhouse steak is cut from the rear section of the loin, are larger than T-Bone steaks and have a larger tenderloin (filet mignon) section. T-Bones are cut closer to the front of the loin and have a smaller filet mignon.

    Do You Need to Marinate a T-Bone Steak?

    Marinating is routinely used for tougher cuts of steak like flank steak or sirloin. T-Bone is a more tender cut, so simple seasonings like salt, pepper, smoked pepper or Montreal Steak Seasoning is all that’s needed. Don’t use a seasoning that will overpower the beefy flavor of the steak.

    What To Serve With Grilled T-Bone Steaks

    • Garlic Butter Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes or Scalloped Potatoes.
    • Tossed Green Salad
    • Flemings Steakhouse Mac and Cheese
    • Green Vegetable Medley

    And if you’re looking for even more beef recipes, don’t miss my Beef Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes, including the most popular on my site for Coca Cola BBQ Brisket.

    I hope you give this grilled t-bone steak recipe a try. Serving it with Cowboy butter seems like such a natural fit and our favorite way to serve t-bones.

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    • Curry Lemon Grilled Steak Kebabs
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    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

    Grilled t-bone steaks served with potatoes and cowboy butter dipping sauce.

    Grilled T-Bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter

    Grilled T-bones steaks don't need much attention before they hit those hot grates. For this recipe, sprinkle steaks with a simple seasoning and serve with a cowboy butter dipping sauce for a perfect easy grilled steak dinner.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course Beef
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Resting time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 431kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Equipment

    • Grill
    • Grill pan, cast iron skillet, or carbon steel pan An oven safe fry pan.

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 Cup unsalted butter melted
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice fresh, about 1/2 lemon
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic minced, about 2 small cloves
    • 2 tablespoons shallot minced
    • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1/2 Tablespoon prepared horseradish
    • 1 Pinch red chile powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon Parsley fresh and chopped
    • 2 Tablespoons chives fresh and chopped
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
    • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce your favorite brand
    • kosher salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Make the Cowboy Butter: In a saucepan over low heat melt the butter. Once melted stir in lemon juice, garlic, shallot, mustard, horseradish, cayenne, and paprika.
    • Stir in parsley, chives and thyme and hot sauce and season with salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Turn off heat, cover the pan, but don't remove the pan from the stove. This will keep in warm while you grill the steaks.
    • Grill the steaks. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Season the steaks with salt and fresh ground pepper or Montreal Steak Seasoning is good here.
    • Using either a charcoal grill, or gas grill. Heat a gas grill to 500 degrees. For a charcoal grill, heat charcoal briquettes until white. Once those grates are nice and hot, turn the heat down to 350 degrees.
    • Cook the steaks until golden brown on one side, about 4 – 5 minutes. Turn the steaks and continue to grill another 3 – 5 minutes for medium rare (135 degrees) 5 – 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees) or about 8 minutes for medium well (150 degrees).
    • Step 3: Transfer the steaks to a cutting board. Loosely tent the steaks with foil and let rest 5 minutes before serving.
    • To serve place a small bowl of Cowboy Butter on each plate for dipping.

    Notes

    This recipe for Cowboy butter makes enough for several steaks. If you’re grilling only two t-bones, you’ll most certainly have left over butter. Store the butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week. To reheat, simply microwave in increments of 10 seconds in the microwave until melted. Or reheat stovetop on low in a saucepan. Serve Cowboy Butter over grilled chicken, grilled salmon, drizzle it on baked or fried potatoes.
    Pro-Tip: Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling. If the meat is cold when it hits those hot grates, it may cause the muscle fibers to tense up, resulting is a less tender steak.
    Stovetop Instructions: If you don’t have a grill, a grill pan, cast iron skillet or carbon steel pan (all oven proof) will work beautifully to cook t-bone steaks. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned t-bone steaks. Sear 2 minutes, then turn and sear the other side of the steak 2 minutes. Transfer the pan to a 425 degree oven and cook until the steaks reach desired doneness.
    Cook time completely depends on the thickness of the steak and the desired doneness. A thicker cut T-bone may take about 6 minutes per side. Whereas a thinner steak will take 4 – 5 minutes. How do you know when a t-bone steak is done? PRO TIP: Use a digital instant read thermometer to determine if the steaks are cooked to your desired doneness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1858IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    Grilled T-Bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter … It’s What’s For Dinner

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dan says

      July 11, 2022 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      Wow!
      Dreaming of cowboy butter.
      Nicely done.

      Reply
    2. mjskitchen says

      June 18, 2022 at 8:07 pm

      It’s nice to learn something new! I did not know that the filet mignon and the New York strip with the two sides of a T-bone. The filet mignon is my favorite cut of beef, so I obviously should eat more T-bone. Your cowboy butter sounds sinful. It would be hard not smothering the steak with it, but then, you’d probably overpowering the wonderful flavor of the beef. A fabulous steak!

      Reply
    3. Larry says

      June 16, 2022 at 6:26 am

      Great looking steak and they are perfect for Bev and I as she prefers the filet and I prefer the strip. I can imagine how good it would be with the butter sauce when I try it.

      Reply
    4. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      June 15, 2022 at 8:20 am

      Gosh, the cowboy butter looks spectacular! And I love steak, and t-bones are one of my favorites — get some of both the strip and tenderloin that way. Nice recipe — thanks.

      Reply

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    I'm Lea Ann, A Culinary School Grad bringing you Wild West Colorado inspired recipes. You'll find lots of Southwestern, and Mexican food recipes, and some favorites from Culinary School along with pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous home cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of inspiration and reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

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