The Best Steak to Cook for Valentine’s Day

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterCulinary Producer at The Kitchn
I'm a recipe developer, food writer, stylist, and video producer (and The Kitchn's Dinner Therapist), with more than 10 years professional experience. Since graduating from The French Culinary Institute, I've authored 3 cookbooks: Buddha Bowls, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, and The Probiotic Kitchen.
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published Feb 9, 2015
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(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

If you made a reservation for a fancy Valentine’s Day dinner, now’s the time to cancel it. Staying home for your Valentine’s dinner is the way to go. Splurge on a fancy dinner in your own kitchen! Even if you splurge on a luxurious dinner and a great bottle of wine, it will cost you less at home.

For special occasion dinners at home (especially in the middle of winter), a good steak is always my first choice. But, not just any steak will do. There’s one cut that stands above the rest when cooking for a special occasion, and when cooking for two.

If you’re not in the habit of buying steak, or you don’t have a trusty butcher, steak shopping can be intimidating. Today, I’m taking the guesswork out of it for you. There’s just one steak you need to look for this Valentine’s Day: a big, hearty ribeye.

For everyday dinners, I typically buy lower-priced flank or hanger steak, but for special occasions, I up my game with something a little more high-end.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

Here’s Why Ribeye Is Better Than the Rest!

Whether you prefer bone-in or boneless, ribeye steaks have it all. What you should expect is a juicy, super flavorful, tender piece of meat. This is what beef is meant to taste like! You’ll notice that the meat has fat marbled throughout, with some larger pockets of fat interspersed — this is where the flavor comes from.

While it’s not as lean as a tenderloin, it’s still a very tender piece of meat, and far more flavorful and juicy. (And that’s what really counts.)

→ More on shopping for steak: Shopping for Steak? Here Are the 4 Cuts of Steak You Should Know

(Image credit: Sarah Rae Smith)

How to Cook a Ribeye

When it comes to cooking, the ribeye is also a versatile cut of meat to work with. My favorite way to cook ribeye is by giving it a quick sear on each side in a cast iron pan over high heat, then finishing it off in the oven. Grilling and broiling also work well.

Try These Ribeye Recipes!

Don’t Forget the Sides!

A great steak dinner isn’t complete without the side dishes. Here are some of my favorite sides to go along with a ribeye.

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Beef
Ingredient
Meat
Steak