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Are you wondering how to cook pork steak perfectly? This article covers all the steps, with a versatile recipe you’ll use again and again! Not only are these steaks full of flavor and deliciously tender and moist, but they’re an economical way to feed an entire household!
See recipe card below for full list of measurements, ingredients, and instructions.
What Makes This Technique So Good
- The combination of stovetop searing and oven finishing means you get that beautiful golden exterior, while the gentle oven heat ensures perfectly tender, juicy meat throughout!
- This aromatic butter bath with garlic, herbs, and shallots takes these pork steaks from good to absolutely incredible. I kid you not!
- This tried-and-true method only takes about 45 minutes to get dinner on the table. And these pork steaks are so thick, you can cut them into extra servings, up to 4. These will taste amazing with some epic sides, such as Air Fryer Green Beans, Truffle Mac and Cheese, Air Fryer Potatoes, Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, or a Spinach Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Maple Vinaigrette.
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What You Need to Know Before You Start
- Look for pork steaks that are at least 1-inch thick, ideally closer to 1½ inches. Too thin steaks will overcook before you get that gorgeous sear we’re after. If you can only find thinner cuts, reduce the oven time accordingly (see instructions).
- Pull your pork steaks from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking. Cold meat hitting a hot pan leads to uneven cooking, and you definitely don’t want that!
- Try to season generously and early. Salt draws out moisture initially, then pulls it back in along with the seasoning. Give your pork steaks a few minutes (about 15) after seasoning before searing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a combination searing and oven-finishing method: First, sear the seasoned pork steaks in an oven-safe skillet for 2 minutes on one side and 1½ minutes on the other side. Remove from heat, let cool 1-2 minutes, then add butter and aromatics for basting. Transfer the skillet directly to a preheated 400°F oven to finish cooking.
Pork steak oven cooking time depends on thickness. For ¾-inch thick steaks cook for 5-6 minutes, 1-inch thick steaks for 8 minutes, and for 1½-inch thick steaks 12 minutes. Always check that the internal temperature reaches 145°F for food safety.
Absolutely! Bone-in steaks may need an extra 2-3 minutes in the oven, but the technique remains the same and is equally delicious!
Sear the pork steaks in your regular pan, do the butter basting, then transfer everything – steaks AND all the butter mixture with aromatics – to a baking dish to finish in the oven. You’ll get all the same incredible flavors!
More Delicious Pork Recipes
- Sous Vide Pork Belly
- Pork Stew
- Pork and Sauerkraut
- Pork Chop Casserole
- Pork Stir Fry
- Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Brown Sugar Glaze
- Pork and Beans
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends on the Grill
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Whole30 Pork and Pineapple Bowls with Plantains, Coconut Cauliflower Rice, and Avocado Lime Mousse
- Instant Pot Pork Roast with Carrots, Potatoes, and Gravy
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions or variations listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
How to Cook Pork Steaks
Equipment
- Large oven-safe skillet (10-12 inch) cast iron or stainless steel works best for proper heat retention and searing
- instant read thermometer to check doneness
Ingredients
- 2 pork shoulder steaks thick as you can find them
- plenty of salt and pepper or your favorite pork chop seasoning
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary
- 1 medium shallot peeled and thinly sliced
Instructions
Prep and Season
- Remove pork steaks from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Pat completely dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Let rest 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in center position.
Sear the Steaks
- Heat oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until very hot and smoking slightly.
- Add pork steaks to hot pan – they should sizzle aggressively. Don’t move or touch for 2 minutes.
- Check that bottom is golden-brown and releases easily, then flip. Sear second side 1½ minutes undisturbed.
- Remove skillet from heat and let cool 1-2 minutes.
Butter Basting
- Add 4 tablespoons butter, 3 garlic cloves, herb sprigs, and sliced shallot around steaks in the cooled skillet.
- Once butter melts, tilt pan at 45-degree angle and continuously baste steaks with large spoon for 1-2 minutes.
Finish in Oven
- Transfer skillet to oven. Roast based on thickness: 5-6 minutes for ¾-inch steaks, 8 minutes for 1-inch steaks, or 12 minutes for 1½-inch steaks.
- Check the internal temperature reaches 145°F before removing from oven.
Rest and Serve
- Transfer steaks to cutting board and rest undisturbed 10 minutes minimum.
- Slice against grain if desired and serve immediately.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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