Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

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This restaurant-quality porterhouse steak recipe is super juicy and tender and cooks in no time. It’s one of the most impressive steak recipes you can serve to a crowd!

Love juicy steaks? Try my filet mignon, skirt steak, flank steak, and New York steak.

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak - The Big Man's World ® (1)

My family loves it when I cook steak, so I try to cook it at least once a week. Porterhouse steaks are one of my favorites to make because it’s easy to find, affordable, and easy to jazz up.

Porterhouse steak is called “the king of steaks” for good reason: it’s a huge hunk of meat!

Every bite is incredibly flavorful, beefy, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. I keep things simple with a wine reduction sauce, and honestly, it tastes better than anything from a steakhouse…and it’s so much cheaper, too!

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to cook a Porterhouse steak
  4. Arman’s recipe tips and variations
  5. Storage instructions
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. More impressive steak recipes
  8. Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • Simple to cook. Cooking porterhouse steak needs very little preparation involved, and its rich flavor doesn’t require a marinade or dry rub.
  • Fast! Like garlic butter steak bites or air fryer steak, this cooks in no time.
  • Perfect texture. If you aren’t a fan of super chewy steaks, this one is for you. It’s tender but soft to bite into- it almost melts in your mouth.
  • Multiple cooking methods. I like to grill or pan-fry it, but you can air fry and also smoke it.

Ingredients needed

  • Porterhouse steaks. Both boneless and bone-in steaks can be used. I prefer to get my steaks from a butcher so I can choose one with more meat than bone and with little marbling.
  • Olive oil. To sear the steaks. I typically use butter with frying or grilling steaks too, but as this is already in the reduction, we can omit it.
  • Shallots and garlic. These two deepen the savory flavors in the red wine reduction.
  • Red wine. When making a reduction sauce, it’s best to use a rich and full-bodied red wine, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
  • Beef stock. This gives the red wine sauce an irresistibly savory and beefy flavor.
  • Dijon mustard. For a nice tangy flavor in the sauce.
  • Thyme sprigs. Thyme is best, or you can use fresh rosemary.
  • Butter. Stirring a knob of butter into the red wine reduction gives the sauce a silky smooth mouthfeel.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper. To taste.

How to cook a Porterhouse steak

I’ve includedstep-by-step photosbelow to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to therecipe cardat the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Season the steaks. Pat the steaks dry, then season both sides with salt and pepper.

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Step 2- Sear. Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet. Once it’s hot, add the steaks and sear on both sides. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover them with foil.

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak - The Big Man's World ® (3)

Step 3- Make the red wine reduction. Add more oil to the now empty skillet. Saute the shallots and garlic until fragrant, then deglaze the pan with red wine. Once reduced, stir in the beef stock, mustard, and fresh thyme and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer until it’s thickened. Stir in the butter to finish, then remove and discard the thyme sprigs.

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Step 4- Serve. Plate the steaks, then drizzle some of the red wine sauce over top of each one. Enjoy!

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Steak cooking temperature

sired level of doneness:

  • Rare – 120ºF
  • Medium-rare – 130ºF
  • Medium – 135ºF
  • Medium-well – 140ºF
  • Well-done – 150ºF

Remember that the steaks will continue to come up to temperature when they’re taken off the heat. This is why it’s best to remove them from the skillet when they’re 5 degrees away from your perfect temperature.

Arman’s recipe tips and variations

  • Let the steaks come down to room temperature before cooking. To do so, take them out of the fridge at least 30 minutes ahead of time.
  • Porterhouse steak is best cooked to medium-rare. Anything above medium, and you’ll miss out on its signature textures and flavors.
  • Let the steaks rest for at least 10 minutes after cooking! This gives the natural juices time to soak back into the meat, giving you better tasting and juicier steak.
  • I sometimes change up the flavor by soaking the meat in a flavorful marinade for 1-2 hours before cooking. Asian sauces, like bulgogi sauce or eel sauce, are especially tasty.

Storage instructions

To store: Store the leftover steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To freeze: The cooked and cooled steak can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag for up to 6 months.Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating up.

To reheat: Reheat the steak in a baking dish in a 275ºF oven until the internal temperature reaches 130ºF degrees.

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Frequently asked questions

Are porterhouse and t-bone steak the same thing?

Porterhouse and t-bone steaks both come from the same cut but porterhouse steaks are much thicker and contain more of the tenderloin than t-bone steak.

More impressive steak recipes

  • Sirloin steak
  • Tri-tip steak
  • Tomahawk steak
  • Round steak
  • Flat iron steak

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak - The Big Man's World ® (7)

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak

5 from 6 votes

This restaurant-quality porterhouse steak recipe is super juicy and tender and cooks in no time. It’s one of the most impressive steak recipes you can serve to a crowd! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen.

Servings: 4 servings

Prep: 2 minutes mins

Cook: 16 minutes mins

Total: 18 minutes mins

Rate This Recipe

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Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 porterhouse steaks 6-8 ounces each
  • 2 shallots finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon Djion mustard
  • 6 sprigs thyme
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • Season steaks with salt and pepper.

  • Add one tablespoon of oil to a non-stick skillet and place over medium heat. Once hot, add the steaks and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and cover with foil to rest.

  • Add the second tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until fragrant. Add wine and simmer until it reduces by half. Stir in the beef stock, mustard, and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil.

  • Reduce heat to low and simmer for 8-9 minutes, until it has thickened slightly. Stir in the butter.

  • Discard the thyme sprigs and serve immediately.

Notes

TO STORE. Store the leftover steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

TO FREEZE.The cooked and cooled steak can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag for up to 6 months.Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating up.

TO REHEAT.Reheat the steak in a baking dish in a 275ºF oven until the internal temperature reaches 130ºF degrees.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 36gFat: 25gSodium: 761mgPotassium: 1220mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 8mgNET CARBS: 4g

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published July 2023, updated and republished April 2024

Pan-Seared Porterhouse Steak - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

Can you pan sear a porterhouse steak? ›

A pan-seared Porterhouse is delicious, and this method gives your meat a rich golden-brown color and enhanced taste! Here is how to cook a Porterhouse steak on the stove to achieve the best results: Preheat a heavy non-stick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot, for about 5 minutes.

What is the best cooking method for porterhouse steak? ›

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Brush porterhouse steaks with olive oil, and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper on both sides. Transfer to a cast-iron skillet with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook for about 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 120 degrees.

How do you cook a giant porterhouse? ›

Sear each side over direct heat for a max of 2 minutes, rotating halfway for grill marks. Move steak over to indirect side, and cook to a core temp of 120-125ºF (48-52ºC). When done, pull and rest at room temp for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

What's better, porterhouse or ribeye? ›

If you're a ravenous meat monger, the porterhouse definitely wins out, but if you're looking to savor a delicious yet manageable meal for one, the ribeye may be a more suitable cut. All in all, both the porterhouse steak and ribeye steak are two fantastically flavorful, high-quality cuts of meat.

Why is my porterhouse steak so tough? ›

When exposed to too much heat, the fat within the muscles gets rendered out completely, ridding the steak of the moisture that makes it tender. On the other hand, if that fat doesn't have enough time to break down, the resulting steak will be as tough as it would be if it were adequately cooked.

How do you pan sear a steak perfectly? ›

Let me sum up: Get oil smoking hot in a heavy pan. Add salted and peppered steak and cook, flipping every 15 to 30 seconds until the desired internal temperature is almost reached. Add butter to the pan and continue to cook until the steak is done. Remove from pan.

How does Bobby Flay cook porterhouse steak? ›

Heat a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat, then heat oil in pan until smoking. Season steak very generously with salt and pepper and cook until a deep brown crust forms on underside (do not turn), about 4 minutes. Transfer steak to a cutting board, turning it browned side up.

What 3 steaks are in a porterhouse? ›

The Porterhouse Steak

It's a cut from the rear end of the short loin, where the tenderloin and strip portion are larger, and because of this the Porterhouse includes more tenderloin steak than T-bone, along with a larger New York strip steak.

What is the best way to tenderize a porterhouse steak? ›

7 Ways to Tenderize Steak
  1. Pounding. Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Salting. Most cuts of steak benefit from being salted up to an hour in advance of cooking, but especially tougher cuts. ...
  3. Marinating. ...
  4. Velveting. ...
  5. Slow Cooking. ...
  6. Enzymatic Application. ...
  7. Scoring.
Oct 18, 2022

Which side of a porterhouse cooks faster? ›

The anatomy of having two different steak cuts separated by a bone makes cooking the porterhouse tricky. The tenderloin side tends to cook more quickly while the NY strip side takes a little longer to come up to doneness temp.

What is the difference between a porterhouse and a T-bone steak? ›

Both the T-Bone steak and the Porterhouse are cut from the short loin. While Porterhouse steaks are cut from the rear area of the short loin, T-Bones are cut closer to the front. This gives the Porterhouse a little bit more of the tenderloin than the T-Bone.

How to cook a porterhouse steak without a cast iron skillet? ›

What other cooking methods can I use to cook a porterhouse steak without a cast iron skillet? There are several alternative cooking methods you can try. Grilling on a barbecue, broiling in the oven, or searing in a stainless steel skillet are all effective ways to cook a porterhouse steak without a cast iron skillet.

Why is a porterhouse more expensive than T-bone? ›

However, the per-pound pricing for each cut is relatively similar. But, because porterhouse steak is often heavier than a cut of T-bone, you'll pay more overall for porterhouse.

Is a tomahawk steak a porterhouse? ›

Tomahawk vs Porterhouse steaks are both cut from the rib section of a cow. But a Tomahawk has a long rib bone and a Porterhouse doesn't.

What is the number 1 cut of steak? ›

These cuts—ribeye, New York strip loin, and filet mignon—can certainly be dubbed the best, and few will disagree. “Filet is the most tender cut, but has the least amount of flavor. Ribeye is the most flavorful, but the least tender of the three, and New York is in the middle.” Flannery explains.

Can you use a regular pan to sear a steak? ›

The Easiest, Cleanest Way to Sear Steak

Use a nonstick or carbon-steel skillet, not stainless steel. (That's right, a nonstick is OK for this!) Don't add oil. Start in a cold pan (no need to preheat).

What cuts of steak can you pan sear? ›

When it comes to beef, the best candidates for pan-searing are boneless, quick-cooking cuts between one and one-and-a-half inches thick, such as NY Strip, rib eye or filet mignon.

How to cook porterhouse steak in stainless steel pan? ›

  1. Step 1: Choose the Right Steak. The key to a succulent and flavorful steak starts with selecting the right cut. ...
  2. Step 2: Season the Steak. ...
  3. Step 3: Preheat the Stainless Steel Pan. ...
  4. Step 4: Oil the Pan. ...
  5. Step 5: Sear the Steak. ...
  6. Step 6: Flip and Finish. ...
  7. Step 7: Optional Butter Basting. ...
  8. Step 8: Rest and Serve.
Feb 13, 2024

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