Pan Seared Flank Steak with Garlic Butter

Pan seared flank steak with garlic butter is flavorful and easy to prepare for a weeknight meal. An affordable cut of steak is transformed into a delicious family dinner, served with a rich garlic butter.

This pan seared flank steak with garlic butter requires only a few basic ingredients and about twenty minutes in the kitchen. It's easy enough for a quick weeknight meal, and impressive enough to serve to company.

Flank steak is quickly seared in a hot cast iron pan (just like my ribeye steak recipe!) to make a perfectly juicy and flavorful steak. Topped with a quick garlic butter made in the same pan, this flank steak recipe couldn't be easier.

Try slicing your flank steak thin and plating it on top of some mashed potatoes. Or, serve alongside roasted broccoli and roasted potatoes.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Flank steak is a long, thin, boneless cut of beef. To pan sear steak, you'll want to use a cut of beef that's about 1 to 1 ¼ inch in thickness. Thicker steak will need to be finished in the oven to cook through properly.
• Salt and pepper
• Canola oil - It has a high smoke point, making it ideal for searing steaks at a high temperature. Any oil with a smoke point over 400 degrees Fahrenheit will work as a substitute.
• Unsalted butter
• Garlic cloves
• Parsley - optional, as a garnish. Adds color to the dish.

Best pan for searing steaks

I like to sear my steaks in a cast iron skillet. They always sear perfectly, never stick, and cleanup is simple. Plus, cast iron pans are basically indestructible and will last you a lifetime.

For this recipe, you'll need either a cast-iron pan or stainless steel pan. I do not recommend using nonstick cookware for this recipe. It is not safe to heat a nonstick pan to the temperature needed to properly sear a steak.

Oil for searing steaks

You need an oil with a high smoke point when searing steaks on the stovetop. This means that your oil can withstand higher temperatures without smoking/burning.

I recommend canola oil, peanut oil, or any oil with a smoke point over 400 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. While I normally use olive oil in my cooking, I wouldn't recommend it for this recipe.

Here's a great article breaking down the smoke points of many popular oils: Cooking Oils and Smoke Points: What to Know and How to Choose the Right Cooking Oil

Tips for cooking flank steak

Flank steak is a thin, lean, and inexpensive cut of meat. If you've never worked with flank steak, here are a few of my favorite tips for best success:

• Since flank steak is lean, it's important not to overcook it because it can quickly dry out. I suggest cooking flank steak to no more than medium for best results.
• Flank steak is best served thin sliced, cut against the grain. You want to slice your flank steak against the grain because this breaks up the muscle fibers, making your meat more tender.
• Make sure you're thin slicing your flank steak. Thinner slices will have shorter muscle fibers, making them easier to chew.
• Sometimes, a cut of flank steak is unevenly cut (it will have a thick side and a thin side). This will cook unevenly when prepared as one piece. To prevent uneven cooking, cut your steak in half, or into four smaller steaks. Then, cook the similarly sized steaks together (cook your two larger steaks together, then cook your two thinner steaks together).
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure your steak is cooked to your preferred doneness.

What to serve with flank steak

Looking for side dishes to serve next to your flank steak? Here are a few of my favorites:

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Bacon garlic mashed potatoes
• Parmesan asparagus with lemon butter 
• Roasted parmesan frozen broccoli
• Oven roasted potatoes
• Kale cranberry salad with lemon vinaigrette

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