Sirloin Steak Recipe (Perfect Every Time)

Prepare the steak marinade according to the instructions here. Marinate the steaks for at least 3 hours, but no longer than 24 hours. (Alternatively, you can simply season generously with salt and pepper and skip the marinade, but the marinade makes them so juicy!)

Remove the steaks from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking, to let them come to room temperature. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). At the same time, preheat a cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes.

Once the oven is just a few minutes away from being preheated, add the butter and heat until melted. Add the steaks in a single layer. Sear for about 2 minutes, without moving around, until browned with grill marks on the bottom. Flip and sear for 1-2 minutes on the other side.

Transfer the pan to the preheated oven. Bake for 2 to 6 minutes, to your desired level of doneness. For a 1.5-inch (4 cm) thick steak, that's usually 2 minutes for rare, 3 minutes for medium rare, 4 minutes for medium, 5 minutes for medium-well and 6 minutes for well done. Use a meat thermometer (I recommend a probe thermometer like this) to be sure: 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) for rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium rare, 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium, 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) for medium well, and 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done. Steak temperature will increase by an additional 5 degrees when resting in the next step.

Remove the sirloin steaks from the oven and transfer to a plate. (Do not leave in the pan or they will be overcooked.) Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing.