There’s actually nothing fairly like a wonderfully Grilled Cowboy Ribeye steak scorching over two-zone grilling: its wealthy marbling, thick-cut bone, and deep taste ship a steakhouse expertise proper at residence. On this put up, we’ll stroll by means of all the pieces it is advisable grasp a grilled cowboy ribeye—from choosing the right reduce to resting and serving it with a savory crimson wine and mushroom sauce. Let’s fireplace up the grill.

We’re making wonderful grilled steak and ending it with a crimson wine and wild mushroom pan sauce. The grilled “cowboy” ribeye is mainly a Grilled Tomahawk Steak with out the additional bone.
Grilled Cowboy Ribeye Elements
A cowboy ribeye steak doesn’t want a lot to shine—this reduce speaks for itself. Maintain the elements easy and high-quality to let the beefy taste stand out.
A “cowboy” ribeye is actually a thick-cut bone-in ribeye steak with a few of the bone uncovered. If the bone have been longer, it will be known as a Tomahawk. The identical reduce, simply with a special size of uncovered bone. Bought it?
Key Elements
- Cowboy Ribeye Steak – You need a thick steak, not less than 2 1/2 to three inches thick. Think about calling your butcher to verify they’ll reduce it upfront. In case you can’t discover ribeye, you may as well use a thick NY strip steak or a thinner ribeye.
- Seasoning – We use olive oil to bind the steak, after which season with our Beef Seasoning, which is a mixture of herbs with salt and pepper. Or go easy with our salt, pepper, and garlic rub (SPG Rub).
Purple Wine Mushroom Pan Sauce
The bottom of this sauce is utilizing an excellent dry crimson wine, like a crimson mix, Merlot, or one thing comparable. The total record of elements is within the recipe.
- Butter and Olive Oil – Butter provides wealthy fats and taste, and olive oil to assist the mushrooms prepare dinner.
- Shallots + Garlic – That is going to offer the sauce nice taste.
- Mushrooms – We love shiitake for this, however cremini or different wild mushrooms will work nice too.
- Purple Wine – A superb crimson wine is the bottom and provides depth to the sauce.
- Broth – Scale back beef broth and balsamic vinegar to steadiness all the pieces out.
- Thyme – or different herbs for some earthy tones.
Selecting The Proper Lower
When trying to find a cowboy ribeye to grill, search for a bone‑in ribeye steak about 2 1/2 to three inches thick. The bone provides taste and helps with even cooking. Ideally, the meat ought to have beneficiant marbling and a visual “eye” of fats. Grass or grain completed beef works effectively.
Simply keep away from lean cuts that may dry out rapidly when grilled. You possibly can study extra about marbling in our article on Alternative versus Prime beef.
Preparation
Steak won’t come to room temperature when sitting out for an hour, like many will advise. So don’t waste your time; as an alternative, dry-brine your steak the day earlier than cooking for the perfect taste and texture if in case you have the time.
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels to make sure an excellent sear. Flippantly oil the steak.
- Season liberally.
- Press seasoning into the meat so it adheres evenly, after which retailer within the fridge, uncovered, in a single day.
In case you don’t have the time to dry brine, no worries. Simply season your steak earlier than getting it on the grill. It’ll nonetheless style nice!
Seasoning Tip
When dry brining in a single day, we would like airflow across the complete cowboy ribeye. So we lay a raised cookie drying rack inside a sheet tray. Then we season the steaks, and lay them on the cookie drying rack. This enables airflow across the steak and avoids the seasoning from coming off the underside of the steak.
How To Grill Cowboy Ribeye
For a stellar grilled cowboy ribeye steak, preheat your grill so it reaches excessive warmth—about 500 °F. If utilizing a charcoal grill, financial institution coals to 1 aspect to create a two‑zone fireplace. On a fuel grill, gentle one aspect on excessive and maintain the opposite aspect off for oblique cooking.

- Grill Direct: When the grill hits the goal temperature, place the steak over direct warmth and shut the lid. Grill for 3 minutes or till you see a pleasant crust type. Flip the steak after which proceed grilling over direct warmth for an additional 3 minutes.
- Grill Oblique: If you see a pleasant crust type, transfer the steak to the oblique aspect of the grill to complete cooking. Elective: Insert a Bluetooth thermometer within the thickest a part of the steak to watch the interior temperature of the meat.
- Relaxation: Take away the steak from the grill when it reaches your required inner temperature. For uncommon, take away when it’s 120 levels F measured on the thickest a part of the steak and let it relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than serving.
Have a pizza oven? Then assessment our information on learn how to prepare dinner steak in a pizza oven.
Make The Purple Wine Mushroom Pan Sauce
Whereas the steak is grilling on the oblique aspect, we’ll make the sauce on the grill in a cast-iron pan instantly over the grill grates. Or you should use your stovetop.
- Sauté: Place the pan on the grill over direct warmth and add the oil and one tablespoon of butter. When it’s melted, add the mushrooms. The pan can be sizzling, and you’ll hear a sizzle. Let the mushrooms sauté for about 3 minutes after which start stirring them. After 3 – 5 extra minutes, the mushrooms must be browned. Subsequent, add the shallots and stir for two minutes to melt. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute.
- Scale back: Then add the wine. It’ll instantly begin to simmer. Then add the broth, balsamic vinegar, thyme, and salt. Stir and shut the lid. Let the sauce come to a simmer and cut back by half (about 4 minutes).
- Serve: After the sauce has diminished in half, take away the pan from the warmth, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter (off warmth), and stir to soften the butter. The sauce will begin to thicken. Serve the sauce over the sliced steak.
Beef Temperature Ranges
Be sure you take into accounts the carry-over cooking that occurs whereas the steak rests. For steaks take away them 5 levels decrease than your required temperature. For roasts take away them 10 levels decrease. The steak’s inner temperature will rise because it rests.
Black and Blue | 100 – 120° Fahrenheit (F) | 37 – 48° Celsius (C) |
Uncommon | 120 – 130° F | 48 – 54° C |
Medium Uncommon | 130 – 140° F | 54 – 60° C |
Medium | 140 – 150° F | 60 – 65° C |
Medium Nicely (not advisable) | 150 – 160° F | 65 – 71° C |
Nicely Carried out (not advisable) | 160 – 170° F | 71 – 76° C |
Wine Pairing
We wish to pair this grilled cowboy ribeye steak with the identical wine we used to make the pan sauce with. Or if we serve with a higher-end wine, we search for cabernet sauvignon or merlot with increased tannin to steadiness the juicy and wealthy steak.

Be taught extra about meals and wine pairing or learn our information for pairing wine, BBQ, and live-fire meals.
Steadily Requested Questions (FAQ)
Sure, you completely can – however then it’s technically not a “cowboy” ribeye. This works high-quality if that’s all yow will discover. For greatest outcomes, search for a thick reduce bone-in ribeye.
We desire to dry-brine the steak, so we don’t add a steak marinade to the recipe due to the pan sauce. Usually, if we do a dry brine, we gained’t marinade, and vice versa.
In case you solely have a pellet grill, then set it to the best temperature you will get it. And use cast-iron or grill grates to radiate extra warmth. Grill, or roast, on the excessive temperature utilizing the grill grates. The sear isn’t the identical as a charcoal grill however it would nonetheless style scrumptious.
Finest Sides for Grilled Cowboy Ribeye Steak

Purple Wine Mushroom Pan Sauce
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Prep: Put together grill for two-zone grilling, focusing on 500 levels Fahrenheit (F) within the cooking chamber. Whereas the grill is warming up, coat the steaks on all sides with olive oil and liberally season with beef rub.
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Grill Direct: When the grill hits the goal temperature, place the steak over direct warmth and shut the lid. Grill for 3 minutes or till you see a pleasant crust type. Flip the steak after which proceed grilling direct for an additional 3 minutes.
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Grill Oblique: If you see a pleasant crust type, transfer the steak to the oblique aspect of the grill to complete cooking. Elective: Insert a Bluetooth thermometer within the thickest a part of the steak to watch the interior temperature of the meat.
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Relaxation: Take away the steak from the grill when it reaches your required inner temperature. For uncommon, take away when it’s 120 levels F measured on the thickest a part of the steak and let it relaxation for 10 minutes previous to serving.
Purple Wine Mushroom Pan Sauce
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Sauté: Place a forged iron skillet on the grill over direct warmth and add the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. When it’s melted and barely smoking, add the mushrooms. The pan can be sizzling, and you’ll hear a sizzle. Let the mushrooms sauté for about 3 minutes after which start stirring them. After 3 – 5 extra minutes, the mushrooms must be browned. Subsequent, add the shallots and stir for two minutes to melt. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute.
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Scale back: Then add the wine. It’ll instantly begin to simmer. Then add the broth, balsamic vinegar, thyme, and salt. Stir and shut the lid. Let the sauce come to a simmer and cut back by half (about 4 minutes).
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Serve: After the sauce has diminished in half, take away the pan from the warmth, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and stir to soften the butter. The sauce will begin to thicken. Serve the sauce over the sliced steak.
We use a Thermoworks Thermapen meat thermometer to measure the interior temperature precisely.
Gasoline Grill Modification: Use two burners set to medium and one burner off for organising two-zone grilling.
Grilled Cowboy Ribeye Temperature Ranges:
Black and Blue | 100 – 120° Fahrenheit (F) | 37 – 48° Celsius (C) |
Uncommon | 120 – 130° F | 48 – 54° C |
Medium Uncommon | 130 – 140° F | 54 – 60° C |
Medium | 140 – 150° F | 60 – 65° C |
Medium Nicely (not advisable) | 150 – 160° F | 65 – 71° C |
Nicely Carried out (not advisable) | 160 – 170° F | 71 – 76° C |
Energy: 967kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 71g | Fats: 71g | Saturated Fats: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 36g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 230mg | Sodium: 552mg | Potassium: 1098mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 8mg
Vitamin data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.