Jan 20, 2021

Pan Seared Sirloin Steak Dinner for Two

Pan Seared Sirloin Steak Dinner for Two is the perfect meal for a romantic dinner for two.

A cast iron steak dinner complete with creamy mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and steamed vegetables is QUICK and EASY to make and budget friendly too! Awesome idea for a Valentine's steak dinner for two!
Pan seared sirloin steak dinner for two with sauteed mushrooms, mashed potatoes, & steamed green beans on a white plate

Dinner ideas for two

You might just be starting a life together and only have two for dinner each night or you find yourself at the other end of the spectrum, like me, where everyone has left the nest and you have to scale recipes down to fit your new lifestyle with just the two of you. Whatever the reason might be, if you are cooking for two, it can be a challenge.

My pan seared steak dinner for two is a quick and easy dinner perfect for any night of the week. It’s great for special occasions too! I always recommend this fancy steak dinner to surprise that special someone with a romantic dinner for two at home on Valentine’s Day.


Top Sirloin Filet

The top sirloin filet, or sirloin medallion, is a thicker sirloin steak that resembles the look of a filet mignon. Some people refer to it as the 'poor man's filet'.

Call me crazy, but I choose the sirloin over the filet every time, because, for me, flavor always wins.

Nothing much compares to the tenderness of the filet, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little tenderness for more flavor, and saving about $12 per pound is nice too!

Pan seared sirloin steak dinner smothered in sauteed mushrooms with mashed potatoes, and steamed green beans on a white plate

How to pick a good steak

When shopping for your top sirloin filet you want to look for 3 things - thickness, marbling, and grade.

  • For a perfect pan seared steak you want a steak at least 1½ inches thick with good marbling.
  • For the best quality you would choose a ‘prime’ sirloin filet. If a ‘prime’ grade steak is out of your budget or not easily available, your second best option would be a ‘choice’ grade steak which you’ll easily find in most grocery stores. Avoid ‘select’ grade steaks - they aren’t worth the trouble or the money.
  • Whichever grade you choose, prime or choice grade, you’ll want to be sure to find the steak with the most marbling.
  • Marbling is the little white specks running through the steak. Marbling equals flavor, so the more marbling the better.
  • If you need help finding the best sirloin filet, ask the butcher. I’ve found they are usually happy to help and always make great suggestions.

Pan seared sirloin steak in a cast iron skillet being basted with garlic-thyme butter

Easy Steak Dinner for Two

I paired this juicy pan seared steak with creamy, dreamy garlic mashed potatoes, fresh steamed green beans with just the right amount of crisp, and the biggest flavor enhancer of them all, mushrooms sautéed in luscious, sweet butter for the ultimate fancy steak dinner for two!

The entire meal is divine and will cost less than $15 total! That's for 2 meals y'all! A FANCY steak dinner for TWO under $7.50 per person! I call that winning! How 'bout you? (keep in mind prices vary depending on your area)

With a few quick tips, you can make this pan seared steak dinner for two at home in about 35 minutes. Less time in the kitchen means more time to share with someone special.

This is also an easy recipe to enjoy some quality time in the kitchen together. It can be fun and romantic to split up the prep work and the cooking between two people and make dinner together.

Steak Cooking Tips

  • Be prepared! Gather all of your ingredients together first to have everything handy as cooking this dinner moves along quickly.
  • For best results when searing the steaks, use a SCREAMING HOT cast iron skillet. Stainless steel skillets work well too, but don't use a non-stick skillet as you won't get a good sear on the steaks. It's all about the sear!
  • Pat steaks dry and season generously with salt and pepper. The seasoning helps form an amazing crust that gives you that steakhouse flavor.
  • Always use an instant read thermometer to check the cook on the steaks. Digital read thermometers are available with an easy to read display.
  • Refer to this chart for degrees of doneness and remember to always take the steaks off the heat 5-10 degrees BELOW the desired doneness to allow for cook-over while resting.
  • REST your steak for at least 5 minutes (10 is better) before serving to ensure the most tender and juicy steak possible.
  • Slice your steak against the grain for maximum tenderness and steakhouse quality.

What goes good with steak for dinner?

I love sautéed mushrooms, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables for a fancy steak dinner, but you might want to consider these sides as well

More steak dinner ideas

  • Cast Iron Flank Steak - a delicious, LOW CARB, quick & easy to make steak, and one of my FAVORITE go-to easy dinner ideas
  • Pan Seared Steak with Chimichurri - Flat-iron steak is one of the most flavorful cuts, and it is more budget-friendly than more popular cuts, which makes it a great steak dinner idea any night of the week
  • Pan Seared Steak with Garlic Butter - a tasty low-carb, protein-rich dinner that's on the table in under 30 minutes! This steak melts in your mouth with the tastes of sweet garlic butter and savory caramelized beef to coat your palate deliciously




steak dinner for two, pan seared steak, cast iron steak, fancy steak dinner
Main dish
American
Yield: 2
Author: Life Tastes Good
Pan Seared Sirloin Steak Dinner for Two

Pan Seared Sirloin Steak Dinner for Two

A pan seared steak dinner for two with creamy mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and steamed vegetables is QUICK and EASY to make and budget friendly too!
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 16 MinInactive time: 10 MinTotal time: 36 Min

Ingredients

Mashed Potatoes for Two
  • 2 medium sized Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
  • 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • Water to cover potatoes in pan
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (use more butter as needed)
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream, warmed slightly (use more cream as needed)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
Pan Seared Steaks for Two
  • 1 lb Top sirloin steak filets, 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick (2 steaks)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, divided
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee (or canola oil if you prefer)
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter for basting steaks
  • Sprigs of fresh thyme
Steamed Green Beans for Two
  • 1/2 lb fresh green beans, ends trimmed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic, minced (or more to taste)
  • Pinch of kosher salt
Sautéed Mushrooms for Two
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
  • pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

Mashed Potatoes for Two
  1. Preheat the oven to 250°F
  2. Place cubed potatoes in a saucepan with 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt, 2 to 3 cloves of peeled garlic, and enough water to cover the potatoes in the pan. Set the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are fork tender. About 8-10 minutes.
  3. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Set the pot over low heat and stir the potatoes to dry them out. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher (see note).
  4. Add 3 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons heavy cream and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon until creamy. Gradually add more butter and cream a little at a time until your desired consistency.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Cover with foil and place in the oven to keep warm
Pan Seared Steaks for Two
  1. While the potatoes are boiling, set a cast iron skillet over mid-high heat to get the pan screaming hot - about 5 minutes.
  2. While the skillet is heating, season the steaks with 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper on both sides of both steaks.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon ghee (or oil) to the hot skillet and immediately put the seasoned steaks in the skillet. Let sear for 4 minutes and then turn over. The steak should have a nice crust on the one side at this point.
  4. Add 4 tablespoons of butter, a few cloves of garlic and a couple sprigs of thyme to the skillet and let the steaks sear another 4 minutes while using a spoon to baste the steaks with the butter in the skillet.
  5. Check the internal temperature of the steaks with an instant read thermometer. For mid rare cook to no more than 120°F and remove them from the heat to rest 10 minutes.
  6. If your steak needs more cook time, transfer the pan to the preheated oven and cook for 3-5 more minutes until it reaches the desired temperature.
  7. When the steaks are ready, remove the steaks to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes.
Steamed Green Beans for Two:
  1. While the steaks are resting, prepare the green beans.
  2. Add about 2 inches of water in a sauce pan and set a steamer basket on top.
  3. Put trimmed green beans in the steamer basket and season with salt.
  4. Put the lid on the steamer basket and set the pan over mid-high heat.
  5. Cook 8-10 minutes until desired tenderness.
  6. When the green beans are done, remove them from the heat to a serving dish.
  7. Make garlic butter in a microwave safe dish with 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/8 teaspoon freshly minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Microwave about 20 seconds until butter is melted. Stir to combine and pour desired amount over green beans. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Sautéed Mushrooms for Two
  1. While green beans are cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter & a pinch of salt over medium heat in the same skillet you cooked the steaks. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they release their juices. About 5-8 minutes.
  2. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Serve mushrooms over steak

Notes:

Preheating the oven is best to have it ready to keep the potatoes warm. Additionally, if your steaks are extra thick, they might need to finish up in the oven, so it's good to have it ready to go.


For best results with the mashed potatoes, I like to use the potato masher on my Cuisinart Smart Stick with the potato masher attachment, but a hand held potato masher works great too. I don’t recommend using a mixer as that can overmix and make gummy potatoes. If you want to use a hand mixer to mash the potatoes, be sure to use it on low speed.


Calories

1004.52

Fat (grams)

80.72

Sat. Fat (grams)

48.12

Carbs (grams)

56.52

Fiber (grams)

15.73

Net carbs

40.80

Sugar (grams)

17.91

Protein (grams)

24.76

Sodium (milligrams)

2408.80

Cholesterol (grams)

235.49

Nutrition label disclaimer: Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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8 comments:

  1. I prefer a sirloin too! Marion your photos are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, this looks delicious! Cast iron pans are making a comeback, so, I'm wondering if you can add some information to recipes that use them. Unlike non-stick pans, cast iron pans are one piece construction. The handle part of the pan, not a separate piece. So, for people using them for the first time, they may not realize that the handle, even if the pan is used on the stove top, will get very, very hot. Even if you use a cast iron pan on the stove, you need pot holders on the hanlde.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Patrick. Cast iron pans are my go to for sure and thanks for mentioning about the handle. It does get hot! I always keep a pot holder on the handle, because I have definitely grabbed it more than once and burned my hand - OUCH! It took a few times, but I learned my lesson and cover that handle. Thanks again. Have a great week! ~Marion

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  3. Can’t wait to make this for Valentines Day. Just wish you had a print feature so we don’t print all the ads. Makes it harder to follow. A print plugin would be great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Karen, I do try to write the recipes so they are easily to follow from your device (ie - include measurements in the instructions so you don't have to scroll up and down), however, I am happy to send a printable version of the recipe via email. Please email me at marion@ourlifetastesgood(dot)com and I will send that to you.

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  4. I so appreciate this blog post and how you really broke it down step by step for those of not so good in the kitchen! Planning a date night surprise for my husband and this is just what I needed! I was considering ordering Texas Roadhouse takeout but I'm gonna give this a shot! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kirie, I'm so glad this post is helpful! I think this is the perfect date night at home meal, and what a sweet surprise! Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

      Delete

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Thanks! I hope it's a great day!! ~Marion

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