Perfectly Seared Steak with Quick and easy chipotle chimichurri
It is no secret that Chimichurri and Steak are a match made in heaven and this Chipotle Chimichurri is even more heavenly! It is fresh, tangy and slightly spicy.
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If you have never made a chimichurri before, it will change your life! We first had chimichurri at our favorite steak house where they do a chili rubbed rib eye with chimichurri sauce. It has always been our favorite steaks to enjoy, until now…
I wanted to find a simple way to spice up my loved chimichurri recipe. Adding a few extra flavors resulted in a steak that tasted identical to the one at the steak house, if not better! This recipe starts with all the classic components of chimichurri like fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice and red wine vinegar. We then kick it up a notch with fresh chipotle pepper puree and smoked paprika.
The best part about this Chipotle Chimichurri is that is does not involve any cooking and takes less than 5 minutes to make. Simply, season your steaks, get them searing in a cast iron pan and blend up the chimichurri. A mouth watering, restaurant worthy meal in under twenty minutes!
Tips for perfectly seared steak
- Always let your steak come to room temperature before you cook it. Taking steak straight from the fridge to a hot pan can result in an unevenly cooked steak that is less tender.
- Season your steak at least 20-30 minutes before cooking. This allows the a better development of flavor throughout the meat.
- Use a cast iron or carbon steel pan. Pans like these allow for the best development of that perfect crust we all love on a steak. Our carbon steel pan is the best thing we have ever bought and we don’t sear meat any other way now! Find it here https://amzn.to/4iaD2BO
- Make sure the pan you are using is nice and HOT! You can check this by splashing a tiny bit of water into the preheated pan. If it quickly forms beads that bounce around the pan, it is ready to go.
- Do not overcook the steak, especially if you are cook wild game! With wild game meat you always want to aim for rare-medium rare which means you are pulling the steaks off the heat once they reach 120F (for rare) or 130F (for medium rare). The best way to ensure your steak is perfectly cooked is with an instant read thermometer. I will NEVER cook meat without one. This one is my favorite and we have multiple in our house because we use them everyday. https://amzn.to/3EVAIQP
- Allow your steak to rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. The thicker the steak, the longer you want to let is rest. This allows the juices to reabsorb into the meat so that your steak stays nice and juicy!
Chipotle Chimichurri Ingredients
Olive oil– You want to use a good quality olive oil to enhance the flavor of this sauce.
Parsley– Most grocery stores sell Italian Parsley and French parsley. I always recommend using Italian parsley as it has much more flavor.
Cilantro– Fresh cilantro adds vibrant flavor to this chimichurri. If you do not like cilantro you can sub with extra parsley.
Lemon– The fresh lemon juice in this recipe adds vibrance and tang to balance out the rich olive oil.
Red wine vinegar– There is just a touch of red wine vinegar in this chimichurri. You can use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar too, but you will get a better depth of flavor from red wine vinegar.
Garlic– Be sure to use whole fresh garlic cloves in this recipe, not pre minced.
Onion– There is a couple tbsp of onion in this chimichurri and you can use red onion or white onion. Red onion is my preferred choice.
Chipotle Puree– This is the star ingredient that makes this chipotle chimichurri come together. You can find this in a small jar at most grocery stores in the spice isle.
Smoked Paprika– If you can not find smoked paprika, regular paprika is fine. I love to use the smoked version to compliment the chipotle puree.
The Steps
1.Start by seasoning your room temperature steaks about 20 minutes before you are ready to cook. You can use just salt and pepper or your favorite rub.
2. Next, make the chimichurri. Add all of the remaining ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until mostly smooth, with little flecks of the herbs remaining. I do this in a jar and use my hand blender. It is my favorite kitchen tool!
3. Once you are ready to cook the steaks, heat a cast iron or carbon steel pan on high heat. Add a couple tbsp of ghee, butter or beef tallow to the hot pan.
4. Place the steaks in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. If your steaks are on the thinner side, start with 2-3 minutes. Remove the steaks from the pan once the internal temp reaches 120F for rare or 130F for medium rare.
5. Allow the steaks to rest for 5-10 before plating, then top with a spoonful of that beautiful chipotle chimichurri. Enjoy!
You can use this Chipotle Chimichurri recipe on pork, chicken, steak sandwiches, wraps and more! A simple and healthy way to add SO MUCH FLAVOR!!!!
Perfectly cooked, juicy steak with a fresh and smoky chipotle chimichurri sauce. Easy to make and packed with flavor! * This chimichurri is delicious on any type of steak you have in your freezer! * If you love this one, give my Classic Chimichurri recipe a try! *You can store this Chimichurri in a jar or air tight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. 
Seared Steak with Smoky Chipotle Chimichurri
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
