Reverse Seared Cowboy Ribeye

By Christie Vanover | Published September 5, 2016 | Last Updated May 24, 2023

What is a cowboy ribeye steak?

Ribeyes are a beautiful cut of steak because they are so wonderfully marbled with fat and flavor. They are cut from the rib primal of the cow, which is the exact same place where the prime rib roast is cut.

You can purchase ribeye steaks cut in a variety of ways, including bone-in ribeyes and boneless ribeyes. They can also be cut thick or thin.

A tomahawk ribeye and cowboy ribeye are very similar. They are both the same type of bone-in ribeye cut, but the difference is the length of the bone.

A tomahawk steak has a very long bone; whereas a cowboy cut steak has a bone that’s been cut just a little bit longer than the steak meat itself.

What is a reverse sear?

Reverse searing is a two-step method often used when cooking larger pieces of meat. Cowboy ribeye steaks are usually about two inches thick, so it’s the perfect cooking process for this steak.

With the reverse sear method, you start by setting up your grill or smoker to a lower heat with an indirect zone. This means there is no direct flame under the meat. During this phase, the meat cooks slowly and absorbs smoke flavor.

Once the steak is almost done, it’s finished over hight heat to form a flavorful crust and perfect sear. If you were to start with just high heat on a steak this thick, it would char on the outside before it finished cooking inside.

• Cowboy Ribeye Steak: Look for a 2-3-pound steak that is about 2 inches thick. I order mine from Snake River Farms. See the marbling in the picture above? That is pure flavor. You only get that level of marbling from American Wagyu Gold™ from Snake River Farms.
• Kosher Salt: It’s important to use a coarse salt for this recipe. I like Diamond Crystal because it’s flakier than other kosher salts, so it dissolves beautifully.
• Black Pepper: It’s also important to use coarse or extra coarse black pepper. This helps create a crunchy, flavorful bark on the crust. My go-to black pepper is the extra coarse (16-mesh) from Spiceology.

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.

1. STEP ONE: Season the steak on all sides. The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of salt and pepper. Be sure to use it all to get maximum flavor. I usually use four pinches of each per side.

Make sure to add seasoning to the sides too. Then, let it rest on the counter while you heat your grill.

2. STEP TWO: Heat your grill to 250F degrees with an indirect heat zone.

If you have a kettle charcoal grill, push the lit coals to one side and smoke the steak on the grill grate over the side without coals.

If you’re cooking on a ceramic cooker like a Kamado Joe or Big Green Egg, insert the ceramic deflector plate.

For a gas grill, turn one burner to medium heat. Adjust that burner until the grill temperature reaches 250F degrees. Cook on the side with the burners turned off. To add smoke, use wood chips in a foil pouch.

If you have a pellet grill, simply set the temperature to 250F degrees.

For a Ninja Grill, follow my recipe for Cowboy Ribeye Steak on Ninja Woodfire Grill.

3. STEP THREE: Place the steak on the grill over indirect heat. Insert a digital meat thermometer through the side into the center of the steak, avoiding the bone and fat pockets. Cook the steak until it reaches an internal temperature of 110F degrees. This will take about 45 minutes to an hour.

4. STEP FOUR: Once it hits that 110F mark, it’s time to crank up the heat. Remove the steak from the grill and increase the grill temperature to 400F degrees.

If you have a kettle charcoal grill, move the steak to the side of the grill grate with coals.

On a ceramic cooker, remove the deflector plate.

For a gas grill, move the steak to the side of the grill with the burner turned on to high or medium-high heat.  

If you have a pellet grill, simply reset the temperature to 400F degrees.

You can also finish the steak on a griddle or in a large cast iron skillet over high heat. If using a hot skillet, add a little oil to the pan.

5. STEP FIVE: Once the grill is setup for direct heat, place the steak on the grill. Sear for about 5 minutes per side or until it reaches your desired doneness. I aim for 130F degrees for perfect medium rare.

6. STEP SIX: Once the steak reaches your desired internal temperature, let it rest for at least 10 minutes. This helps the juices relax so they stay in the meat when you slice it. Loosely tent with aluminum foil to keep it warm.

How to serve keyword

Once the meat has rested, you can slice into it. It’s pretty impressive to bring the entire steak on a cutting board to the table and slice it in front of everyone, especially for special occasions.

Finish with a pinch of sea salt and some fresh herbs like fresh thyme or parsley for added flavor and serve with a robust red blend or cabernet sauvignon. 

Otherwise, you can slice it in the kitchen and add slices to each dinner plate along with some delicious sides like Grilled Mini Hasselback Potatoes or Fresh Grilled Vegetable Spring Salad. This cowboy ribeye steak recipe is also great with a dollop of Ancho Garlic Compound Butter.

Storage

If you have any leftover cowboy ribeye, save it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Smaller slices are great for sandwiches, quiche or quick bruschetta appetizers. You can also freeze leftover steak for up to six months.