Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning

Steak is an important part of Texas cuisine and culture. When people think of Texas, they think of cowboys and the longhorn cattle. With the cowboy comes the grand tradition of barbecue, slow cooking meat over an open fire. These days, Texas is urbanized with more grand cities than open range. The cowboy hats and boots are fairly ubiquitous, but most of their wearers prefer cars and motorcycles to horses.

Still, urbanization comes with the steakhouse. Dinner at a steakhouse is quite a treat, but so is knowing how to prepare your own steak. A good steak seasoning enhances the flavor of the steak, not changes it. If you like, you can adjust this best Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning recipe to suit your personal tastes. For instance, a family friendly Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning can be made by cutting back on the onion and chili powders until Junior is ready to try something medium rare.

You could add extra garlic to make vampire repellent. (Steak/stake. Get it?) While actually grilling a steak is something that calls for a little finesse, the seasoning itself isn’t. This easy Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning for beginners just calls for simple mixing and measuring. Once you’ve got that down, you’ll have something that will make your steak taste like something from Texas Roadhouse. 

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The spices are actually fairly common. You can get them at any grocery store. 

It enhances the flavor of the meat. 

It’s a bold flavor that’s perfect for steaks, but you may find that it’s good in pork or poultry dishes as well. 

The recipe is easily adjustable for personal tastes and needs. 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Garlic salt: Adds an aromatic zing. If you’re cutting back on sodium, try garlic powder instead. 

Salt: The most basic spice there is. Brings out the flavor of the meat. If you’re cutting back on sodium, try lemon zest, oregano, tumeric or basil for a healthy Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning version. Natural sea salt is also a healthier option. Most restaurants prefer kosher salt. 

Brown sugar: How come you taste so good? It’s good for savory dishes as well as sweets. It enhances the flavor of the meat by caramelizing it. 

Tumeric: This versatile spice comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has an earthy flavor yet a citrus odor. It will also give your steaks a bright, appetizing coloration. 

Chili powder: It’s the piquant flavor of roasted red chilis that make a steak a Texas steak. Most commercially available chili powders are mixed with garlic, oregano and cumin. You may have to experiment to find your favorite brand. 

Paprika: No spice rack should be without paprika! It has fruity and toasty notes that make the other spices pop out.  

Texas roadhouse steak seasoning ingredients:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Brown sugar
• Paprika
• Turmeric
• Chili powder

How to make Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning?

Put everything in a small bowl and mix until well combined. You don’t want one spice overpowering another, so you want them all equally combined. You may need to use larger amounts of the milder spices and smaller amounts of the stronger ones

Adding salt and black pepper

Adding onion powder.

Adding chili powder.

Once all the spices are blended well you can store this mix in an airtight plastic bag or spice jar until needed. And that’s all there is to it! Next time you grill steak, sprinkle this seasoning mix liberally over your steaks to bring out the umami of the beef. It should taste like something you ordered at Texas Roadhouse. Better yet, you can experiment a bit and come up with a flavor that is uniquely yours.

Sprinkle from an elevated height so that it gets evenly distributed. As this seasoning contains sugar, it might be best to wait until your steak has a good sear on it before seasoning. Sugar burns faster than protein and you don’t want a burnt steak. 

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Tips for Success

Seasoning don’t just affect the flavor of the steak. They also create mouth feel. Salt tenderizes the meat while the brown sugar caramelizes into a delicate crust. The onion, garlic and paprika lock in the juices by forming a flavorful bark. A well seasoned steak not only tastes good but is moist and tender. 

Follow the 3-3-3 rule when cooking steak. Three minutes on one side, three minutes on another and three more minutes at a lower heat. 

Storing and Reheating

Store the seasoning in an airtight container to preserve the flavor. It keeps at room temperature but refrigerating it keeps it good and fresh. You can put it in a shaker to make it easier to season your steak. Just remember to put the lid back on after you’re done. You can keep it by the stove and sprinkle a little on any meat you think needs a little something extra. If you store it with other spices, don’t forget to label it. 

Serving Suggestions

With a steak, the traditional sides a baked potato or thick cut fries and side salad. Either could be swapped out for green beans, broccoli or squash. Red wine is often served with steak. If you like wine, Merlot is good for a lean cut, particularly something herb-crusted. For a thicker cut, you can’t go wrong with a good Cabernet Sauvignon. 

FAQs

Is this a quick Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning recipe?

You can make it as quick as you can accurately measure. You can funnel it all into a shaker and close it up and give it a long and vigorous shake to mix it all up. 

Is it gluten free?

You might want to double-check the individual spices to make sure. 

How much seasoning should I use on a steak?

This varies from person to person. Some use a little. Some use a lot. 

Can I use fresh herbs?

You may, if they’re minced small enough. Do keep in mind fresh herbs are stronger than dried ones. 

Notes:

Some people celebrate special occasions by going to a steakhouse. If you can, why not have a steak dinner at home? As you can see, making the seasoning is quite easy. 

If you want fries with your steak but would like something healthier, try this recipe:

 Baked Sweet Potato Fries – Sweet Pea’s Kitchen

And for a nice, decadent dessert, try this recipe for chocolate cookie cheesecake:

Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake – Sweet Pea’s Kitchen