Easy Skillet Steak and Peas
Have dinner ready within 15 minutes with this quick and easy steak and peas. Only one pan needed, and a small and simple list of ingredients! Aside from the usual salt, pepper, and oil, this recipe only needs 3 main ingredients (steak, peas, and onion).
We don’t eat a whole lot of steak around here. But when we do, it’s almost always this recipe for steak with peas!
It tics all the boxes for the best easy dinner recipe: quick, simple ingredients, one pan, filling, and fancy looking (but no fancy prep needed)!
Skillet steak and peas ingredients:
For this easy skillet steak and peas, you will need:
• olive oil: to fry the steak. Olive oil has more flavor than other oils like vegetable or canola oil, but a higher smoking point than butter. So it’s the perfect fat to cook the steak in!
• salt and pepper: the only seasoning we need!
• steak: did you guess this one?
• peas: did you guess this one, too?
• onion: adds amazing flavor AND it helps soak up all the caramelized bits in the pan from the steak
Where does the flavor come from?
Given that this recipe doesn’t call for too many ingredients, and absolutely no seasoning or spices other than plain old salt n’ pepper, you may be wondering how it has any flavor at all.
What I love about this recipe is the fact that basically all of the flavor comes from just cooking the steak. No over the top spices, sauces, or additions needed!
When you cook steak and it leaves the crispy, caramelized, brown base on the pan, that’s a big source of flavor! It’s more than enough for the whole dish.
That residue is usually referred to as fond. And I am fond of fond!
How to make skillet steak and peas:
1. Pat your steak dry and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the steak in a skillet with olive oil until golden brown on both sides. Transfer the cooked steak to a plate, and set aside to rest.
3. Add your onion to the pan. Cook the onion until softened and it’s absorbed almost all of the caramelized residue on the bottom of the skillet!
4. Add in your peas. Warm until defrosted.
Serve!
How to cook steak (internal temperatures):
You can cook the steak however you like it as long as it’s above 130°F!
Here are some specific temperatures to look out for when sorting out how long to cook steak for:
• 130°F for rare
• 135°F for medium rare
• 145°F for medium
• 150°F for medium well done
• 160°F for well done
To help you choose which temperature is right for you, here’s a cheat sheet that you can keep handy!
I personally like my steak well done, so I cook mine until a thermometer inserted into the steak reads 160°F.
Temperature is the best, surefire way to be positive your steak is cooked perfectly. If you’re wondering how long each doneness takes in terms of minutes, for 1 to 1 & 1/2 inch thick steaks, you’ll be looking at about:
• 3 minutes for rare
• 3 to 4 minutes for medium rare
• 4 to 5 minutes for medium
• 5 to 6 minutes for medium well done
• 6 minutes for well done
What to serve with steak and peas:
This recipe pairs well with virtually every side! It’s flavorful enough to serve with something plain, but simple enough for you to dress it up with a more zesty side! Here are some of my personal favorite pairings:
• braided garlic bread
• simple, boiled potatoes
• baked potatoes
• mashed potatoes
• soft dinner rolls
• rolled buttermilk biscuits
If you liked this steak and peas recipe, check out some of these other easy dinners!
• stovetop honey garlic salmon
• Italian meatballs
• crispy baked chicken parmesan
• baked feta pasta
• chicken with white wine sauce
Easy Skillet Steak and Peas Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 (12 ounce) sirloin steaks
- salt and pepper to season
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cups frozen peas
Instructions
- Pat steak dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt and pepper, and set aside to preheat your skillet.
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat, and heat until it's very hot! Add your olive oil to the pan (it should shimmer but not smoke!) Carefully lay your steaks into the pan (laying them away from you to avoid splattering).
- Cook the steaks (undisturbed) for about 3 minutes on the first side, or until a deep golden brown color. Flip and cook the other side for about 3 to 6 additional minutes, or until it reaches your preferred doneness. See blog post above for what internal temperature to cook your steak to. Transfer the cooked steaks to a plate, and set aside to rest.
- Don't clean out the pan! The brown bits on the bottom are where most of the favor comes from! Add your onion to the pan, along with another pinch of salt to help it release its liquid. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. While it cooks, use a wooden spoon to scrape up the caramelized bits on the bottom of the pan!
- Add your peas to the skillet, and heat until defrosted and warmed through. Serve the steak whole or cut your steak into strips (against the grain) and serve with the pea and onion mixture and your choice of side!
Enjoy!
