Cooking Tomahawk Steak In Oven

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
2024	Calories
151g	Fat
7g	Carbs
160g	Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 2
Amount per serving
Calories	2024
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 151g	194%
Saturated Fat 69g	343%
Cholesterol 558mg	186%
Sodium 1634mg	71%
Total Carbohydrate 7g	3%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 160g
Vitamin C 7mg	36%
Calcium 129mg	10%
Iron 16mg	89%
Potassium 1890mg	40%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If there's a steak that resembles caveman food, it is the tomahawk rib-eye. Also called a cowboy steak, the tomahawk is a bone-in rib-eye that weighs between 30 and 45 ounces. It is nearly 2 inches thick and includes a long bone; this signature "handle" led to the steak's name. This is a large steak that can feed two people, and it can easily be prepared at home.

While a tomahawk steak is one of the more expensive pieces of meat available, it's worth the price. The rib-eye includes some of the most flavorful and tender beef, and the cut is sure to make a big impression.

The tomahawk steak is best pan seared and then finished in the oven. Just before the steak rests, it is basted with butter, roasted garlic, and fresh thyme to result in a juicy, flavorful, and tender piece of meat. Serve it with a full-bodied red wine like cabernet sauvignon and a veggie side, and recreate this classic steakhouse splurge for a fraction of the cost.

Click Play to See This Tomahawk Rib-Eye Steak Recipe Come Together

"Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for making an impressive restaurant-quality steak in your own kitchen. Finish the steak with this sensational garlic-thyme butter pan sauce for the ultimate steakhouse experience in your home." —Diana Andrews

1 tomahawk rib-eye steak, about 1 3/4 inches thick
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 small head garlic
2 tablespoons oil, plus more for drizzling (canola or grapeseed)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4 large sprigs fresh thyme

Gather the ingredients. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 F.

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Pat the tomahawk steak dry with paper towels.

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Season very liberally with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Let the steak come to room temperature.

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Meanwhile, prepare the garlic. Trim off the top 1/4 inch of the garlic bulb. Drizzle with the oil and add a pinch of salt, then wrap in a foil tent, and roast the garlic for 30 minutes, until the cloves are soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Increase the oven temperature to 425 F.

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Optional: Moisten a paper towel and wrap it around the steak's rib bone, then wrap aluminum foil around the paper towel.

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In a large heavy-duty skillet (preferably cast-iron), heat the 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat until it's just starting to smoke. Lay the tomahawk steak into the skillet and sear for 3 minutes without touching it. (Step back a bit since it will smoke and spatter.)

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Using tongs and the bone as a handle, turn the steak over and cook for another 3 minutes without touching it. Using tongs and the bone as a handle, sear the short side of the steak opposite the bone, about 1 minute.

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Transfer the steak to a rimmed baking sheet and place in the oven, roasting 9 to 10 minutes, or until the desired doneness is reached. Alternatively, you can put the steak on a rack fitted into a baking sheet, which will allow air to flow evenly around the steak in the oven, thereby cooking the steak uniformly on both sides.

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Use an instant-read thermometer to measure the steak's internal temperature―125 F for rare, 135 F for medium-rare, or 145 F for medium. The meat will continue to cook while it rests and increase by 5 to 10 degrees, so take that into account when pulling your steak out of the oven.

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While the steak is cooking, add the butter to the skillet and melt over low heat. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the butter, stirring with a wooden spoon to distribute, then add the thyme sprigs and continue to cook, about 2 minutes.

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When the steak is ready, take it out of the oven, and transfer it back into the skillet. Use a spoon to baste the butter and garlic over the steak. Turn the steak, and baste again, about 1 minute total. Transfer the steak to a cutting board, tent it with foil, and let it rest 10 minutes.

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If you've wrapped the bone in the optional paper towel and foil, remove it now.

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Carve the steak against the grain then drizzle with more of the butter and garlic. Or, if the steak is for one person, simply spoon the butter and garlic over the steak. Serve and enjoy.

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Tip

You may need to order a tomahawk steak from your local butcher or supermarket. While most meat departments carry rib-eye steaks, they may need to french the bone for you for a tomahawk.
Wrapping the bone in aluminum foil is an optional step used at steakhouses to give the bone a nice appearance if the entire steak is served to one diner. You don't have to do this, but it does make a better presentation.
Use peanut, canola, or grapeseed oil for this recipe. Not olive oil. Since olive oil has a low smoke point, it will smoke too much and may impart a burnt flavor to the meat. The peanut, canola, or grapeseed oil, however, are neutral oils that don't impart any flavor. Once the steak is in the oven, you can proceed with the recipe as written, and if desired, add a splash of olive oil to the skillet with the butter when creating the pan sauce.

Why Is the Tomahawk Steak So Expensive?

The tomahawk is a bone-in rib-eye cut from between the sixth and 12th rib of the beef cow. Similar to a rack of lamb, the bone is frenched to give the steak its distinctive 5- to 8-inch "handle." The extra labor involved in the cut and the fact that the meat removed from the bone becomes short ribs leads to the steak's high price.

Why Do Chefs Put Butter on Steak?

No matter the cut, butter is a key to cooking a restaurant-quality steak. Chefs often finish a steak in the oven or on the grill with a pat of butter on top. As the butter melts, the fat adds an extra richness that complements the meat's natural flavor and softens the char to ensure each bite is tender. This recipe uses a slightly different method, but the premise and results are the same.

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