Cowboy Butter Steak and Potatoes

I think it’s safe to say that steak and potatoes have been winning the hearts of men since the beginning of time. But then you smother it in the most luscious butter sauce and it just amps up a regular steak and potatoes dinner by 10 times!

This cowboy butter steak and potatoes recipe is a twist on my regular Cowboy Butter Steak, with garlic butter steak bites over potatoes with asparagus and corn on the side. Instead of brushing the steak with the cowboy butter as it grills, it’s drizzled on top at the end. Same irresistible flavor, different presentation! (And if you love the combo of steak + cowboy butter as much as we do, check out my Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders for yet another way to combine the two.)

Why You’ll Love This Steak and Potatoes Recipe

• Complete meal in an hour. Even though this dish looks fancy and special when plated, it takes less than an hour to prepare – and that includes the side dishes! I saute asparagus and corn in the same pan as the steak to turn this into a full, well-rounded dinner and to save on time.
• Perfect for date night. The cowboy butter really elevates this steak and potatoes recipe to something worthy of special occasions. I’ve made it several times for date nights (yes, this meal WILL win the heart of your love!), but it would also be great for company.
• SO much flavor. Every element of this dish is so flavorful. The juicy steak bites are cooked in garlic butter, the mashed potatoes are loaded with cheese, and the veggies get the flavor from the garlic butter, too. Then, to top it all off with the tangy, spicy, herby cowboy butter…my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

What Is Cowboy Butter?

Cowboy butter is a tangy and spicy butter mixture full of fresh herbs and seasonings. The main ingredients added to the butter are garlic, dijon mustard, lemon juice and zest, parsley and green onions, paprika, thyme, and red pepper flakes. It’s one of my favorite ways to add a burst of flavor to dinner because it’s so flavorful and easy to make.

In addition to steak, as shown in this recipe, it’s also delightful over shrimp and chicken. I’ve even made cowboy butter chicken tenders!

Whatever your use, you’ll be hard pressed to find a food where slathering it in a butter sauce doesn’t work.

Key Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this incredible cowboy butter steak and potatoes. Please be sure to review the recipe card below for the measurements.

• Avocado oil – This is needed for cooking steak as it won’t smoke at a higher heat like olive oil.
• Steak – Choose a quality tender cut of steak, such as tenderloin/filet mignon or ribeye. NY strip or top sirloin also work but they will be a chewier cut.
• Potatoes – Russet potatoes are my preference for mashed potatoes. I add cream or half and half, parmesan, Monterey jack, salt/pepper and butter to my potatoes.
• Butter – Salted butter is the base for the cowboy butter and is also added to the potatoes.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is always best, as the jarred kind doesn’t have the same potency and flavor.
• Seasonings – Paprika, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Plus, we’ll use a homemade cajun seasoning for the steak bites.
• Herbs – Fresh parsley and green onions are the herby elements on the cowboy butter.
• Dijon Mustard – A little goes a long way to add some earthy spice to the sauce.
• Lemon – The zest and juice are used for a tangy lemon kick.
• Asparagus & corn – To round this out into a complete meal, I cook fresh asparagus and corn in the same pan as the steak. Fresh is best for both, though I have used canned corn in a pinch.

How to Make Steak and Potatoes with Cowboy Butter

While there are several parts to this recipe, many of them can happen simultaneously, like cooking the steak while the potatoes boil. The full printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Tips from My Kitchen

After making this cowboy butter steak and potatoes recipe several times, I’ve learned a few things! Here are some of my best tips.

• Start with quality steak. The steak you start with really impacts how the final recipe turns out! We don’t cook steak often so when we do, we prefer to splurge on a quality cut and make it worthy.
• Do not overheat the butter. The butter can separate if it’s overheated, which is why the microwave time is just 7-10 seconds. If you do accidentally overheat it, simply add 1-2 teaspoons of solid butter into the melted butter and it will come back together.
• Use chicken or shrimp instead of steak. If you want to change things up or just have a preference for chicken or shrimp, they make fantastic substitutes for steak in this recipe. They both pair very well with cowboy butter. All the steps remain the same, just adjust the cooking time.
• Use canned corn. I am not one for canned veggies, but corn is one that I prefer over frozen corn. Of course, fresh is best if it’s in season.