Introduction

The Cow-Boy steak on the BBQ is one of the best ways to showcase a thick ribeye. Here it’s paired with a rich and flavorful cow-boy butter, combining the sweetness of brown sugar, the kick of chipotle, the acidity of lemon, and the depth of coriander and whole grain mustard.
Served with garlic mashed potatoes and mushrooms cooked in the same butter, this dish is a tribute to hearty feasts where the barbecue becomes both a cooking tool and a symbol of sharing.

Recipe history

The cow-boy steak is inspired by the rustic meals of American cattle ranchers, who cooked large cuts of beef directly over the campfire. Today, it’s prepared on the barbecue with more precision, but with the same idea: generous meat, simply grilled, enhanced with bold seasoning.

Time

  • Prep: 15 min
  • Cook: 20 min
  • Rest: 5 min
  • Total: 40 min

Ingredients

For the cow-boy butter

  • 100 g butter
  • 3 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 tbsp steak rub
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo + 1 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 1 tsp salt

For the meat

  • 2 ribeye steaks, at least 4 cm thick
  • 2 tbsp steak rub

On the side

  • Garlic mashed potatoes (prepared ahead of time)
  • Fresh mushrooms (cooked with cow-boy butter)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cow-boy butter
    In a bowl, mix all the ingredients until smooth.

  2. Prepare the BBQ and the mushrooms
    Preheat the barbecue for both direct and indirect cooking.
    Season the ribeyes with the rub.
    In a cast-iron skillet placed on the grate, melt 2 tbsp of cow-boy butter and sauté the mushrooms. Then move the skillet to the indirect zone to keep warm.

  3. Cooking the ribeyes
    Grill the ribeyes over direct heat until they reach your desired internal temperature (for example, 120–122 °F for rare, which will rise to 127–129 °F while resting). So don’t grill the meat the way I used to (and as shown clearly in the video)!!! Stay away from the flames!

  4. Rest and serve
    Remove the steaks, place 1 tbsp of cow-boy butter on each, and let rest for 5 minutes under foil or a lid on a warm plate.
    Slice and serve immediately with the mushrooms and garlic mash.

Healthier variations

  • Light butter: replace half the butter with extra virgin olive oil.
  • Lower sugar: cut the brown sugar in half and increase the lemon juice to keep the balance.
  • Lactose-free: use a plant-based cooking butter substitute.

Food & wine pairings

  • Full-bodied red wine: an Argentine Malbec or a California Zinfandel.
  • Beer: an IPA with strong hoppy notes to contrast with the butter’s richness.
  • Non-alcoholic option: smoked black tea (lapsang souchong), served iced.

🍽️ Nutrition facts (per serving)

Value Amount % DV*
⚡ Energy 690 kcal 34%
🥩 Protein 48 g 96%
🥓 Fat 48 g 68%
🧈 Saturated fat 20 g 100%
🐟 Omega-3 0.3 g 15%
🍞 Carbs 9 g 3%
🍬 Sugars 7 g 8%
🌾 Fiber 1 g 4%
🧂 Salt 1.8 g 30%
🧬 Cholesterol 145 mg 48%
🦴 Calcium 45 mg 4%
💉 Iron 5.8 mg 41%
🧪 Vitamin B12 3.5 µg 140%

*Daily values are based on a 2,000 kcal diet.

Video

🧬 Health Sheet – Cancer + Diabetes

💡
🥗 Is this recipe healthy ?

This dish is rich in high-quality protein and micronutrients (iron, zinc, vitamin B12), but also in saturated fats and salt. It can be enjoyed as a festive meal, but should remain occasional.

🧬 Click to expand

Here’s the exact translation in US English for Grill4Life.com:

🧬 Cancer analysis
✅ Benefits: cilantro, garlic, lemon, and chipotle provide protective antioxidants. Mushrooms = beta-glucans with immunomodulating effects.
⚠️ Caution: high red meat content (colorectal cancer risk factor) + grilling (PAHs, HCAs).
📌 Recommendations: limit to 1 serving per week, use indirect cooking, avoid charred parts, pair with fiber-rich vegetables.
So don’t grill the meat the way I did and as clearly shown in the video!!! Stay away from the flames!

🍬 Diabetes analysis
✅ Benefits: proteins and fats slow down carbohydrate absorption.
⚠️ Caution: brown sugar and adobo sauce add sugars → moderate glycemic impact.
📌 Recommendations: cut the brown sugar in half, opt for a butter-free vegetable mash, watch the salt intake.

✅ Health summary
A tasty and convivial dish, suitable for occasional consumption, but too high in saturated fat and red meat for frequent intake.

🧠 Health tip
Serve this steak with a large fresh salad, grilled vegetables, and a piece of fruit for dessert. This adds fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins to balance out the excess fat and salt.