Pan-Seared Beef with Caramelized Onions and Gruyère

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-11 · Updated 2026-04-11

Sear thick ribeye steaks until golden, then nestle them in a bed of deeply caramelized onions and melted Gruyère for a rich, satisfying meal. This american-inspired beef (low carb) ready in about 45 minutes pairs ribeye steak, medium yellow onion, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 970 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ribeye steak
• 2 medium yellow onion
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Gruyère cheese
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat the 1.5 lbs ribeye steak dry with paper towels and season evenly with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until butter foams (about 1-2 minutes).
3. Step 3: Add steak in a single layer (cook in two batches if needed), sear for 3-4 minutes per side until deep brown crust forms, then transfer to a plate.
4. Step 4: Add 2 medium yellow onions (thinly sliced) and 1/4 tsp salt to skillet, reduce heat to medium, and cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are deeply golden and caramelized.
5. Step 5: Return steaks to skillet, top each with 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese and 1/2 tsp dried thyme, cover with a lid, and cook 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.