Pan-Seared San Angelo Beef with Smoky Chili Rub
Tender beef steaks seasoned with a smoky chili rub, pan-seared to perfection, inspired by Texas flavors near San Angelo. This beef recipe (gluten free), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs beef sirloin steak, smoked paprika, chili powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
- 2 pieces, 8 oz each beef sirloin steak
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to create a smoky chili rub. Pat dry 2 pieces of 8 oz beef sirloin steaks then rub the spice mixture evenly onto both sides of each steak.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the steaks and sear for 4 minutes on the first side without moving them, until a deep brown crust forms.
- Step 3: Flip the steaks and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 sprigs fresh thyme to the pan. Tilt the pan slightly and spoon the melted butter and thyme over the steaks continuously for 3-4 minutes until the steaks reach medium-rare (135°F internal temperature).
- Step 4: Remove the steaks from the skillet and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving.








