Best Steak Seasoning for Foolproof Steaks

I’ll admit that I crave steak a lot more often than I eat it. I’m in that sweet spot of adulthood in which I’d much sooner white-knuckle through my own abomination of a steak cooking attempt than shell out $50 bucks at a steakhouse. That’s where the best steak seasoning comes in. If there are shortcuts to perfecting the perfect sear, I don’t know them, but steak seasoning is a huge flavor booster that can cover a multitude of sins. You just have to know which one to buy. 

So, what is the best steak seasoning? Lucky for you, I tasted ten of the top seasonings on the market to find the best seasoning for steak that money can buy. 

To test the steak seasonings, I cooked a flat iron steak in a cast iron pan—not because I wanted everything to have “iron” in the name, but because that was the steak that was available and the cast iron pan is my absolute go to for anything involving a hard sear. It’s also a pretty good defense against home invaders. Talk about a jack of all trades. 

So, maybe you’re a grilling amateur looking for a blend that’ll give you confidence in your chop even if the cook isn’t spot on. Maybe you’re a seasoned professional, pun absolutely intended. Either way, anybody can benefit from the best steak seasoning. Here’s the best seasoning to put on steak that you can trust even on high stake steaks. 

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Jack Daniel’s Steak Seasoning

Best Garlicky

Jack Daniel’s Steak Seasoning

This is the only steak seasoning that Ron Swanson would ever use. From the burly packaging to the Jack Daniel’s association to the substantial chunks of ingredients, this steak seasoning looks like something that you’d only ever rub on a bone-in steak at a dimly lit saloon where there are no vegetables allowed. Being a maverick, I giddily used it on my boneless flat iron steak knowing full well I’d eat it off a floral plate and probably have a cupcake for dessert. That said, it’s definitely the best seasoning for ribeye steak that I tried. At first whiff, it is heavy on the black pepper. At first bite, it’s heavy on the garlic. It’s also heavy on the garlic at bite two through whenever you finish, and truthfully for a little while after. It’s certainly a garlic-forward blend with the other flavors singing backup in the distance, but I have no problems with that. I like garlic, and I’ve been swiping left on most vampires lately. Bring on the alliums.

Credit: Liv Averett / Soups Online

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Badia Steak Seasoning Canadian Blend

Best Complex Flavors

Badia Steak Seasoning Canadian Blend

It’s ironic considering Canada’s stereotypical politeness that this Canadian blend is the boldest of the bunch. The seasonings are unapologetically large, including the coarse salt. The smell comes charging out of the bottle as soon as you open the seal. It’s full of caraway, which makes you question for a second if you’re searching for the best steak seasoning or rye bread. Maybe Canada is compensating for being so nice by packing an absolute wallop of flavors into this seasoning bottle, but we’re not here to psychoanalyze. We’re simply searching for the best seasoning for steak. The seasoning has layers upon layers of flavor that are all distinct and almost too complicated, but somehow work together. It’s earthy and salty and savory and even kind of spicy, so each bite is interesting yet balanced. It’s probably not the best steak seasoning if you’re serving a wide variety of picky eaters, but I imagine that those who love it, really love it, eh?

Credit: Liv Averett / Badia

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Rub

Best Steak Seasoning for Anything But Steak

Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse Rub

I am a huge fan of this steak seasoning—it’s just not the best seasoning for steak. Let me explain. First of all, I’ll chortle every time I think of something being described as a buttery rub. Second of all, it’s just really delicious. I opened it up and immediately smelled movie theater popcorn, and who could be mad at that? But I didn’t love it on steak. It didn’t complement the flavor of the meat, but you know what? That’s okay! Einstein is credited with saying that if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid and my buttery buddy is just here trying to climb a tree when it should be crushing it at the swim meets. The taste is a mixture of fake butter popcorn and chicken ramen, with a hint of spiciness, which is something that I didn’t know I wanted until the moment I had it. It’s delectable, and though I may leave it off of my steak, I’ll use it generously on chicken and vegetables for the foreseeable future.

Credit: Liv Averett / Kinder’s

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Kinder’s The Steak Blend

Best of the Best

Kinder’s The Steak Blend

This steak seasoning is about to get arrested for impersonation. For misleading the audience. For lies and slander. This stuff could make a piece of pineapple tied up in an old shoelace taste like steak that’s been cooked on an open grill by a cowboy named Buck Boone whose horse is just over yonder. The seasoning smells like opening a bag of beef jerky, and immediately lets everyone know, “Hey, you’re about to get a little sweet, a little smoky, and a lot of flavor.” While it’s delicious on steak, it’s also the best steak seasoning if you’re simply hoping to make something else taste like steak. Will buying 209,384,290 bottles pay for itself as I try it on all the alternative foods I can find? Challenge accepted.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Other steak seasonings we tried: McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning, McCormick Perfect Pinch Steak Seasoning, Weber Chicago Steak Seasoning, Kinder’s Prime Steak Seasoning, Rufus Teague Steak Seasoning, McCormick Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning


About the Author

Hebba Gouda

Hebba Gouda is a freelance contributor to Sporked who will die on the hill that a hot dog is not a sandwich. She’s proud to spend weekends falling asleep at 9 p.m. listening to podcasts, always uses the Oxford comma, and has been described as “the only person who actually likes New Jersey.” She’d love to know how on earth she somehow always has dirty dishes, if donkeys hear better than horses, and how the heck you’re doing today? Hopefully swell - thanks for reading!

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  • Could you fix the web page so it doesn’t flicker every minute or so?

    Reply
  • Kinder is super. Started using it a couple of years ago. Outstanding.

    Reply
  • I would like to send you some of our seasoning we’ve had on the market for years just need your address

    Reply
  • I just wish you hadnt completely exposed Kinders products to the workd…It was supposed to be our secret!!!

    Reply
  • You need to RECHECK that List. Kinders has incredible seasonings. But kinders has a better one called Prime Steak with Black Garlic and Truffle. The seasoning is fantastic I have had a LOT of Steak in my Life. This is the Only one I will ever use on my Steak or any Red meat that I cook ever!

    Reply
  • So, your #2 “Best Steak Seasoning for Foolproof Steaks” is one you roundly dismiss as being for steak?

    Reply