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This black and blue steak recipe makes you feel like you’re eating in a 5-star restaurant. Made with creamy blue cheese and perfectly seasoned meat, all you have to do it fire up your grill.
What’s better than a juicy steak cooked just right? A juicy steak that’s perfectly cooked, charred on the outside, and topped with bleu cheese! That’s what you get with this easy “black and blue” steak recipe. The spice rub is delicious, making this one of my family’s favorite summer grilling recipes. I season the meat, my husband cooks it, and then I add the blue cheese.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Grill
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Why You’ll Love This Black and Blue Steak
- Impressive flavors. The melty bleu cheese on top of the meat adds a creamy tanginess that tastes amazing with the savory meat.. It’s a simple touch that really boosts this dish into gourmet status.
- Versatile spice rub. If you make a big batch of my Blackening Seasoning, you can make these steaks all summer long, or use it to make Blackened Chicken or a Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil.
- Naturally gluten free. You may have heard that blue cheese is not gluten free. While I always recommend you speak to a doctor, concerns about gluten in blue cheese are generally not what they used to be. In fact, you can even find some that are specifically labeled as gluten free, so check that out. If you are concerned, you can always skip it and still enjoy a nice blackened steak. And since you are making your own spice rub, there are no sneaky gluten-containing ingredients there.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to make black and blue steak. You can find the full amounts and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- New York Strip Steaks: Ribeye and filet mignon are also good options.
- Paprika: You can use sweet or smoked.
- Cayenne Pepper: To bring some heat.
- Garlic & Onion Powders: You’ll need half a tablespoon of each.
- Salt & Pepper: We use a teaspoon of pepper and half a teaspoon of salt.
- Dried Oregano & Basil: These classic dried herbs add freshness and flavor.
- Bleu Cheese: Crumbled.
How to Make Black and Blue Steak
The process isn’t much different from that of your classic grilled steak recipe. Let’s get into it!
- Get Ready: Bring your steaks to room temperature and set your grill to high, about 450°F.
- Make Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine the paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, dried oregano and dried basil. Mix well with a fork and set aside.
- Season Steaks: Sprinkle generous amounts of the blackened seasoning mix on all sides of the steaks, and lightly press so that it sticks.
- Grill: Grill the steaks for about 4-6 minutes per side, flipping once to cook to medium-rare to medium, adjusting cooking time if your steaks are very thick or to cook to your desired doneness.
- Top and Rest: Remove the steaks from the grill and immediately sprinkle each with crumbled bleu cheese or sprinkle it on the steaks during the last few minutes of cooking. Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Enjoy! Serve right away, or slice against the grain before serving.
Tips for Success
- Start with Room Temperature Steaks: Don’t start seasoning your steaks until they’ve sat on the counter for at least 15 minutes. If they’re too cold, they won’t stick to the spice rub as well or cook as evenly. Just don’t leave the steaks out for longer than 2 hours, or they won’t be safe to eat anymore.
- Cook to Your Liking: If you like a more well-done steak, leave yours on the grill for a little longer – if you like it rare, take it off a little sooner. An Instant-Read Meat Thermometer is a game-changer for making sure your steaks are cooked exactly the way you prefer them and to grill each one to any individual’s liking. Each of the steaks you make can be tailored to the person who’s eating it!
- Slice Against the Grain: When you’re cutting up your steaks, always remember to slice against the grain. This breaks up the muscle fibers, making each bite supremely tender and juicy.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge – Leftover black and blue steak should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. It will last for 3-4 days.
- Freezer – Blackened steak with bleu cheese can be frozen. Keep it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months and thaw it out in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat – To reheat it, stick it in a 250°F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until it’s warmed through and the cheese is sizzling.
Make it a Meal
- Pair with Potatoes: Steak and potatoes are a classic combination for a reason! The two pair incredibly well together. This blackened steak with bleu cheese belongs on a plate next to my Roasted Chili Lime Sweet Potato Fries or deliciously crispy Smashed Potatoes. So yummy!
- Serve with Salad: This simple Farmhouse Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette is a fresh and healthy side dish that compliments black & bleu steak beautifully.
- Make some Veggies: I love a steak with Oven Roasted Asparagus or Air Fryer Onion Rings. If you have extra blue cheese, carry the flavors through with Blue Cheese Roasted Vegetables.
- Pair with a Cocktail: Forget the glass of wine and treat yourself to an Apple Cider Moscow Mule instead! It’s a super cozy drink that goes great with a hearty entree like this one.
Black and Blue NY Strip Steaks
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
- 4-6 steaks, New York Strip, Ribeye, Filet Mignon, or a combination
- 1 Tablespoon paprika
- ½ Tablespoon cayenne pepper
- ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 oz.)
Instructions
- Take your steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to bring to room temperature.
- Heat your grill on high, about 450°F degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, dried oregano, and dried basil. Mix well with a fork.
- Sprinkle generous amounts of the blackened seasoning mix on all sides of the steaks, and lightly press so that it sticks.
- Place the steaks on the grill and close the lid. Grill about 4-6 minutes per side, flipping once to cook to medium-rare to medium. Adjust cooking time if your steaks are very thick or to cook to your desired doneness.
- Remove the steaks from the grill and immediately sprinkle each with crumbled blue cheese (alternatively, you can sprinkle the blue cheese on the steaks during the last few minutes of cooking if you would like it to melt more). Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
- Serve right away, or slice against the grain before serving.
That is NOT a “black and blue” steak. That is a term reserved for cooking it Pittsburgh Rare, with a charred exterior and raw to rare interior.
There can be similar/same names for different things. This is just another version, and I could be more specific and call it a Blackened Steak with Blue Cheese, but this is just shorthand for that.
I LOVE you for sharing! And…I LOVE that it turned out so good! I always get nervous when others try my recipes for obvious reasons…1. it might not have been as good as i thought, 2. they screw it up 😉 3.Ummm.. I don’t have a 3rd. lol. But So glad it worked out!!!! Yay! I’m going to feature you on my Tried & True Page! and I’ll share this on Fb! xo
I am so happy I tried it. Thanks for such a great recipe!!