Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak (and Seasoning)

When the grill beckons you, a dry rub for your steak is the only way to go. This Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak recipe is great to have in your back pocket for all cookouts, BBQs, or just family meals.

Everyone loves a good steak rub recipe, but there is something about the Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning that hits the spot for me every time.

The savory and delicious Texas Roadhouse Steak rub is perfect for all of your favorite grilled meats. The secret ingredients include brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. These spices give the perfect flavor to your steak, chicken, or seafood. The seasoning is also great on roasted vegetables.

The great and convenient thing about dry rubs is not only how quick they are to put together, but how long they last. Dry rubs, unlike marinades, are shelf-stable. This means that any leftover steak seasoning will last months, as opposed to a week in your fridge.

This is why I typically make a big batch of this steak seasoning recipe. I put leftovers in an airtight spice container and store it with my other spices.

What You’ll Need

For Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning

A good steak seasoning should have a balanced flavor that enhances the natural flavor of the meat. It should be salty, peppery, and a little bit sweet. The spices should also have a bit of crunch to them so that they stick to the meat and create a beautiful crust. My secret ingredient is brown sugar which adds a delicious caramelized flavor.

Brown sugar. This ingredient introduces a hint of sweetness to the steak seasoning. When the steak is cooked, the sugar caramelizes on the surface, heightening the natural meaty flavors and creating a beautifully charred crust. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use white sugar or coconut sugar.

Kosher salt. Essential for deeply seasoning the meat, kosher salt works to both enhance the meat’s flavor and draw out its natural juices, ensuring a moist and flavorful steak.

Garlic salt. Adding a layer of savory depth to the blend, garlic salt infuses the steak with an aromatic garlic flavor that is a staple in many classic dishes.

Onion powder. This ingredient complements the garlic salt, adding another layer of savory aroma and taste, echoing the flavors that are often found in traditional steak preparations.

Garlic powder. Doubling down on the garlic flavor, garlic powder ensures that each bite of steak is imbued with that classic, hearty garlic taste.

Paprika. Paprika introduces a warm, smoky undertone to the seasoning mix, providing a nuanced complexity that goes beyond basic salt-and-pepper seasoning.

Chili powder. With chili powder in the mix, the steak seasoning gains a hint of heat, adding a slightly spicy kick that can elevate the steak’s overall flavor profile.

Tumeric. Beyond its health benefits, turmeric imparts a subtle earthiness to the seasoning blend, and its vibrant color enhances the steak’s overall visual appeal.

Cornstarch. This ingredient serves a dual purpose. It helps the seasoning adhere better to the steak and aids in developing a delightful, crisp crust on the steak’s surface during the cooking process.

Black pepper. A staple in steak seasoning, black pepper offers a punch of heat and pungency, effectively rounding out this robust and flavorful blend.

For Your Steak

Steak. Texas Roadhouse is renowned for its hand-cut steaks, with the restaurant chain priding itself on offering a variety of high-quality cuts to its patrons. The type of steak used can significantly influence the overall dining experience.

One of their signature offerings is the USDA Choice Sirloin. This cut of beef is lean, well-flavored, and moderately tender, making it a perfect canvas for the robust Texas Roadhouse steak seasoning. Its lower fat content compared to other cuts allows the seasoning to shine without being overshadowed by the richness of the meat.

Making Texas Roadhouse Steak Recipe

With high-quality steak and a few simple spices, this Copycat Texas Roadhouse Steak rub will hit the spot every time.

Prep time: 1 hr 5 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 1 hr 25 mins

Equipment

• Grill
• Steak tongs

Ingredients

For a perfect steak, go for a high-quality cut of steak such as ribeye, t-bones, filet mignon, or sirloin. The better your meat the more delicious your finished meal.

• 2 lbs Sirloin steak
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons black pepper

Note: Unless you’re cooking for a very large group, this will make more than enough. So throw the extra in an airtight spice jar and store it for later.

Instructions

1. Before you do anything, heat the grill or make the dry rub, take your steak out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes beforehand and let it come to room temperature. A really cold steak won’t cook evenly. (Note: It’s fine to rub your steak with the dry rub right out of the refrigerator, you just want to make sure you are putting a steak on the grill that just came out of the fridge.)
2. Now it’s time to make your dry rub. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, garlic powder, Kosher salt, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, chili powder, turmeric, cornstarch, and garlic salt. You can also mix it in a Ziplock bag and then store any leftovers in empty spice jars. 
3. Now rub your steak with the spice mix. Don’t be stingy! Rub it in really well and make sure to get both sides. 
4. Then let your steak rest for at least 30 minutes with the rub. You want to give it time to absorb all that deliciousness. The spices also help to start to tenderize the meat.
5. While your meat is resting with the spice rub, fire up your grill. Depending on the type of grill you use this step is obviously going to vary. But as a ballpark, heat your grill to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Once your grill is hot, cook your meat on each side. Reference cooking times below. Then, remove from the grill and let rest for at least 5 minutes on a cutting board.
7. Regardless of how you cook your meat, to make sure it’s juicy, you need to let it rest. If you don’t let the meat rest but cut right into it, all the juices will immediately flow out of your meat.

Rare vs. Well-done Steak

How do you like your steak cooked?

Ever been to a restaurant, maybe even the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant, and been asked how you want your steak cooked?

Most people are familiar with a few typical ways to order your steak: rare, medium, and well done. But did you know there are more options? It’s true. Just like there are many ways to order your coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, there are numerous ways to order your steak.

But this also means there numerous ways to grill your steak at home! Check out the options below and look at the pics. Then ask anyone else you’re cooking for how they want their steak cooked. Knowing what your options are and what they’re called is the first step in ensuring all dinner companions experience a delicious meal.

Blue rare

Outside: Seasoned and room temperature (should be completely seared to kill any E coli present)

Inside: Extremely red/pink, still raw

Cook time: 3 minutes on one side, then 2 minutes other side

Temperature: Around 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Rare

Outside: Seasoned and seared

Inside: The majority of the inside is still red/pink

Cook time: 5 minutes on one side, then 3 minutes other side

Temperature: 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit

Medium rare

Outside: Well-seared, firm, and brown

Inside: About 50 percent of the inside is softer and rare

Cook time: 5 minutes on one side, then 4 minutes other side

Temperature: 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit

Medium

Outside: A good sear

Inside: A little red, about 25% red

Cook time: 6 minutes on one side, then 4 minutes other side

Temperature: 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit

Medium well

Outside: Much firmer, well seared

Inside: Barely any red/pink

Cook time: 7 minutes on one side, then 5 minutes other side

Temperature: 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit

Well done

Outside: Very firm and completely seared (it can be difficult to cook a steak this way without burning the outside)

Inside: Completely cooked through with no pink/red visible

Cook time: 12 minutes on one side, then 10 minutes other side

Temperature: 160+ degrees Fahrenheit

NOTE: These cooking times are for steaks that are about 1 inch thick. If your meat is thicker or thinner you’ll need to estimate and adjust the time accordingly.

Texas Roadhouse Menu

Texas Roadhouse might be known for its delicious meat, and while those are definitely some of the best items on the menu, there are plenty of other great items to choose from too.

Some of the more delicious menu items include their fall-off-the-bone ribs, 6-ounce sirloin, and bacon-wrapped shrimp. All of these items are hearty and filling but still have a lot of flavor.

But if you’re looking for something a little lighter, the grilled chicken salad is a great option, or you can get a side of their famous cinnamon apples to really round out your meal. Below is a list of some of the most popular items they have on the menu:

Rattlesnake Bites: These are a popular appetizer and feature diced jalapeños and jack cheese, hand-breaded and lightly fried to perfection. They’re served with a Cajun Horseradish sauce for dipping.

Fried Pickles: Another crowd-pleasing appetizer, these are hand-breaded, golden-fried, and served with Ranch or Cajun Horseradish sauce for dipping.

Texas Roadhouse’s Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs: These are slow-cooked with a unique blend of seasonings and their signature BBQ sauce. As the name suggests, the meat is so tender it practically falls off the bone.

Chicken Critters: These are hand-breaded, all-white-meat chicken tenders that are golden-fried and served with a choice of honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or gravy for dipping.

Texas Roadhouse’s Loaded Sweet Potato: This is a unique side dish featuring a baked sweet potato topped with mini marshmallows and caramel sauce.

Country Fried Chicken: This dish features a boneless, hand-breaded chicken breast that’s fried to a golden brown and topped with their signature cream gravy.

Grilled BBQ Chicken: This features a boneless chicken breast marinated and grilled, then basted with their signature BBQ sauce.

Texas Roadhouse’s Burgers: The restaurant also offers a variety of burgers, like the Smokehouse Burger, which is topped with BBQ sauce, sautéed mushrooms, onions, and American cheese.

Fresh-Baked Bread: Complimentary with every meal, this bread is baked fresh daily and served with their signature cinnamon butter.

Cactus Blossom: This is a Texas-sized onion, golden-fried and served with a Cajun Horseradish sauce for dipping, another popular starter at Texas Roadhouse.

Are you looking for more copycat recipes from popular restaurants? We’ve got just that! Here’s our roundup of favorite copycat restaurants, from places like Texas Roadhouse to the Olive Garden.

Texas Roadhouse Steak FAQs

Does Texas Roadhouse sell its steak seasoning?

Texas Roadhouse does sell its signature steak seasoning. It’s often referred to as Texas Roadhouse Grill Seasoning or Texas Roadhouse Legendary Steak Seasoning, and it can often be purchased at the restaurant itself or online.

What does Texas Roadhouse do to make their steaks so tender?

Texas Roadhouse is known for its tender, flavorful steaks, and while they likely have trade secrets to achieve the exact flavor and tenderness of their steaks, there are some general methods that restaurants use to achieve this:

1. Quality of Meat: The tenderness of a steak starts with the quality of the meat itself. Texas Roadhouse emphasizes the use of high-quality, fresh meat.
2. Proper Cooking Techniques: How a steak is cooked can greatly impact its tenderness. Overcooking can lead to a tougher steak. The restaurant uses specific grilling techniques to ensure that the steak is cooked just right.
3. Resting: Letting a steak rest for a few minutes after it’s cooked allows the juices to redistribute throughout the steak, which can help to maintain its tenderness.
4. Seasoning: As you mentioned earlier, Texas Roadhouse has its own steak seasoning which contributes to the flavor of their steaks. The exact blend is proprietary, but it likely contains common steak seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

What is Texas Roadhouse steak made of?

The steaks at Texas Roadhouse are made from beef. They offer several different cuts of steak, including:

1. Sirloin: This is a lean, well-flavored steak that’s often recommended as a healthy choice. It comes from the back of the cow.
2. Ribeye: A very juicy and flavorful steak from the rib section of the cow. It’s known for its rich, buttery flavor.
3. New York Strip: Also known as a Kansas City strip, this steak comes from the most tender section of beef, the short loin, and it’s known for its flavor and tenderness.
4. Filet: The most tender cut of steak, it’s a boneless piece taken from the tenderloin part of the cow.
5. Bone-In Ribeye: This steak is similar to a regular ribeye but cooked with the bone in to enhance its flavor.
6. Porterhouse T-Bone: This steak is essentially two steaks in one – a New York strip and a filet. It’s known for its large size and variety of flavors and textures.

These steaks are seasoned with Texas Roadhouse’s proprietary blend of seasonings and cooked on a grill. Each cut has its own unique flavor profile and texture due to the different parts of the cow they’re taken from and the amount of fat and muscle present in each cut.

What to Serve with a Copycat Roadhouse Steak

Smoked Queso

Redneck Caviar

Knorr Spinach Dip

More Copycat Recipes 

Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese

Olive Garden Creamy Mushroom Sauce with Pasta

Outback Ranch Dressing

Texas Roadhouse Shrimp

If you liked this recipe, you’ll love our Sizzle Steak Recipe and our Chipotle Steak Recipe! Have questions or suggestions about this Texas Roadhouse steak recipe or its seasoning? Leave them in the comments below.