6 Steak Dinner Ideas to Please a Crowd

Follow these tips to create the best steak dinner menu possible.

1. 1. Buy enough steaks for everyone. Generally speaking, you’ll want about eight ounces of meat for each person at your dinner table, and some guests may even want seconds. Buying meat in bulk will save you money, so look for steak deals at the grocery store leading up to the dinner party. Ideally, you’ll have some leftover meat to make steak sandwiches, steak fajitas, or tacos the next day.
2. 2. Consider serving multiple side dishes. Steaks are expensive, so ensure that you have enough budget-friendly side dishes to fill your guests up. Look for in-season vegetables and fruits, and search local grocery stores for sales. Pull together a fruit salad or roast a sheet pan full of veggies (like bell peppers, asparagus, and zucchini) to round out your menu.
3. 3. Offer vegetarian options. Some of your dinner party guests may prefer not to consume meat or may not like steak. Incorporate vegetarian-friendly options into your menu like green bean casserole, salad, grilled corn, and more dishes that vegetarians and picky eaters can enjoy instead.
4. 4. Serve the steak buffet-style. A steak dinner pairs perfectly with an abundance of sides, but your guests may not want to fill their plate with everything on your dinner menu. Rather than serving your dishes family-style at the dinner table, arrange them buffet-style so that people can serve themselves as you entertain.
5. 5. Try different cooking methods. Grill, air-fry, bake, roast, sear, or broil your favorite cut of beef to your desired level of doneness. Grilling or air-frying sirloin steak creates a crispy exterior. Sear flank steak or skirt steak in a cast-iron pan to make a flavorful crust. To optimize your prep time, use a slow cooker to tenderize tough cuts of beef, like brisket or shank, while you work on side dishes.

Here are some dinner recipes that will bring the flavors of a classic steakhouse into your kitchen.

1. 1. Beef Wellington and roasted asparagus: A traditional Beef Wellington consists of a cut of beef tenderloin wrapped in layers of pâté, duxelles (a finely chopped mushroom mixture), parma ham, and puff pastry, then baked. For Beef Wellington success, season the beef before searing it on a cast-iron skillet. Allow it to rest for a few minutes in Dijon mustard, layer the beef with the other ingredients, and bake it in the oven. This entrée pairs well with many vegetable sides, including roasted asparagus. Roasting asparagus gives the vegetable its signature light brown coating, so it comes out crispy instead of mushy like baked asparagus. Serve the steak dinner with a peppery arugula salad to cut through the richness of the meaty entrée.
2. 2. Rib eye with chimichurri sauce: Juicy rib eyes pair well with this fresh-tasting sauce. Made with fresh herbs and varying degrees of oil and acid, chimichurri sauce perfectly slices through the richness of many different cuts of meat. Just spoon chimichurri sauce on top of a steak, or use it as a marinade.
3. 3. Skirt steak, roasted sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole: Whether you’re making a quick, steak-based weeknight dinner or a decadent holiday feast, green bean casserole and roasted sweet potatoes are great dishes to round out your menu. The buttery, subtly sweet potatoes and the savory, creamy casserole pair wonderfully with grilled skirt steak.
4. 4. Classic steak and mashed potatoes: A generous crock of creamy mashed potatoes is just about the most classic American side dish for a juicy steak dinner. Learn how to make perfect mashed potatoes. Elevate the dish by making pomme purée, an elegant spin on basic mashed potatoes. Prepare the pomme purée up to a few hours ahead of time, and store it in a warm place in a plastic-wrapped saucepot covered with a lid.
5. 5. Porterhouse steak and wedge salad: Due to its size and rich flavor, this large steak is a popular shareable steakhouse cut. A porterhouse is a composite steak, offering two cuts in one—a buttery, tender filet mignon and the slightly tough yet flavorful strip steak. Serve the juicy cut with a wedge salad to cut through the richness.
6. 6. Smoked flank steak and roasted zucchini: An easy cut to cook for a special occasion, flank steak suits an array of side dishes and sauces, including roasted zucchini. This starchy green vegetable makes a low-carb and nutritious accompaniment to smoked flank steak. To roast zucchini, halve, then season your veggies with the spices of your choice, and roast them in the oven on a sheet pan. For an extra-tender twist on this slightly chewy cut of beef, prepare smoked flank steak in a pellet smoker. Serve the steak with herb butter to make garlic butter steak, or drizzle a creamy peppercorn sauce over the top of it.

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