How to Cook Ribeye in the Oven

There’s no reason to stand over a stove or grill to cook ribeye at home. One of the best methods for doing so is oven-cooked ribeye, which gives the steak a little time to cook on its own in low heat. Before cooking it in the oven, take a few minutes to brown it on both sides, and you’ll have a tasty dinner ready to go in no time.

We’re going to take the guesswork out of learning how to cook ribeye in the oven. Just follow this guide to get all the details.

Preparing Ribeye for the Oven

Before putting your ribeye steak in the oven, take a few minutes to prepare your area, materials, and the steak.

First, remove the steak from the refrigerator. Transfer it to a clean plate or cutting board, and season it generously with salt on both sides. Then, set aside for 45 minutes at room temperature. This allows the salt to brine the steak, which will help it brown up later.

Meanwhile, lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Put one tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a cast-iron skillet and preheat the skillet over high heat.

About 10 minutes before you’re ready to cook the ribeye, move an oven rack to the middle, and preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

Oven-Cooked Ribeye Cooking Time

Oven-cooked ribeye’s cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the cut. Thinner ribeye steaks about one inch thick generally need about 20-30 minutes in the oven and another 3-5 minutes to sear each side. Standard ribeye steaks that are closer to 1 ½ inches thick or more might need 30-45 minutes in the oven and between 3-7 minutes to sear each side in a skillet.

Final Temperature

Not sure what temperature you need to cook ribeye to? Follow the chart below. The first temperature range denotes what temperature the steak should reach before removing it from the oven. After resting for 5-10 minutes, your ribeye should reach the final temperature range for your desired doneness level.

Doneness	Temperature to Remove from Oven	Final Temperature
Medium-rare	120-125℉	130-135℉
Medium	130-135℉	140-145℉
Medium-well	140-145℉	150-155℉
Well-done	150-155℉	160-165℉

Medium Rare Ribeye

Medium-rare is the go-to cook for ribeye steak. To reach this doneness level, sear on each side in a preheated skillet with butter, flipping only once. Then, cook the steak in the oven for 20-45 minutes, depending on its thickness, until it reaches 120-125℉. Transfer to a plate tented with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes. Your ribeye’s final temperature should reach between 130-135℉.

Oven Cooking Tips for Ribeye

Learn how to cook ribeye in the oven like a professional with these tips.

Season Generously

Don’t hold back when seasoning steak, especially ribeye. Salt is one a must-have seasoning. Not only does it add flavor, but when you use it before cooking, it pulls juices out of the steak to help it brown in the oven and when searing in your skillet. Don’t worry — your steak won’t lose juices during the process. This natural brining process forms an outer crust that keeps juices inside the steak while cooking. 

Feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices to your ribeye just before putting it in the oven, too. We love keeping it simple with ground black pepper, but steak seasoning can also be a welcome addition.

Brown It Up

Although you could cook ribeye entirely in the oven, we recommend searing it in a skillet before cooking it. Searing adds more flavor and lends well to the overall texture of ribeye. It also locks in the steak’s juices, ensuring that they won’t all escape in the oven.

Check the Temperature Accurately

Use a meat thermometer to check your steak’s temperature after removing it from the oven. Place the probe in the thickest part of the meat. For medium-rare ribeye, it should read between 120-125℉. Check the temperature again after resting, ensuring it reaches between 130-135℉ for medium-rare.

Slice Against the Grain

Ribeye has muscle fibers running through it. When you cut along those fibers, it’s called cutting along the grain. It’s best to slice against the grain when cutting ribeye, though, meaning to cut it against those long fibers. Doing so breaks up the fibers, resulting in a tender steak.

Choosing the Right Cut

Did you know that there are several kinds of ribeye steak to choose from? USDA Prime and Wagyu ribeye are usually priced the highest, but they also offer incomparable quality over USDA Choice and other lower-end cuts of ribeye. USDA Prime and Wagyu labels showcase only ribeye with the best marbling, which is a crucial influencer of the ribeye’s final taste.

Also, look for dry-aged or wet-aged ribeye. These aging processes break down enzymes that tenderize and bring natural flavors to the meat, resulting in an even tastier ribeye. 

Oven Cooking Ribeye Instructions

It’s time to cook! Follow these easy steps to learn how to cook ribeye in the oven.

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Ribeye

Pull steaks from the refrigerator. Salt generously on both sides. Then, leave them at room temperature for 45 minutes prior to cooking. Lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees with a rack placed in the middle.

Step 2: Sear the Ribeye

Add butter or olive oil to a cast-iron skillet. Sprinkle black pepper or your other favorite seasonings on both sides of the steak. Heat the skillet to high heat, allowing it to come to full temperature before adding the steak. Sear ribeye for 3-5 minutes, or until a golden-brown crust forms. Flip with tongs, and sear the other side for another 3-5 minutes. 

Step 3: Cook Ribeye in the Oven 

Transfer ribeye steaks to the baking sheet and move them into the oven on the middle rack. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Check the temperature of the thickest part of the steak with a digital thermometer. It should read within 120-125℉ for medium-rare (adjust accordingly for your desired doneness level). If necessary, cook for another 3-10 minutes until the steak reaches your ideal temperature.

Step 4: Let It Rest

Remove steaks from the oven and place them on a clean plate or cutting board. Tent aluminum foil over the plate to keep steaks hot and moist as they rest. Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Oven-Cooked Ribeye Recipe

Serves: 2

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cooking Time: 50-60 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12-16 ounce ribeye
• Salt 
• Pepper 
• 1 tbsp butter or olive oil

Instructions:

• Salt the steak on both sides. Keep steak at room temperature for 45 minutes prior to cooking. About 10 minutes before you’re ready to cook, preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat with butter or olive oil. Sprinkle steaks with pepper. Transfer steaks to the skillet and sear on each side for 3-5 minutes until a golden-brown crust forms, flipping just once.
• Transfer steak to baking sheet and place on the middle oven rack. Cook for 20-30 minutes, or until a digital thermometer reaches the temperature range for your desired doneness level using the chart above. Remove from oven.
• Rest on a foil-tented plate for 5-10 minutes. Check that the temperature of the thickest part of the steak reaches the range of your desired doneness level (130-135℉ for medium-rare). 

Other Ways to Cook Ribeye

Cooking ribeye steak in the oven is an excellent method to use when you don’t feel like firing up the grill. Here are some other top ways to cook ribeye:

• Grilled ribeye steak
• Sous vide ribeye steak
• Reverse seared ribeye steak
• Pan-seared ribeye steak
• Slow-cooked ribeye steak

Your Guide to Cooking Ribeye in the Oven

Ready to start cooking ribeye steaks in the oven? Browse Chicago Steak Company’s ribeye selection, including USDA Prime ribeye, Premium Angus ribeye, and dry or wet-aged ribeye, all ready to ship to your home. Your order arrives individually wrapped and flash frozen to preserve all the goodness and quality of each steak.