Grilled Sirloin Steak

Memorial Day weekend at Steve and Patty's. Steve grilled, which he does three times a year with the focus of someone who has been planning this specific grill session since March. Hot dogs, burgers, corn on the cob. Patty made her potato salad, which involves a mustard dressing and enough paprika that the bowl turns pink, and which I have tried to replicate twice and failed twice and will try again at some point because that recipe belongs in my hands eventually.

Ryan had the long weekend and I watched him with Owen and Nora in the backyard in a way that I do sometimes when he does not know I am watching, just to have it, just to store it. He had Owen on his chest in the carrier and he was talking to my dad about something to do with the truck, and Owen was asleep, and Steve was pointing at the grill, and it was the most ordinary thing, and it was the most.

The twins were outside in the carrier for the first time in direct sun. Nora squinted at the light with the expression of someone who has strong opinions about brightness. Owen slept. This is their dynamic developing in real time and it is consistent and I love it. Ryan says Owen has my temperament and I say I hope he is right because Ryan's temperament as a baby, according to Patty, was challenging, and she said this to his face, and he laughed.

I ate a hot dog and half a burger and two servings of potato salad and I did not count anything and I did not think about anything except the sun and the people I was sitting with. My mom. My dad. My husband. My brother-in-law who drove up from Springfield with a six-pack and a box of cookies. My two babies who are somehow already three months old. A holiday weekend in a backyard. This is what I was working toward in the NICU, all those weeks ago. This specific thing.

Steve’s grill was the centerpiece of the whole afternoon — the thing everyone orbited around while the dogs and burgers went on — and it reminded me that a good piece of beef over a hot grate doesn’t need much ceremony. I’ve been thinking about grilling more this summer, now that there will be more afternoons like that one, and a sirloin steak feels exactly right: something you can pull off with confidence, something that makes the day feel like a little bit of an occasion without turning it into a project. This is the recipe I’ll be reaching for the next time we fire up our own grill — for Ryan, for the twins when they’re old enough to care, for whoever shows up with a six-pack and stays for dinner.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 sirloin steaks (about 8 oz each, 1-inch thick)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon butter (for resting)
Fresh rosemary or thyme, optional for garnish

Instructions

Bring steaks to room temperature. Remove steaks from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels — this is key for a good sear.
Season generously. Brush both sides of each steak with olive oil. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each steak.
Preheat the grill. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to high (450—500°F). Clean and oil the grates just before placing the steaks.
Grill the steaks. Place steaks on the hot grill. For medium-rare, cook 4—5 minutes per side, rotating 45 degrees halfway through each side for crosshatch grill marks. Adjust time for desired doneness: 3—4 minutes per side for medium-rare (130°F internal), 5—6 minutes for medium (140°F).
Rest before serving. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and place a small pat of butter on top of each. Tent loosely with foil and rest for 5 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute so nothing runs out when you cut in.
Serve. Slice against the grain or serve whole, garnished with fresh herbs if you like. Goes perfectly next to potato salad and anything else on the grill.

Nutrition (per serving)

Grilled Sirloin Steak — For the Backyard Days You Want to Keep Forever