How to Grill T Bone Steak: T-Bone Steak Suya Recipe

There’s something soulful about a T-bone steak seasoned just right and grilled to perfection. It’s like the slow groove of a timeless song—rich, bold, and memorable. Imagine that thick-cut T-bone, kissed by flames and infused with the deep, nutty heat of suya spice, filling the air with smoky aromas that wrap around you like a bassline.

A great bone steak recipe can be simple yet flavorful, enhanced with herb lemon butter or garlic herb butter, making it perfect for both novice and experienced grillers.

With just the right seasoning, a few expert moves, and a bit of patience, you can create a steak that sings with flavor, juicy in every bite. This isn’t just grilling; it’s an experience—a way to savor life one sizzling, unforgettable bite at a time.

Related Steak Recipe Posts:

• Grilled Brazilian Style Picahna Steak
• Grilled Flank Steak
• Grilled Coffee Rubbed Hanger Steak

Grilling T-bone steaks isn’t hard, but it does require a bit of attention to detail to get it just right. The T-bone has two cuts in one— the tenderloin (or filet) and the strip— which cook at slightly different rates because of their different textures.

Hence the need to have a strategy and to be careful. You’ll basically need to create two heating zones as part of the cooking process.

What is a T-Bone Steak?

A T-Bone steak is a prized cut of beef that comes from the loin section of the cow. This bone steak is easily identifiable by the T-shaped bone that runs through its center, dividing two distinct cuts of meat. On one side of the T-shaped bone, you’ll find the strip loin, known for its robust flavor and firm texture.

Let's Talk About That Shape

A T-bone steak is easily recognizable by its distinctive shape—a “T”-shaped bone running down the middle, which gives the cut its name. This bone divides the steak into two sections: on one side is the tenderloin (or filet), which is smaller, leaner, and incredibly tender, while on the other side is the larger strip steak portion (often called the New York strip), known for its rich flavor and firmer texture.

The T-bone itself looks like an elongated, flat “T,” creating a structure that showcases both cuts in one impressive piece of meat. For the perfect T-bone steak recipe, proper seasoning and cooking techniques are essential to enhance its natural flavors.

Choosing the Right T-Bone

Selecting the perfect T-Bone steak involves a few key considerations to ensure you get the best quality meat. First, look for a steak with ample marbling—those fine streaks of fat interspersed throughout the meat. Marbling is crucial as it melts during cooking, infusing the steak with flavor and keeping it juicy.

Next, consider the thickness of the steak; a thickness of 1.5 to 2 inches is ideal for grilling, as it allows for a nice sear on the outside while keeping the inside tender and flavorful. Finally, pay attention to the color and texture of the meat. A bright, cherry-red color and firm texture are indicators of freshness and quality.

What Is Suya Spice Seasoning

Suya seasoning is a bold, spicy West African spice blend that’s traditionally used to flavor grilled meats, particularly in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. It’s made with a base of ground peanuts combined with spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, ginger, garlic, and sometimes nutmeg or cloves.

This unique mix creates a flavor profile that’s smoky, nutty, slightly sweet, and warmly spicy. Suya seasoning is essential for making suya, a popular street food where skewered meats are seasoned and grilled to perfection. The seasoning adds a rich depth of flavor and a touch of heat, making it perfect for elevating grilled meats, vegetables, or even roasted dishes.

Beef suya skewers is the most traditional recipe, but I like to use suya spice to season all types of dishes included grilled duck breast and seafood dishes. Suya is definitely not a traditional seasoning for steak of any kind, but it's actually a perfect pairing I encourage you to give a shot. You don't need it for grilling t-bones but it will definitely make things interesting!

Beats and Eats (music to pair with steak)

K-Ci and JoJo’s song "Life" pairs beautifully with a grilled T-bone steak seasoned with suya spice. The soulful depth of the song, with its blend of strength, warmth, and honesty, resonates with the bold, spicy flavors of suya seasoning—an earthy, nutty blend that adds a kick to the rich, juicy T-bone.

Just like the song's steady rhythm and heartfelt lyrics, the suya-spiced steak delivers layers of taste that unfold with each bite, creating a memorable experience that’s both grounding and uplifting.

Ingredients Needed For This Grilled Steak Recipe

• T-bone Steak
• Kosher Salt
• Suya Spice

How To Grill T-Bone Steaks

To get that tender juicy center with a nice exterior crust is gonna require some meal prep. It's not complicated nor onerous but you will want to build in some time.

Prepare the Steak

Salt the steak generously with kosher salt or sea salt. Set aside for an hour. The steak will be fairly moist after salting. You'll want to pat the steak dry with a paper towel.

Season the steak with the suya spice if using.

Grill T-bone Steak

I used a gas grill. Pre-heat your grill by turning all burners to high with lid down.

When ready to cook, leave the main burners on high and the others on low to create two zones.

Once steaks are at room temperature grill steaks on main hot burner to start. Keep the tenderloin side facing cooler side.

Close lid and cook 4-6 minutes depending on thickness of the steaks. Flip keeping tenderloin side nearest to cool side. Grill another 4-6 minutes.

Move entire steaks to the cooler side. Cook another 2 minutes. Remove and allow steaks to rest for 10 minutes or so. Garnish with a sprinkling of more suya and green onions or parsley leaves.

What To Serve With Steak

I like to keep things simple in terms of sides served with my steaks. For me it's sauteed mushrooms and sauteed spinach easy on the butter for both. Broccolini is another fav. A good wedge salad is as complex as I'll get. Either way I prefer my sides simple and lightly seasoned to allow the steak to shine! Other considerations include:

• Grilled or Roasted Vegetables: Asparagus, bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms add a smoky, savory flavor that complements the steak.
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Classic mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes provide a creamy, comforting balance to the rich meat.
• Caesar Salad: Crisp romaine with Caesar dressing, croutons, and Parmesan adds freshness and a tangy bite.
• Corn on the Cob: Grilled or boiled corn with butter adds sweetness and a bit of crunch to the plate.
• Baked Sweet Potatoes: The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes pairs well with the savory flavors of grilled steak.
• Garlic Bread or Dinner Rolls: Warm, buttery bread or rolls are great for sopping up any juices or pan sauce from the steak.

Considerations To Achieve A Perfectly Grilled Steak

• If using the suya spice, note there is brown sugar in the mixture. Sugar can burn over high heat, so you'll need to monitor flare ups. A little won't hurt and will actually help with crust formation but too much and you got burnt steak.
• I prefer a medium rare steak so feel free to use a meat thermometer to get the desired internal temperature (130 - 135 degrees F) dialed up.
• Look for a thick T-bone steak (1.5 to 2 inches) for the best results. Thicker steaks hold up better on the grill and give you more control over doneness.
• Let the steak sit out for about 20-30 minutes before grilling. This helps it cook more evenly and prevents it from being too cold in the center, which can cause uneven cooking.
• Preheat the grill to high heat (450°F - 500°F) for searing the steak. You want the grill to be hot enough to create a nice crust while keeping the inside juicy.
• Place the steak on the grill over direct heat. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side to create a crispy, browned crust. Avoid pressing down on the steak to keep the juices inside.
• After searing, move the steak to indirect heat (slightly cooler side of the grill) to finish cooking without burning the outside. This is especially helpful for thicker cuts.
• Once the steak reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the grill and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. Resting helps the juices redistribute throughout the meat, keeping it tender and flavorful.
• Add olive oil to the spice mix to help spice rub stick to the steak.

Porterhouse Steaks vs. T-Bones

The porterhouse and T-bone steaks are very similar, but they differ in the size of the cuts and the amount of tenderloin they contain:

T-bone:

• The T-bone steak is cut from the short loin section of the cow, and it features a "T"-shaped bone that divides two different cuts of meat: the tenderloin on one side and the strip steak on the other.
• The tenderloin portion is smaller in a T-bone steak, making it a good choice if you prefer a smaller portion of filet.

Porterhouse:

• A porterhouse steak is essentially a larger version of the T-bone. The key difference is that the tenderloin side of a porterhouse is bigger, typically offering a more substantial portion of the tenderloin (filet mignon).
• Porterhouse steaks are cut from the rear part of the short loin, which is closer to the sirloin, so the tenderloin is larger than in the T-bone.

Alternative Seasoning For Grilled T Bone Steaks

The best seasoning for steaks enhances the natural flavors of the meat without overwhelming it. Here are some top choices. This is why simple salt and pepper is preferred by steakhouses and steak lovers. However, occasionally folk can get creative and take some liberties like I'm doing with this suya.

Montreal Steak Seasoning: A pre-made blend that typically includes salt, pepper, garlic, coriander, and dill seeds. It’s a flavorful option for a well-rounded steak seasoning.

Cajun or Creole Seasoning: These blends bring bold, spicy flavors with garlic, paprika, cayenne, and herbs, creating a flavorful crust if you're blackening steak.

Coffee Rub: Coffee grounds add a deep, rich flavor with slight bitterness that enhances the steak’s char when grilled.

Make This Recipe

Cooking steaks shouldn’t be complicated or a crap shoot. If you make this t bone steak recipe, which features a simple grilled preparation topped with garlic herb butter for enhanced flavor, or any other recipe, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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