Garlic Butter Brazilian Steak

4.55 from 66 votes
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This garlic butter Brazilian steak is juicy, tender, and packed with flavor—ready in just 15 minutes. The golden garlic butter sauce brings everything together for a fast and easy steak dinner that tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.

Garlic butter Brazilian steak, garnished with parsley and served with a side of garlic butter sauce.
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Brazilian Steak

If there are two things I love about Brazilian food, they’re juicy Brazilian steak and cheesy Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo). There’s just something irresistible about Brazilian steak—it’s meaty, tender, juicy, perfectly seared, and bursting with flavor in every bite. This golden garlic butter Brazilian steak recipe is incredibly easy to make, but it delivers that same mouthwatering, steakhouse-quality taste you’d expect from Fogo de Chão. You only need five simple ingredients: garlic, butter, parsley, salt, and black pepper—things you probably already have in your kitchen.

The best part? It takes just 15 minutes from start to finish. Quick, simple, and so satisfying. Even with a short ingredient list, the flavor is deep and rich. One bite and I was hooked—it honestly tasted just like the steak I’ve had at some of the most popular Brazilian restaurants. Be sure to check out my video guide and tips below to make the perfect steak every time!


What Cut Of Meat For Brazilian Steak

Brazilian steak with garlic butter sauce, served on a plate.

You can use different cuts of beef for this recipe, like skirt steak, flank steak, or flap meat. These cuts are super tender and packed with flavor, making them perfect for grilling or searing. Skirt steak and flank steak are favorites for their texture, but flap meat gives you that same tenderness at a more budget-friendly price. No matter which cut you choose, they all soak up the garlic butter sauce beautifully, giving you a juicy, flavorful steak every time.

Flap Meat

Flap meat on a cutting board.
Image source: Serious Eats

This recipe is one of the best flap meat recipes you’ll find. Flap meat, also known as flap steak, is a fantastic choice for this dish. Cut from the bottom of the sirloin steak, it offers a deliciously beefy flavor and is known for its tenderness. You’ll love the price — it’s more affordable than cuts like skirt or flank steak, and you definitely get great bang for your buck with a similar texture and taste.

Flap meat also absorbs marinades beautifully, and when paired with garlic butter, it becomes a juicy, flavorful steak. Whether you call it flap steak or flap meat, it’s a great option for a tender, satisfying meal at home.


Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients for garlic butter Brazilian steak.
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Flat meat – You can also use skirt steak or flank steak. If you can’t find those, flat iron steak or sirloin steak work too, though you might need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness.
  • Ground black pepper
  • Canola oil – You can also use vegetable oil as a substitute.
  • Unsalted butter
  • Flat-leaf parsley

Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full details on each ingredient.


How To Make Garlic Butter Brazilian Steak

Mince the garlic.

Peel the garlic cloves and give them a good smash with the side of your knife. Sprinkle a little salt on it, then just mince it up—doesn’t have to be perfect!

Seasoned skirt steak on a skillet.

Pat the steak dry with a paper towel and season it generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat up some oil in a big skillet over medium-high heat until it’s nice and hot. Throw the steak in and let it sear for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side for that perfect medium-rare. Once it’s browned, take it off the skillet and set it aside to rest while you whip up that garlic butter.

Garlic in melted butter in a skillet.

In a smaller skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Toss in the garlic and keep swirling the pan every so often until the garlic gets a light golden color, which should take about 4 minutes. Add a pinch of salt to taste.

Juicy skirt steak topped with garlic butter and garnished with parsley.

If you want, slice the steak up and divide it onto four plates. Drizzle that yummy garlic butter over the top, sprinkle with some fresh parsley, and serve it up!


Secrets To The Best Brazilian Steak

  • For the juiciest, most flavorful steak, go with cuts like skirt steak, flank steak, or flap meat. My favorite is flat meat as it’s so tender and affordable. These cuts are super tender and soak up that garlic butter sauce like a dream. If you can’t find those, flat iron steak or sirloin will work too.
  • Before seasoning, make sure to pat your steak dry with paper towels. It’s key for getting that perfect sear and avoids steaming the steak in the pan. A dry steak means you’ll get that beautiful, brown crust that makes it so delicious.
  • After searing, let the steak rest for a few minutes to let the juices redistribute. It makes the steak more tender and flavorful—don’t skip this step!
  • When making the garlic butter, keep the heat low and let the garlic turn golden, not brown. If it cooks too fast, it can get bitter and mess up the flavor. Just keep swirling the pan to cook it evenly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepare the garlic butter in advance?

Yes. You can make the garlic butter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat it gently before serving.

Can I cook this on a grill instead of a skillet?

Yes. Grill over high heat (about 450°F/230°C) for 2-3 minutes per side for that perfect medium-rare. Then, finish it off with the garlic butter!

How do I know when the steak is medium-rare?

For medium-rare, shoot for an internal temperature of 130-135°F (54-57°C). A meat thermometer is your best friend here! The steak should feel a little firm but still tender and slightly pink in the center.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat, just reheat it gently in a skillet with a little splash of oil or butter to keep it nice and moist.

How many calories per serving?

This recipe is only 431 calories per serving.

Juicy, tender slices of Brazilian steak, just like at Fogo de Chão.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Serve this juicy steak with delicious side dishes like Crispy Roasted Potatoes, Skillet Dinner Rolls, and Brown Butter Garlic Honey Roasted Carrots for a complete meal. They also pair well with the following recipes for a truly Brazilian meal:

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram for new updates.


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4.55 from 66 votes

Garlic Butter Brazilian Steak

This garlic butter Brazilian steak is juicy, tender, and packed with flavor—ready in just 15 minutes. The golden garlic butter sauce brings everything together for a fast and easy steak dinner that tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients 
 

  • 6 medium cloves garlic
  • kosher salt
  • 1.5 lb skirt steak, trimmed and cut into 4 pieces
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil , or vegetable oil
  • 2 oz unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions 

  • Peel the garlic cloves and smash them with the side of a chef’s knife. Sprinkle the garlic lightly with salt and mince it.
  • Pat the steak dry and season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. In a heavy-duty 12-inch (30 cm) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the steak and brown well on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium rare. Transfer the steak to a plate and let it rest while you prepare the garlic butter.
  • In an 8-inch (20 cm) skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Add the garlic and cook, swirling the pan frequently, until lightly golden, about 4 minutes. Lightly salt to taste.
  • Slice the steak, if you like, and transfer it to 4 plates. Spoon the garlic butter over the steak, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Video

Notes

  • For the juiciest, most flavorful steak, go with cuts like skirt steak, flank steak, or flap meat. These cuts are super tender and soak up that garlic butter marinade like a dream. If you can’t find those, flat iron steak or sirloin will work too.
  • Before seasoning, make sure to pat your steak dry with paper towels. It’s key for getting that perfect sear and avoids steaming the steak in the pan. A dry steak means you’ll get that beautiful, crispy crust that makes it so delicious.
  • After searing, let the steak rest for a few minutes to let the juices redistribute. It makes the steak more tender and flavorful—don’t skip this step!
  • When making the garlic butter, keep the heat low and let the garlic turn golden, not brown. If it cooks too fast, it can get bitter and mess up the flavor. Just keep swirling the pan to cook it evenly.

Nutrition

Serving: 4people, Calories: 431kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 115mg, Potassium: 524mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin A: 452IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Rasa Malaysia

Bee is a recipe developer and best-selling cookbook author, sharing easy, quick, and delicious Asian and American recipes since 2006. With a strong following of almost 2 million fans online, her expertise has been featured in major publications, TV and radio programs, and live cooking demos throughout the United States and Asia.

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64 Comments

  1. Cindy Carlson says:

    I don’t know where you live,but here in SWFL, OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK is as much as beef tenderloin!!!!! What else can I use????

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      You can use any tender part of the beef, for example: beef flap meat. Ask your butcher.

    2. Jenn says:

      I just use flap meat and it turns out amazing!

  2. Amanda says:

    How long for medium well? Thanks!

    1. Rasa Malaysia says:

      Depends on how thick is your steak.