MVP Steak with Caramelized Onions (Printable)

Tender steak slices with sweet caramelized onions and melted cheese on a toasted baguette.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Steak

01 - 1 lb ribeye or sirloin steak, trimmed
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ For the Caramelized Onions

05 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - 1 tsp sugar
10 - 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

→ For Assembly

11 - 4 crusty baguette rolls or hoagie rolls, split
12 - 8 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
13 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)
14 - 1 cup arugula or baby spinach (optional)

# How-to Steps:

01 - Pat steak dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until smoking. Sear steak for 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness, adjusting time as needed for preferred doneness. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Slice thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness.
02 - Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt, stirring to coat evenly. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions become very soft and turn deep golden brown, approximately 20–25 minutes. Sprinkle sugar evenly over onions during the last 10 minutes to promote deeper caramelization. Deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove from heat.
03 - Preheat broiler or oven to 400°F. Arrange split rolls cut-side up on a baking sheet and toast for 2–3 minutes until lightly golden. Spread mayonnaise on the bottom half of each roll if desired. Layer sliced steak evenly across the four rolls, followed by caramelized onions and 2 slices of cheese per sandwich. Return to oven and broil for 2–3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with arugula or spinach if using, close sandwiches, and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The caramelized onions become impossibly sweet and savory, creating that perfect deli-style flavor you usually have to go out for.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour but tastes like you spent all day on it.
02 -
  • Slice the onions as thinly as possible so they cook evenly and melt into the sandwich.
  • Let the steak rest before slicing, or all those delicious juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in your sandwich.
03 -
  • A cast iron skillet will give you the best sear on your steak, but any heavy-bottomed pan works great.
  • Use serrated knives to slice the baguette without crushing it.

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