Steak Diane With Mushroom Sauce

This Steak Diane for two recipe is an easy classic steakhouse meal made with seared beef steaks and topped with creamy Diane mushroom sauce.

My recipe for Steak Diane Recipe was first published on Sunday Supper Movement where I am a contributor.

My latest foray into the world of beef has been Steak Diane. If you like steak you are going to LOVE this recipe! It's an old-school steakhouse dinner that features a pan-seared New York Strip that's topped with a decadent creamy mushroom sauce.

Admittedly, I never used to be much into steaks. I would, on average, consume steak once a year. I was more of a steak-liker than a steak-lover.

That has all changed these days. I'm not sure if it's a hormone shift, an iron deficiency, or just the aging process but I find myself craving ALL. THE. STEAKS.

I regularly feel like Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec - 'I'd like a steak with a side of steak'. Ribeye, New York Strip, Chuck Steak - I crave them all.

This makes the perfect meal for two. It's great for a special occasion, a weekend meal, or if you just find yourself craving steak. I think like this one would do Ron Swanson proud.

Jump to:

• What Is Steak Diane?
• Which Cut Of Meat Is Best For Steak Diane?
• Steak Diane Ingredients
• How To Cook Steak Diane
• How To Make Diane Sauce
• Finish The Steak In The Skillet
• What To Serve With Steak Diane
• Steak Diane With Mushroom Sauce

What Is Steak Diane?

Steak Diane is a timeless classic steak dinner recipe. It's an American dish that became popular in New York City during the 1950's. Cognac or brandy is added to the sauce and flambeed, giving it a bit of dramatic flair.

The name 'Diane' refers to the Roman goddess of the hunt and it is thought that the dish was originally made with venison or some variety of game meat.

Which Cut Of Meat Is Best For Steak Diane?

These days Steak Diane is most often made with flat iron steaks, strip steaks, or beef tenderloin steaks.

The best steaks to pan fry are beef cuts that are already tender. You do not want any steak that requires marinating. These steaks cook quickly, so the best cuts of beef are ones that will remain tender when you pan fry them.

I went with New York Strip steaks for this recipe.

Love beef? Be sure to check out these recipes!

• Hearty Beef Stew
• Slow Cooker Barbacoa
• Braised Short Ribs
• Short Rib Risotto
• Red Wine Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Pot Roast

Steak Diane Ingredients

Even though this meal feels like something you could order at a fancy steakhouse the ingredients are easy to fin and can be purchased at your local grocery store!

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 2 8 oz. New York strip, flat iron, or beef tenderloin steaks*
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil or avocado oil
• ½ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper (split)
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 8 oz. cremini (Baby Bella) or white button mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic
• ⅓ cup white onion or 2 shallots
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup brandy or Cognac (or red wine if that's what you've got on hand)
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

*You want your cuts of steak to be 1 inch thick or less. This will ensure they are easy to cook and do not take a long time to pan fry. I recommend that you do not buy steaks thicker than 1 inch for this recipe.

How To Cook Steak Diane

I normally prefer to grill steaks but a cast iron skillet is a GREAT tool to achieve perfectly seared juicy steaks right on the stove top. A cast iron skillet distributes heat evenly and is great for cooking at high temperatures.

1. Sprinkle ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper on both sides of the steak. Allow steak to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Heat a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Once the pan heats up, add 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil or avocado oil.
3. Place both of the steaks in the skillet (they should sizzle as they hit the pan). Fry for 4-8 minutes on the first side. Once the steak forms a brown crust, flip it over and fry for another 4-8 minutes on the other side. Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your steak!
4. Once both sides are cooked to your likeness (remember that the safe internal temperature for steak is 145 degrees – This can be checked using a meat thermometer), remove the steaks from the skillet and place on a plate. Cover with foil and allow to rest.

If your cuts of beef are too thick, you can place a piece of plastic wrap over them and pound them with a meat mallet until they reach the right thickness. If they are much thicker than 1 inch it will take much longer to cook them!

How To Make Diane Sauce

Steak is great as-is but this Diane sauce totally takes it over the edge. It's creamy, savory, and full of one of my all-time favorite foods - Mushrooms!

I love this sauce for the flavor, of course, but also that it's cooked in the same pan as the steaks which makes for minimal cleanup.

This sauce can be prepared while the steaks are resting under the foil.

1. Wipe clean an 8 oz. package of cremini or white button mushrooms. Cut them into slices.
2. Mince 2 cloves of garlic and ½ a small onion or 2 shallots.
3. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1 Tbsp. of butter to the skillet. Once it melts add the mushrooms along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
4. Add the garlic and onions/shallots to the mushrooms and saute for another 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
5. Remove pan from the heat, add ¼ cup brandy or Cognac, stir, and return the pan to the heat (be careful as this can create a flame). Saute for 1-2 minutes and allow the alcohol to cook down.
6. Add 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, and ½ cup of beef broth to the skillet. Stir to incorporate.
7. Add ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream to the skillet. Saute on medium heat for 5 minutes or so until the sauce thickens a bit.

Finish The Steak In The Skillet

A few final steps and you're good to go.

1. Once the sauce has thickened, return the steaks to the pan along with any juices and saute for another 2 minutes.
2. Remove the steaks, cut into slices, and serve them topped with a generous portion of the mushroom cream sauce.

That's all there is to it! I always found cooking steak at home (especially pan-seared steak) intimidating but was pleasantly surprised at how easy the process is and how happy I am with the results.

Love mushrooms? Check out these recipes!

• Mushroom Gruyere Tartlets
• Chicken Marsala Pasta
• Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Mushroom Arugula Pizza
• Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
• Garlicky Mushroom Risotto

What To Serve With Steak Diane

If you want more than a side of steak with your steak I recommend serving this dish with potatoes - Baked, roasted, Au Gratin, mashed potatoes, or mashed kohlrabi would be great.

Roasted vegetables like green beans, Brussels sprouts, or broccoli are all good choices. Or, pair it with some air fryer parsnips for a great side dish.

A fresh side like crunchy pea salad, marinated tomato salad, or pickled beet salad would be perfect.

I always enjoy a little color with dishes like this so feel free to top it with some chopped herbs like chives or parsley.

I love classic recipes like this that never really go out of style. They're just as enjoyable today as the day they came into existence.

If you like steaks I think you'll love this Grilled Chuck Steak and Steak with Shallot Sauce!

Looking For More Delicious Steak Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Baked Stuffed Flank Steak

One Pan Steak and Mushroom Sauce

Carne Asada Recipe

Traeger Ribeye