🥩 The Ultimate Steakhouse Dinner at Home: Reverse Sear Steak with Watkins-Spiced Sides & Decadent Dessert

If you’ve ever wanted to recreate the magic of a fancy steakhouse meal in your own kitchen—complete with creamy mashed potatoes, lush creamed spinach, and a dreamy chocolate dessert—you’re in the right place.

Today, we’re diving into the luxurious world of the reverse sear steak, a method that’s taken food lovers by storm for its perfect edge-to-edge doneness and mouthwatering crust. But we’re not stopping there. We’re pairing it with Watkins-seasoned sides so indulgent they might steal the show—and finishing off with an elegant chocolate pots de crème that’s ridiculously easy and insanely good.

Let’s make it a meal to remember.

🥩 What is Reverse Searing—and Where Did It Come From?

The reverse sear method flips traditional steak cooking on its head. Instead of searing first and then finishing in the oven, you do the opposite: slow-cook the steak in a low oven until it’s nearly at your perfect temp, then sear it in a hot pan to lock in a crispy, caramelized crust.

This technique became popular with modern home chefs thanks to its restaurant-level results. It minimizes the risk of overcooking and guarantees that juicy pink center from edge to edge. Championed initially by meat science nerds (we love them), it’s now a must-know trick in every serious foodie’s arsenal.

🛒 The Flavor Power: Why Watkins Seasonings Elevate Everything

For this feast, we’re using a trio of Watkins stars:

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt: A gourmet salt with bold minerality and perfect crystal crunch.

• Watkins Pure Ground Pepper: Robust, aromatic pepper with real bite.

• Watkins Organic Thyme Leaves: Fragrant, earthy thyme that brings everything from steak to sides alive.

These ingredients aren’t just seasoning—they’re the secret to restaurant-worthy flavor at home.

🔪 Your Steakhouse-Style Menu Lineup

Here’s what we’re cooking:

1. Reverse Sear New York Strip Steak

2. Truffle Butter Mashed Potatoes (with Watkins sea salt & pepper)

3. Creamed Spinach with Gruyère and Watkins Thyme

4. Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots with Watkins Herbs

5. Dark Chocolate Pots de Crème with sea salt

Ready? Let’s cook.

🥩 Reverse Sear New York Strip Steak

Ingredients:

• 1–1.5-inch thick New York strip steak

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt

• Watkins Pure Ground Pepper

• Watkins Organic Thyme Leaves

• Butter oil (or high-smoke-point oil)

• Optional: fresh rosemary, garlic, butter for basting

Instructions:

1. Season steak generously with Watkins sea salt and pepper. Sprinkle lightly with Watkins thyme. Let it sit uncovered in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight for the best flavor.

2. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Place the steak on a wire rack over a baking sheet.

3. Roast until internal temp reaches 120–125°F (rare/med-rare). This takes about 30–45 minutes.

4. Sear steak in a ripping-hot cast-iron skillet with butter oil. Sear 1 min per side, basting with butter, rosemary, and garlic.

5. Rest 5–10 minutes. Slice against the grain. Serve with pan juices.

Pro tip: Use a meat thermometer for precision. This method is all about nailing the temp.

🥔 Truffle Butter Mashed Potatoes with Mediterranean Sea Salt

🥔 Truffle Butter Mashed Potatoes with Mediterranean Sea Salt

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes

• ½ cup butter

• ½ cup heavy cream (warmed)

• Optional: 1 tsp truffle oil

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt to taste

• Watkins Pure Ground Pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender.

2. Drain and mash with warm butter and cream.

3. Stir in truffle oil if using.

4. Season with Watkins sea salt and pepper until heavenly.

This side is a creamy, luxurious cloud with earthy depth.

		🧀 Creamed Spinach with Gruyère & Watkins Organic Thyme

🧀 Creamed Spinach with Gruyère & Watkins Organic Thyme

Ingredients:

• 10 oz fresh spinach (or frozen, drained)

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 garlic clove (minced)

• 1 shallot (minced, optional)

• ½ cup heavy cream

• ½ cup grated Gruyère cheese (or Parmesan)

• Watkins Organic Thyme Leaves to taste

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt and Pepper

• Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic and shallots in butter until soft.

2. Add spinach; cook until wilted.

3. Stir in cream, cheese, and Watkins thyme.

4. Simmer until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

This dish is rich, herby, and makes spinach the main event.

		🥕 Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots with Watkins Thyme

🥕 Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots with Watkins Thyme

Ingredients:

• 1 lb carrots, peeled and halved

• 2 tbsp butter or olive oil

• 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)

• Watkins Organic Thyme Leaves

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt & Pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. Toss carrots with oil, honey, thyme, salt & pepper.

3. Roast for 25–30 minutes until caramelized and tender.

Sweet, savory, and herbaceous, these carrots are a perfect contrast to the steak.

🍫 Dark Chocolate Pots de Crème (Salted!) 😋

🍫 Dark Chocolate Pots de Crème (Salted!)

Ingredients:

• 6 oz dark chocolate (60–70%)

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 egg + 1 yolk

• 2 tbsp sugar

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt, pinch

• Optional: splash of espresso or vanilla

Instructions:

1. Heat cream until just simmering.

2. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and sugar.

3. Slowly stream in hot cream while whisking.

4. Stir in the chocolate until melted. Add salt & espresso/vanilla if using.

5. Pour into ramekins. Chill 2–3 hours until set.

Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or flaky salt.

🧂 Why Watkins Seasonings Work So Well in This Meal

Every recipe in this steakhouse feast leans on Watkins’ pure, potent flavor:

• Watkins Mediterranean Sea Salt enhances everything with clean, mineral-rich depth.

• Watkins Pure Ground Pepper adds warmth and boldness without overpowering.

• Watkins Organic Thyme Leaves brings herby elegance and aromatic balance—especially in creamy and roasted dishes.

These aren’t your average seasonings. They’re essential flavor-builders.

👩‍🍳 Final Thoughts: Steakhouse Bliss, Made Simple

This menu isn’t just a dinner—it’s an experience. With high-impact ingredients and precise techniques, you’re serving a five-star steakhouse meal that just so happens to be cooked at home. Plus, Watkins seasonings bring out the best in every element—from the steak’s crust to the creamy spinach to that heavenly dessert.

Whether you’re impressing someone special or just celebrating steak night solo with a glass of red, this is a next-level dinner worth savoring.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links through which, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

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