Perfectly grilled with a hint of smoke and a touch of char, a Grilled Bavette Steak is a meat lover’s dream. This fabulous cut is perfect for the grill, producing a tender, beefy, and juicy steak that pairs deliciously with so many different sides.
Bavette steak is the French word for bib, or thin cut, which also refers to flank steak. Also called a Butcher’s Cut steak because, for a long while, butchers would keep this fantastic cut of beef for themselves. Today, you can find bavette steaks – often labeled as flank steaks – in most grocery stores and butcher shops.
Sources disagree on if the bavette steak is just another name for flank steak, so I checked with the beef pros at the beef council, and according to the North American Meat Institute Meat Book, bavette comes from the sirloin primal, above where the flank steak would be cut from. However, a quick internet search for bavette and it appears synonymous with flank steak.
I love this cut – it takes to seasonings, marinades, and flavors so nicely, and with plenty of beefy flavor, it is delicious on its own or as an ingredient in other dishes.
Bavette Steak Vs. Skirt Steak
These two steaks are somewhat similar in appearance – both being long and thin with visible muscle strands, but the similarities stop there. They are cut from different areas of the cow, and skirt steak is pretty tough and fibrous, while a good bavette steak is meaty and tender.
How To Buy Bavette Steak
Good steaks will be well-aged so that they’re tender and delicious. Count on about 8 ounces of uncooked steak per person.
Go to a reputable butcher or busy meat counter at your grocery store and look for steaks that are uniform in shape and size (so they cook evenly). You also want to watch for meat that is bright red, and firm to the touch.
They may be labeled as flap steak, bavette steak, or even flank steak. This bavette steak was ordered from PorterRoad, where they also sell whole bavette.
What You Need To Make The Best Grilled Bavette Steaks
You need delicious butter and a fresh slab of meat for this delicious campfire Grilled Bavette Steak. You can make the butter ahead of time so it is ready to go.
For the umami butter:
- Butter – Salted butter is fine; at room temperature.
- GirlCarnivore Oomami seasoning
For the steak:
- Bavette steak – about 1 pound (to feed two people). Feel like splurging? Look for an American Wagyu bavette steak!
- Salt – I like using coarse salt, like kosher salt.
- Parsley – Chopped fresh herbs add a lovely pop of flavor.
- Salt and pepper – Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to garnish the steak.
How To Make This Grilled Bavette Steak Recipe
Mix the butter and GirlCarnivore Oomami seasoning in a bowl. Chill it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Prep the charcoal grill by lighting the coals and letting them burn down to 70% ashed over.
Arrange the coals in a pile in the center of the grill and open the air vents to allow the grill to heat up.
Once the grill reaches 425 to 475-F, clean the grill grates.
Pat the steaks dry and season with salt.
Place the steak over direct heat over the hot coals and grill for 3-5 minutes, rotating once before flipping. Rotate as needed to avoid flare-ups. Cook the steak until it reaches 130-F for medium-rare (or until the desired doneness) with an instant-read thermometer. Move the steak to indirect heat if it gets too charred.
Remove the steak from the grill, place the butter on top of the beef bavette, tent with foil and let it rest for a few minutes.
Slice the steak across the grain and serve.
How To Serve Char-Grilled Bavette Steaks
I love this steak on a plate with tasty sides, but I will also make enough for leftovers just so that I can use the leftover steak in other ways, including:
- Sliced on top of salads, like my favorite grilled romaine salad with these steaks!
- Sliced thinly for tacos
- It’s excellent in sandwiches
- Try it diced on top of baked potatoes
- Jazz up your nachos with leftover steak
Additionally, we love serving this grilled bavette steak with homemade cilantro chimichurri to drizzle over top.
Storage Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat it gently (or eat it cold or at room temperature) so that you don’t overcook it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bavette steak the same as a skirt steak?
No, these are two different cuts. The bavette steak comes from the bottom sirloin near the flank, while the skirt is cut from the chest.
How long does it take to cook bavette steak?
That will depend on how hot your grill is and how cold the steak is when you put it on the grill. I like to let my steaks sit at room temperature before grilling, and over a hot grill, this steak should be ready to eat in under 20 minutes (including resting time).
How do you cut a bavette steak?
A bavette steak has pronounced grains, and unless you cut it thinly across the grain, the meat will be tough and chewy. Notice which way the meat grains run, then cut perpendicularly to them. Slices about ¼ to ⅓ inch thin are perfect.
Other Grilled Steak Recipes
- Steak salad – this hearty salad has potatoes, cherry tomatoes, romaine and more in it.
- Bavette Steak over Saffron Cauliflower Rice
- Coffee Crusted Flank Steak
- Grilled Top Sirloin Steaks
Grilled Bavette Steak Recipe
Ingredients
Umami Butter:
- 1 tablespoon butter room temp
- 1 teaspoon GirlCarnivore Ooomami
Steak:
- 1 lbs Bavette Steak
- 1 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- Minced parsley
- Salt & fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
Make the umami butter:
- Mix the butter and Ooomami together in a bowl.
- Place in a container until ready to use and chill in the fridge.
Prep the grill:
- Light your coals and allow them to become 70% ashed over before prepping your grill for direct heat.
- Arrange the coals in a pile in the center of the grill and open the air vents to allow for the grill to heat up.
- Once the grill has heated to 425 to 475, clean the grill grates.
Prep the steak:
- Pat the steak dry, trim if needed and season with salt.
Grill the bavette steak:
- Place the steak over direct heat by placing the steak directly over the hot coals.
- Grill for 3 to 5 minutes, rotating once while grilling before flipping and continuing to cook directly over the heat, rotating as needed to avoid flare ups, until the steak reaches 130F internally
Rest:
- Remove fron the grill, place the butter on top and tent with foil.
- Allow the steak to rest 5 to 7 minutes before slicing.
- Slice thin against the grain.
- Garnish with minced fresh parsley and season with salt and fresh black pepper to serve.
Jürgen says
It’s yummy and you ‘re so flexible. Sandwich, pure or on a salad. See my pictures on FB.