Name: Gourmet Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter (softened (or use spreadable butter), divided); 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 4 cups onions (thinly sliced (about two medium)); 1.25 pounds boneless New York strip steaks (cut into ¾ inch thick strips); 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic (minced); ¼ cup parsley (chopped); 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; ¼ cup blue cheese (crumbled); 4 hoagie-style buns

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Skip the restaurant and make this Gourmet Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions at home in under 30 minutes! Balsamic vinegar and blue cheese make all the flavors pop!

Two halves of a steak and onion sandwich with blue cheese on a hoagie bun on a white plate on a blue napkin.

When it comes to weeknight meals, I try to keep things super simple! Even if we don’t have a ton of activities going on in the evenings (although, many days we DO), it’s nice to be able to enjoy our time together around the table with a homecooked meal that tastes great.

That’s why I’m excited to share this recipe for Gourmet Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions with you all. Don’t let the “gourmet” fool you into thinking that means complicated. This sandwich recipe is ready in under 30 minutes!

What Makes This Steak Sandwich So Great?

I was inspired by a Pampered Chef recipe card I came across in my recipe folder and it sounded so delicious I wanted to try it.

I’ve tweaked the original recipe to make it a little healthier. One thing that didn’t change is how simple it is to make!

I start with a delicious lean cut of New York strip steak and pan sear it, then cook for about 15 minutes total.

The sliced onions are caramelized in the same pan, giving them a deliciously sweet taste and golden brown color.

What kicks things up a notch are the simple addition of balsamic vinegar and blue cheese, I add the garlic butter on the bun and lightly toast it. Those small, extra steps pay off big in flavor!

Steak and onion sandwich ingredients in bowls with labels for each.

What Ingredients Are Needed For This Simple Sandwich?

Unsalted Butter – You can use the stick butter or the spreadable kind—it’s up to you!

Garlic Powder – You can find this in the spice aisle of your grocery store. I use it often so it’s good to have on hand.

Yellow Onions – The Yellow onions have a great texture and flavor that make them great for caramelizing.

Boneless New York Strip Steaks – Yes, this is the priciest part of this recipe but I was surprised that it wasn’t AS expensive as I thought!

Ground Black Pepper – I buy the store brand to save a few pennies (or sometimes more!)

Garlic Clove – Fresh or the jarred variety is ok too

Parsley – You can use curly or flat leaf parsley. They taste the same but look different. Just use what you can find at your grocery story (oftentimes they have both). I grow the flat leaf kind in my small herb garden.

Balsamic Vinegar – Again, store brand is ok here too!

Blue Cheese – You can usually find this in the specialty cheese section of the grocery store. I like to buy mine at ALDI because it’s a lot less expensive!

Hoagie Style Buns – I usually find these in the bakery section of my grocery store and not the regular bread aisle. The kind that is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside!

Collage of steak pieces in pan, sliced onions and parsley in pan and buttered hoagie buns.

How To Make A Delicious Steak and Onion Sandwich

Are you convinced yet that this gourmet sandwich is really that simple as simple as it sounds? It totally is!

A couple of extra tips:

Look for the steak when it goes on sale. Make sure you buy the boneless strip steak to save you time and hassle when it comes time to slice the meat for the sandwich.

I use a non-stick, non-toxic sauté pans to cook the steak and onions. It’s a set I bought at Costco last year and they are made of Granitium and the brand is Henckels.

I really love them! They are similar to this set.

I only mention this because you may notice it’s different looking coating but you can use any non-stick pan, a ceramic coated cast iron skillet or even aluminum sauté pan.

Just be sure to watch the temperature so that you adjust it to prevent burning by cooking it too fast. Different types of materials cook slightly differently.

Two halves of an open faced steak and onion sandwich with blue cheese crumbles on top on a square white plate on a blue napkin.

Can this Delicious Steak and Onion Sandwich Be Made ahead?

Yes! Well, parts of it anyway.

To prep ahead, you can slice the steak before cooking and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it (up to a day ahead is ok).

You can also slice the onions the day before and store in the refrigerator as well.

Slice your buns the day before then put both halves back together so they don’t dry out and put back in the bag you purchased them in, seal and set aside until ready to prepare the sandwich.

These small steps may not seem like much but even just a few minutes here and there can add up.

Can You Freeze This Sandwich?

Well, yes and now. You wouldn’t want to assemble it then freeze but you can freeze the different prepped ingredients. For example, cook the steak and store in an airtight freezer container up to three months or do the same for the onions.

When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator the day before. Then reheat in the saute pan over medium heat to warm through. You’ll want to watch it so that you don’t over cook the steak and it becomes tough.

More Simple Sandwich Ideas

If you like simple, flavorful sandwich (or tacos) ideas that are easy to get to the table on a busy night, be sure to check out these other favorites that my family loves.

Simple Fish Tacos with Avocado, Tomato and Corn Salsa

Greek Tacos

Copycat BLT Chicken Salad Sandwich