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One of my favorite sauces to top on steak – this creamy Peppercorn Sauce will upgrade any cut of beef and is so delicious! The peppercorn sauce is made with toasted black peppercorns, cognac or brandy, beef broth, heavy cream and green peppercorns to make an incredible luxurious sauce! Pair this steak with my Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Brussels Sprouts for an incredible meal!
Watch the creamy Peppercorn Sauce recipe video below!
Ingredients for Peppercorn Sauce
This creamy steakhouse style Peppercorn Sauce is a one pan sauce that’s so easy to make! Here are all the ingredients you’ll need:
- Steak
- Steak of choice (I like NY Strip, Ribeye, or Top Sirloin – one per person)
- Kosher Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- Peppercorn Sauce
- 1 large Shallot thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp whole Black Peppercorns, coarsely ground
- 1/3 cup Cognac or Brandy
- 1 cup Beef stock
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 tablespoon green peppercorns
- ½ tsp Kosher salt to taste
- Parsley chopped for garnish
Pro Tips for creamy Peppercorn Sauce!
- Green Peppercorn Tip: If using green peppercorns in brine, drain the brine from can and add to an airtight container and fill it with cognac which will enhance the flavor for your sauce!
- Seasoning the sauce: Do not season the sauce with salt until AFTER it has reduced down. Depending on the beef stock you use, you may not need any salt – always taste for seasoning at the end and add salt if needed!
- Storage: You can make this sauce ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Whole Black Peppercorns: Using whole peppercorns is best for this recipe because you can control the grind of the peppercorns. Coarsely grind them in a mortar and pestle or pepper mill – you will notice the difference!
What can I substitute if I don’t consume alcohol?
If you still want to make this Peppercorn Sauce for Steak but can’t or don’t want to use alcohol such as brandy or cognac, you can substitute the alcohol with 1/3 cup beef stock or water. This will be used to deglaze the pan and pick up any flavorful bits after you’ve seared your steak.
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce: Recipe Instructions
1. Cook the Steak
Cook the steak in the oven to the desired temperature (I cook mine to 120F to end up with a medium rare steak), then sear on all sides in 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium high heat, remove to rest to reach 130F internal for medium rare. Wipe out any excess fat or burned bits from the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat.
2. Saute Shallots and Toast Black Pepper
After the steak is removed from the pan and resting, add shallots and cook for 30 seconds until softened over medium high heat. Add the coarsely ground black pepper and toast for another 30 seconds or until fragrant.
3. Add Brandy or Cognac
Add the brandy or cognac to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until the alcohol cooks off.
4. Add Beef Stock and Green Peppercorns to Reduce
Remove and drain on a paper towel. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
5. Add Heavy Cream and Reduce
Add heavy whipping cream. Simmer rapidly (do not boil) and reduce it until the Peppercorn Sauce for Steak can coat the back of a spoon, about 3-4 minutes.
TIP: You will know the Peppercorn Sauce for Steak is reduced enough if it can coat the back of the spoon without running! (Refer to the video for the consistency of the finished sauce)
If you liked this recipe for Peppercorn Sauce for Steak, be sure to find some of my other popular recipes that would go great with it:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes (With Video!)
- Roasted Green Beans with Bacon (SUPER EASY!)
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts (SUPER CRISPY)
If you tried this Peppercorn Sauce for Steak or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Peppercorn Sauce for Steak (Video)
Ingredients
Steak
- 2 16 oz steaks, NY Strip, Ribeye, or Top Sirloin
- Kosher Salt, to taste
- Black Pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Peppercorn Sauce
- 1 large Shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp Black Peppercorns, coarsely ground
- 1/3 cup Cognac or Brandy
- 1 cup Beef stock
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 tablespoon green peppercorns
- ½ tsp Kosher salt, to taste
- Parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the steak in the oven to the desired temperature (I cook mine to 120F to end up with a medium rare steak), then sear on all sides in 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium high heat, remove to rest to reach 130F internal for medium rare. Wipe out any excess fat or burned bits from the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat.
- Add shallots and cook for 30 seconds until softened over medium high heat. Add the coarsely ground black pepper and toast for another 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add the brandy or cognac to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until the alcohol cooks off.
- Add beef stock to deglaze the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes over high heat or until reduced by about half. Add the green peppercorns and stir to combine.
- Add heavy whipping cream. Bring the sauce to a rapid simmer and reduce it until the sauce can coat the back of a spoon, about 3-4 minutes.
- Serve directly onto the steak and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
