How to Grill Steak on Charcoal Grill!

Learn how to grill steak on a charcoal grill! We will tell you tips and tricks to getting the perfectly juicy, tender and delicious steak using your charcoal grill. Plus, we will share our secret for getting that ultimate, smokey flavor your steak deserves. These are the BEST charcoal grilled steaks ever!

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The BEST Charcoal Grilled Steak!

This post is sponsored by Home Depot. All text and opinions are my own.

There’s nothing like a beautiful summer day, your family enjoying the outdoors with you and firing up your grill for the ultimate dinner!

What makes it even better is when that dinner includes these delicious Charcoal Grilled Steaks.

There’s is nothing better than a steak that’s piping hot off of a charcoal grill.

The flavor is absolutely amazing!

If you are new to grilling a steak on a charcoal grill don’t worry!

We will give you the ultimate guide to getting a delicious, juicy steak off your charcoal grill.

It might take a little extra work compared to a gas grill, but once you taste the difference you won’t mind the extra few minutes of work!

Trust us, it’s totally worth it!

One of our favorite tricks to getting the ultimate charcoal grilled steak is using our favorite Kingsford Hardwood Charocal Briquettes found at Home Depot!

We love them because the are made of all natural hardwood and create low amounts of ash during use.

Plus, they create a high heat which is perfect for searing these delicious steaks!

You can use them on your charcoal grill, smoker or ceramic grill.

Did I mention that they give your steaks the ultimate smoky flavor which is the secret of why our steaks taste better than anyone’s!

Shhhh, don’t tell anyone our secret… oh wait, maybe you should!

How to Grill a Steak on Charcoal Grill

I’m going to tell you five quick and easy steps to grilling the perfect steak on your charcoal grill!

Step 1 – Prep and season the steak

The first thing you will want to do is take your steak out of the fridge and season it on both sides with your favorite rub or the one we used below. After you have seasoned the steak let it sit for 30 minutes. Seasoning the meat and letting it sit for this time will help it cook faster and more evenly while holding the seasoning better.

Also, if there is any excess fat please trim that off to avoid flare ups while grilling the steak.

Step 2 – Fire up the grill

For steaks you want your charcoal grill to be as hot as possible. Ideally anywhere for 550-650 degrees F.

You can either use a chimney for your charcoal or light a pile of about 100 Kingsford Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes.

When the coals are ready you will want to arrange them into two zones. Essentially you want all the coals on oneside of the grill for direct heat and then the otherside that doesn’t have any coals will be your indirect heat.

Replace your top grate, allow the great to heat up. Place cover on the grill. Remember all vents on the grill should be fully open.

When ready to grill pour cooking oil onto a folded paper towel and oil the grate using a long-handled tongs.

Step 3 – Grilling the Steak

Place your seasoned steak on the hottest part of the grate, directly above the coals. Let it sear for two minutes, rotate a quarter turn and place it back down. Avoid the place it was just on because this is cooler now. Let the steak sear for an additional two minutes.

Flip the steak over and sear the other side.

After the steak is properly seared move it to the warm side where there are no coals.

If you have a thinner steak be aware that it might be done cooking after you sear it depending on your desired level of doneness.

Close the lid of the charcoal grill and continue to cook the steak until it’s at your desired temperature.

You do not need to flip the steak while cooking it indirectly.

Step 4 – Check Steak  for Doneness

Using a digital instant-read thermometer, check the temperature of the steak while it’s still on the grill.

130°F – Rare

135°F – Medium-Rare

145°F – Medium

150°F – Medium-Well

160°F – Well-Done

Remember that the steak temperature will rise a few more degrees when it is removed from the grill.

Step 5 – Remove and Rest

The final step is to remove the steak from the grill, place on a cutting board and loosely tent it with aluminum foil. Allow it to “rest” for 5 minutes. This redistributes the juice in the steak and makes it nice and tender!

Grilling Steak on Charcoal FAQs

Here are an additional few quick and easy pointers if you are new to using your charcoal grill!

How do you know when a charcoal grill is ready?

You’ll know the coals are ready when the top ones are turning a bit gray with ash. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

Do you close the grill when cooking a steak?

If you are grilling a thin steak that will be done cooking after you sear it you can leave the grill open.

If you are grilling a thicker cut of steak you will want to place the cover on the grill after you move the steak to indirect heat.

How do you sear steak on a charcoal grill?

As mentioned above you will heat your grill to high. Place the steaks on the grill over direct heat and cook for about 2 minutes. Rotate a quarter of a turn and cook for an additional two minutes. Flip the steak and sear on the other side.

Charcoal Grill Steak

It doesn’t matter what type of steak you use, but if you follow those steps and use Kingsford Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes you will get a delicious steak every single time you fire up your charcoal grill!

Plus, there’s nothing like the smell of a steak being grilled or the sound of it sizzling on the grill!

Celebrate summer with these perfect grilled steaks on your charcoal grill.

Don’t forget to head to Home Depot and get our secret to the perfect steak on your charcoal grill, Kingsford Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes!

Love this recipe? Be sure to comment and leave a five-star rating below! Tagging me on Instagram will definitely make me smile! You can find me here at @gimmesomegrilling

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5 from 6 votes

How to Grill Steaks on Charcoal Grill

Tender, juicy steaks bursting with flavor on your Charcoal Grill!

Prep:10 mins

Cook:10 mins

Resting Time:30 mins

Total:20 mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 4 steaks

Steak Seasoning

• ▢ 1 tsp brown sugar
• ▢ 1 Tbsp kosher salt
• ▢ 1/2 Tbsp ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• ▢ 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
• ▢ 1 Tbsp onion powder
• ▢ 1/2 tsp chili powder

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Instructions

• First prepare steak seasoning by combining all ingredients in a mixing bowl and stirring until completely mixed.
  
• Take steaks out of fridge and season them liberally on both sides. Let rest for 30 minutes.
  
• Set up your charcoal grill with a hot zone for direct heating along with a medium heat zone for indirect heat using Kingsford Hardwood Charcoal Briquettes.
• When ready to grill pour cooking oil onto a folded paper towel and oil the grate using a long-handled tongs.
• After the steak is done resting place your steaks on the hot zone and let them sit for two minutes, then give them a quarter turn and sear for another two minutes. Then flip them over but don't set them down in the same spot (this spot will be cooler). Let them sit for two minutes, give them a quarter turn and place them in the indirect heating zone (not directly over the coals).
  
• Continue cooking the steaks over the indirect heat to desired doneness. You do not need to flip the steak while it cooks indirectly.
  
• Remove steak from grill, place on cutting board and tent with aluminum foil. Let rest for five minutes. Remember the temperature will rise a few degrees while the juices redistribute into the meat.
  

Nutrition Information

Calories: 494kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 5g (2%), Protein: 46g (92%), Fat: 32g (49%), Saturated Fat: 14g (88%), Cholesterol: 137mg (46%), Sodium: 1871mg (81%), Potassium: 701mg (20%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 995IU (20%), Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 30mg (3%), Iron: 4.6mg (26%)

© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.