Grilled Hawaiian Ribeye Steak Recipe

Protein:

Origin: Taste of the Islands

Method: Grill

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Aloha! Today, we’re taking a culinary trip to the beautiful islands of Hawaii with a recipe that bursts with tropical flavors – Hawaiian Grilled Ribeye Steaks. This dish combines the richness of a juicy ribeye with a Hawaiian marinade mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, pineapple, and rum. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for a special occasion or a casual weeknight dinner.

We first fell in love with Hawaiian grilled ribeye’s at Houston’s restaurant in Kansas City.  Unfortunately, Houston’s closed their Kansas City location, but thankfully this Houston’s Hawaiian ribeye recipe is a breeze to make at home in your own backyard.

How to Make Hawaiian Style Grilled Ribeyes

Making the Marinade for Grilled Hawaiian Ribeye Steaks

The key to this recipe lies in the marinade. This sweet and tangy, tropical marinade consists of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, and pineapple juice but with a twist – the addition of rum. The pineapple not only tenderizes the meat but also infuses it with a touch of sweetness and a hint of tropical acidity.

Here’s what you’ll need for the delicious marinade:

• Soy sauce: The base of the savory flavor. If desired opt for low-sodium soy sauce.
• Turbinado sugar: Adds depth and complexity to the sweetness. The turbinado sugar is also less prone to burning on the grill as compared to brown sugar.
• Pineapple juice: Infuses the meat with tropical notes and aids in tenderizing.
• Fresh ginger: Grated ginger adds a warm, pungent aroma and depth of flavor.
• Garlic Cloves: Minced garlic brings a classic savory punch.
• Rum: While not a part of the Houston’s steak marinade, we love the great flavor that a little it of rum adds to the tropical steak marinade. We prefer gold rum in the recipe, but you can substitute what you have on hand.
• Mirin: Mirin is a sweet Japanese cooking wine.  It is similar to Sake but with added sweetness and lower alcohol content.
• Worcestershire Sauce: The Worcestershire sauce adds a little bit of umami flavor to the steak marinade.
• Black pepper: A touch of black pepper adds a subtle kick.

Marinating the beef ribeye steaks

Combine all the marinade ingredients in a small bowl or a large resealable plastic bag.  

Add the steaks to the marinade and mix to coat well. Seal the bag and place in the refrigerator. 

Marinate for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight for maximum flavor infusion.  We do not recommend going over 8-12 hours in the marinade as the pineapple can cause the meat to become mushy and over tenderized.  Flip the steaks occasionally to ensure even marinating.

Cooking the Hawaiian Steaks on your Grill

Once your steaks are marinated, it’s time to unleash their deliciousness! You can grill, pan-sear, or even broil the steaks depending on your preference. We prefer to cook the marinated steaks on a charcoal grill, but you can use the method that works best for you.  

With its tender, juicy meat, vibrant flavors, and beautiful presentation, this Hawaiian Ribeye Steak recipe is sure to transport you to the heart of the tropics with every bite. So fire up the grill and get ready to experience a taste of paradise! Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and set up a two-zone fire for direct and indirect heat.  

Before grilling remove the rib-eye steaks from the Hawaiian steak marinade and pat them dry with paper towels.  You want the surface of the steaks dry to ensure a proper Maillard reaction.

Sear the marinated steaks for 3-4 minutes per side over direct heat, then move the steaks to indirect or lower heat.  Continue to cook the Hawaiian ribeye steaks on the cooler part of the grill until they reach your desired level of doneness. Cooking time can vary so use an instant-read thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches your desired finish temperature.

There will be a little bit of carryover temperature, so we recommend removing the steaks from the grill a little below your desired temperature.  For a nice medium rare we typically remove the steaks at an internal temperature of about 128 degrees at the thickest part of the steaks. Rest the grilled Hawaiian ribeye steaks for about 5 minutes prior to serving.

While the steak is resting, grill the pineapple slices for about 1-2 minutes per side.  Make sure your grill grates are oiled, to prevent the pineapple from sticking to the grill.  For caramelized pineapple, dust the fresh pineapple slices with a little brown sugar prior to grilling.  Our favorite, however, is to season the sliced pineapple with a little Tajin seasoning.

For more great Hawaiian and Caribbean recipes to make on your grill or smoker give some of these fantastic recipes a try:

When you are ready to eat these perfect steaks, plate your grilled ribeye steaks, and garnish with the seasoned grilled pineapple slices.  Season steaks with a little bit of coarse Kosher salt, if desired. 

What to serve with Hawaiian rib eye steak

Serve alongside steamed rice or our coconut and black bean rice and your favorite Hawaiian-inspired sides, like grilled vegetables or macaroni salad, for a complete and flavorful meal.

For more great steak recipes, check out some of our favorites:

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