A great Steak & Onion recipe doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs quality ingredients and proper technique. This upgraded Steak & Onion sandwich brings together tender slices of perfectly cooked steak, sweet caramelised onions and warm ciabatta, finished with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The result is a rich, flavour-forward sandwich that feels gourmet but stays wonderfully simple.
Slow-cooked onions add depth and sweetness, while the olive oil ties everything together with a glossy, savoury finish. Whether it’s a weekend lunch, an easy midweek dinner, or something indulgent to share, this Steak & Onion sandwich delivers every time.

Method
- Remove the steak from the fridge and let it come to room temperature, then cover it with greaseproof paper and bash it with the base of a pan to tenderise and make it all roughly the same thickness.
- Meanwhile, peel the onions, also removing the first layer of flesh (reserve this for a soup or stew), then slice into 2cm-thick rounds.
- Put the butter, a lug of oil and the sugar into a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat. Once the butter has melted, place the onions into the pan in a single layer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the vinegar, pop the lid on, reduce the heat to low and cook for around 35 minutes, or until beautifully golden and caramelised on the bottom only, adding splashes of water to loosen, if needed.
- Meanwhile, pop the ciabatta into the oven, turn onto 110°C/225°F/gas ¼ and leave to warm through.
- Season the steak all over with sea salt and black pepper. Place a large non-stick heavy-bottomed pan on a high heat. Once screaming hot, drizzle the steak with olive oil, then put it into the pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side for medium, or to your liking.
- Remove to a plate, rest for 1 minute, then slice 1cm thick and toss through its own resting juices with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
- Cut the warm ciabatta in half and rub the inside of each piece in the steak resting juices. Spread on some mustard, if you like, then layer over the caramelised onions, the steak and pinches of watercress.
- Pop the other piece of bread on top, press down lightly, carve up into decent chunks and get involved.
