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A quick and easy recipe for perfectly seared ahi tuna steaks topped with garlic herb butter, delivering restaurant-quality flavor in about 15 minutes.

  • Total Time: 11 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6 ounce) tuna steaks, about 1 inch thick
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened or cubed
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stems

Instructions

  1. Gather all ingredients and a heavy-bottomed skillet near the stove.
  2. Pat tuna steaks completely dry with paper towels; season both sides evenly with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in the heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and almost smoking.
  4. Place tuna steaks gently into the hot skillet and sear for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side for rare to medium-rare doneness.
  5. Remove skillet from heat; add butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, and thyme leaves to the pan.
  6. Tilt pan to pool melted butter and baste tuna repeatedly with a spoon for approximately 30 seconds.
  7. Transfer tuna steaks to a cutting board and let rest for 2 minutes to allow carryover cooking and juices to settle.
  8. Slice tuna across the grain and spoon the garlic herb butter pan sauce over the slices before serving.

Notes

Patting tuna dry before searing is essential to achieve a crispy crust; moisture creates steam which prevents searing., Use sushi-grade or sashimi-grade tuna for safe consumption when cooking rare or medium-rare., If you prefer different flavors, swap the garlic herb butter for a soy-ginger glaze or apply a dry spice rub such as paprika, cayenne, onion powder, and garlic powder before searing., For thicker steaks, increase searing time by 30 to 60 seconds per side; decrease time for thinner steaks., Avoid reheating leftovers as tuna dries out quickly; instead enjoy cold in salads, bowls, or sandwiches within 2-3 days., Use a heavy-bottomed skillet or cast iron pan for best heat retention and searing results.

  • Author: Laura
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Category: Main Course

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 tuna steak
  • Calories: Approximately 320 calories per serving
  • Fat: 22 grams per serving (from butter and olive oil)
  • Carbohydrates: 1 gram per serving (from herbs and seasoning)
  • Protein: 38 grams per serving