Red wine steak sauce can be made in less than 20 minutes! My recipe is the perfect enhancement for a steak dinner, and it’s so easy to make with just 3 ingredients. It can even be prepared in advance!

I especially enjoy this steak sauce with a glass of the same red wine I cooked with – what a perfect pairing! It makes an elegant meal for any night of the week.

A steak on a white plate, with a gold spoon full of red wine jus being drizzled over it
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I love a great steak. It’s so easy to throw a steak on the grill for dinner, and yet feels like something truly special. I use my homemade steak seasoning for so much flavor.

What makes it even more special? This red wine sauce! I rarely order a steak off the menu at a steakhouse without adding a sauce. My red wine steak sauce is easy enough for a weeknight, and special enough for something like a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. We occasionally add mushrooms, but this sauce is great with or without them!

A steak on a white plate, topped with red wine sauce

OMG! That SAUCE!! I am a huge steak lover…it’s my meal of choice whenever we have an occasion to celebrate. Love wine in cooking!!! Pinned.

—Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie —
A white plate with a steak topped with red wine sauce for steak.

Shopping List

  • Salted Butter
  • Shallots
  • Pinot Noir (or your favorite bottle of red wine)
ingredients for red wine sauce for steak laid out on a marble surface

Variations

  • Add fresh herbs during the last five minutes of cooking – thyme, rosemary and oregano are great options.
  • Add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to your red wine sauce for another layer of flavor.
  • Add fresh sliced mushrooms along with the shallots for a textural addition.
A sliced steak drizzled with red wine sauce for steak.
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Test Kitchen Tips

  • Choose the Right Wine – Use a good quality dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir. The better the wine, the better the flavor of the sauce. My favorite is Pinot Noir!
  • Deglaze the Pan – This sauce is even better if you’ve cooked the steak in the same pan. The browned bits left in the pan add rich flavor to the sauce.
  • Reduce the Wine – Reducing the wine concentrates its flavors and helps thicken the sauce. Allow it to simmer until it reduces by at least half.
A steak on a white plate, with a gold spoon full of red wine jus being drizzled over it
A steak on a white plate, with a gold spoon full of red wine jus being drizzled over it
5 from 11 votes
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Red Wine Steak Sauce

Red wine steak sauce can be made in less than 20 minutes! It's the perfect steak dinner enhancement. I like to enjoy it with a glass of the same red wine I made it with for an elegant weeknight meal.
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons butter salted
  • 1 shallot minced
  • ¾ cup Pinot Noir

Instructions 

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    3 tablespoons butter, 1 shallot
    Shallots cooking in a cast iron pan, wooden spoon to the side
  • Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce for 15 minutes, scraping the sides until slightly syrupy.
    ¾ cup Pinot Noir
    A white bowl of red wine
  • Serve on top of steak.

Julie’s Tips

  • Other red wine sauce recipes call for a thickener, such as cornstarch or arrowroot, but I find this to be unnecessary.
  • Choose the Right Wine – Use a good quality dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir. The better the wine, the better the flavor of the sauce.
  • Deglaze the Pan – This sauce is even better if you’ve cooked the steak in the same pan. The browned bits left in the pan add rich flavor to the sauce.
  • Reduce the Wine – Reducing the wine concentrates its flavors and helps thicken the sauce. Allow it to simmer until it reduces by at least half.
  • Prep in advance and leave refrigerated for up to 24 hours prior to baking and serving. Warm through in the microwave or stovetop when needed.

Variations

  • Add fresh herbs during the last five minutes of cooking – thyme, rosemary and oregano are great options.
  • Add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to your red wine sauce for another layer of flavor.
  • Add fresh sliced mushrooms along with the shallots for a textural addition.

Storage Notes

This sauce can sit out safely for up to two hours before refrigerating. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days. Or, freeze it in an airtight container for up to three months.

Video

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 266IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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5 from 11 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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31 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    OMG! That SAUCE!! I am a huge steak lover…it’s my meal of choice whenever we have an occasion to celebrate. That sauce looks like perfection and I can’t wait to try it! Love wine in cooking!!! Pinned ๐Ÿ™‚