This is an incredible Red Wine Sauce for Steak that can be made in less than 20 minutes! Whether you call it red wine jus or red wine reduction, it’s the perfect enhancement to your steak dinner!
This red wine jus requires just three ingredients and can even be prepared in advance. Enjoy it with a glass of the same red wine you choose to cook with – an elegant meal for any night of the week.
I love a great steak… be it steak on the grill or steak on the stove. It’s so easy to make, and yet feels like something truly special.
We try to make dinner at home feel like special occasions sometimes, whether we’re entertaining or just enjoying a date night in. Sometimes it’s homemade pasta, but we often do a steak night because it’s so flexible and like we’re dining out on the town.
Nothing makes a steak feel more special than an enhancement. I rarely order a steak off the menu without adding one. Use my homemade steak seasoning and then add one little teaspoon of sauce for so much flavor.
I love entertaining, and especially having friends over for dinner. We try to host a dinner party every couple of months, and of course, this recipe is on the menu for dinner this month.
Sometimes hosting a dinner party can be overwhelming, but these Tips for Hosting a Dinner Party will make it all so easy!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Red Wine Jus
- Ready in less than 20 minutes
- Bursting with rich flavor
- Enhances steak making it feel special
- Drink the rest of the wine bottle!
Red Wine Sauce Ingredients
- Butter – Of course! This is the base of just about any homemade or restaurant-style pan sauce.
- Shallots – The delicate onion flavor turns the red wine sauce into something incredible!
- Pinot Noir – One of my favorite wines to enjoy over a light weeknight meal or dinner with friends. It is the best red wine for steak sauce since because of its bold flavor. It is a fragrant and easy-to-drink wine that will go perfect with your steak dinner!
Variations
- Add fresh herbs during the last five minutes of cooking for more flavor- thyme, rosemary and oregano all work beautifully.
- Add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to your red wine sauce for another layer of flavor.
How to Make Red Wine Jus
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce for 15 minutes, scraping the sides until slightly syrupy.
- Serve on top of steak and enjoy with a glass of wine!
Red Wine Jus Serving Suggestions
- Serve on top of steak for an incredible treat.
- Add on top of chicken, pork or short ribs, too.
Shortcuts
- Make this red wine sauce for steak in up to two days ahead to save time!
- In fact, you can make a large batch and freeze. Use the 1x2x3x tab on the printable recipe card to easily convert to a larger amount.
Absolutely! Make it up to two days in advance and store in an airtight container. Simply warm on the stove or even in the microwave when it’s time to serve.
It’s simply the French term for “juice”. It generally refers to a sauce or gravy added to meats in cooking.
How Do You Thicken Red Wine Sauce?
You may read other red wine sauce recipes that call for a thickener, such as cornstarch or arrowroot, but I find this to be unnecessary. Ultimately, it simply makes the red wine sauce too thick.
For the best results, bring the wine to a boil over medium heat, then reduce and simmer for 15 minutes. The result is a silky smooth and slightly syrupy sauce with incredible flavor!
Tips
- Pick the perfect cut of meat from the butcher. The higher quality cuts will give you a more tender, flavorful steak.
- Season the steak before cooking. If you have time, let the meat sit with the seasoning for a while before cooking to allow the spices to soak in.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure you’re cooking the meat to the temperature of your liking.
The steak will continue to cook a little once you take it off the grill. I like mine to a perfect medium-rare, about 145 degrees, so I pull it off the grill at 140 degrees.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – for up to two hours before refrigerating.
- Refrigerate – in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Freeze – in an airtight container for up to three months.
How to Serve
One of the reasons we love steak dinners is because of the flexibility! Steak is delicious with a variety of sides.
- Serve with mashed cauliflower for a low carb delight.
- Roasted Cauliflower is perfect too.
- The best Green Beans
- Mashed Potatoes with caramelized shallots
- The ultimate Italian Salad
- Smashed Potatoes
- Serve on top of Fettuccine Alfredo
- Truffle Fries
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Free
- Vegetarian
If you try this Red Wine Sauce Recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter!
Hungry for more easy recipes? Sign up for my free recipe club and have amazing recipes delivered directly to your inbox each week!
More Sauce Recipes
- White Wine Lemon Caper Sauce
- Lemon Pepper Sauce for Pasta or Wings
- Cranberry Sauce with Port
- Amazing Vodka Sauce Recipe
- Garlic Aioli
- White Wine Sauce for Pasta
Incredible Red Wine Sauce for Steak
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot minced
- ¾ cup Pinot Noir
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add wine and bring to a boil. Reduce for 15 minutes, scraping the sides until slightly syrupy.
- Serve on top of steak.
Notes
To Store
- At Room Temperature – for up to two hours before refrigerating.
- Refrigerate – in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Freeze – in an airtight container for up to three months.
I love how easy this recipe is! It’s definitely the best enhancement when I meake steaks!
I made this tonight with a sweet masala wine and purple onion. Put it atop a couple of grilled fillets and OMG.. GRAVY was amazing.
????????
That sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
i LOVE a good red wine sauce for steak! … And three ingredients!? Win!
Between your gorgeous steak with wine sauce and your poached peaches, you’ve created one exquisite meal. I agree—quality ingredients are the key to the best recipes!
Thank you, Liz!
I never think to do a sauce when I’m cooking steak but I need to! This is so simple and I always have everything I need on hand. Looks delicious!
I can’t help myself. “Steak” butter makes everything better!
There should be a slightly new acronym for this sauce…KISS. Keep it stunningly simple.
Such a simple, high impact sauce — I love it!
Steak and wine are two of my favorite things, so needless to say, I love this! Looks like such a wonderful dinner, Julie!
I love how simple this topping is. And you are right, just a bit can take a steak from good to amazing. I don’t get to have steak often so I want to make it as fancy as I can and this is the perfect way to make it as memorable as possible!
Mmmm, Red wine sauce makes everything seem so fancy (and I love that! haha) Gotta make this for my husband and myself soon.
A gourmet meal at home-the best!
Looks SO delicious! I’m ready for dinner!
Thank you, Kim! I would love to have you over! 😉
We are huge steak lovers and we grill steaks a few times a month, I’m making this sauce next time!! looks perfect!…..and the dessert 😉
Thanks, Cheryl! Enjoy!
Julie, that sauce looks amazing – definitely trying it!
I can’t wait to make this! I love a good wine sauce! Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Sara! Enjoy!
What a beautiful sauce for a steak!
Thank you, Brenda!
Oh, this looks so good. Will have to try it out!
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 🙂
Everything looks so yummy! When did you say dinner started????????????
🙂 Hope you had a great weekend!