This copycat Longhorn steak seasoning is a smoky, savory, lightly spicy steakhouse blend you can mix in five minutes from pantry spices. It tastes just like the “Prairie Dust” seasoning that gives Longhorn steaks their signature crust, so you can bring that steakhouse flavor to your own grill for a fraction of the price.
Below you will find exactly what goes into this longhorn steak seasoning, how to blend it, how to use it on steak, plus easy variations and answers to the most common questions.
Table of Contents
What Is Longhorn Steak Seasoning?
Longhorn steak seasoning is the savory, smoky spice blend that gives Longhorn Steakhouse steaks their bold, well-seasoned crust. The restaurant calls its house blend Prairie Dust, and it leans on salt, cracked pepper, paprika, and garlic with a gentle kick of heat. This copycat longhorn steak seasoning recreates that steakhouse flavor at home using simple pantry spices, so you can season steaks, burgers, chicken, and more without buying a pricey jar.
Why You’ll Love This Copycat Blend
- Tastes like the steakhouse — that signature Prairie Dust flavor at home.
- Ready in 5 minutes — just measure and stir.
- Pantry ingredients — no special shopping trip needed.
- Cheaper than buying it — one batch makes a full jar.
- Endlessly useful — great on steak, burgers, chicken, and potatoes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here is what goes into this copycat longhorn steakhouse seasoning. Exact amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Kosher salt — the savory base that builds the crust.
- Coarse black pepper — bold, essential steakhouse flavor.
- Smoked paprika — color and a subtle smoky depth.
- Garlic and onion powder — the savory backbone.
- Coriander and cumin — warm, earthy notes.
- Turmeric — a pinch for the signature golden “dust” color.
- Cayenne and white pepper — a gentle, adjustable kick.
How to Make Longhorn Steak Seasoning
Making this steakhouse blend could not be easier. Follow the steps for an even, flavorful longhorn steak seasoning.
- Add the kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and white pepper to a small bowl.
- Whisk or stir until the blend is completely even in color with no clumps.
- Transfer to a clean, airtight jar or shaker.
- Taste a pinch and adjust the salt or cayenne to your preference.
How to Use It on Steak
For the best steakhouse crust, pat the steak completely dry, then coat both sides generously with the seasoning, pressing it in. Let the steak rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then grill or sear over high heat to your desired doneness, aiming for 145°F for medium-rare as recommended by FoodSafety.gov. Rest the steak 5 minutes before slicing so the juices redistribute.
Tips for the Best Steakhouse Seasoning
- Use fresh spices — old, dull spices make a flat blend.
- Grind your own pepper — coarse, fresh-cracked pepper is a big upgrade.
- Pat the meat dry so the seasoning sticks and forms a crust.
- Season generously — steaks can take more than you think.
- Double the batch — it keeps for months and disappears fast.
Easy Variations
- 7-pepper style: add extra cayenne and a pinch of red pepper flakes for more heat.
- Low-sodium: cut the salt in half or use a salt-free base.
- Extra smoky: add a little chipotle powder.
- Coffee-rubbed: stir in a teaspoon of finely ground coffee for a deep steakhouse crust.
- All-purpose: use it on chicken, burgers, wings, and roasted potatoes.
How to Store It
Store your longhorn steak seasoning in an airtight jar away from heat and light. It keeps its flavor for up to 6 months, though it never lasts that long once you start using it. Label the jar with the date, and give it a shake before each use since the finer spices can settle.
Longhorn Steak Seasoning Recipe
Here is the full printable recipe for copycat longhorn steak seasoning. Mix a batch and keep it on hand for steak night.
Copycat Longhorn Steak Seasoning
Ingredients
Method
- Add the kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and white pepper to a small bowl.
- Whisk or stir until the blend is completely even in color with no clumps.
- Transfer to a clean, airtight jar or shaker.
- To use, pat the steak dry, coat both sides generously, and let it rest 30 minutes before grilling to your desired doneness (145 degrees F for medium-rare).
Notes
More Recipes You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What seasoning does Longhorn use on their steaks?
Longhorn seasons its steaks with a house blend it calls Prairie Dust, a savory, smoky mix built on salt, cracked black pepper, paprika, and garlic with a mild kick. This copycat longhorn steak seasoning recreates that same steakhouse flavor with everyday pantry spices.
What is Prairie Dust seasoning?
Prairie Dust is the name of Longhorn Steakhouse’s signature steak seasoning. It is a smoky, peppery, lightly spicy blend that gives their steaks a bold, well-seasoned crust. You can make a very close copycat at home with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic, and a few warm spices.
How does Longhorn cook their steaks?
Longhorn grills its steaks over high heat after coating them generously in seasoning, which creates a flavorful seared crust. At home, pat the steak dry, season well, and sear over high heat, then cook to your preferred doneness and let it rest before slicing.
Where can you buy Longhorn steak seasoning?
Longhorn sometimes sells its seasoning at the restaurant or online, but availability comes and goes. Making this copycat version at home is cheaper, always available, and lets you adjust the salt and heat to your taste.
Is Longhorn steak seasoning spicy?
It has a mild, warm kick rather than strong heat. Most of the flavor comes from salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic. You can easily make it spicier by adding more cayenne or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
1 thought on “Copycat Longhorn Steak Seasoning (Prairie Dust Recipe)”
Comments are closed.