Happy Holidays, y’all! It’s time for delicious eats, treats, and gathering with friends and family to celebrate, give thanks, rejoice, remember, and share.
Today, thanks to Kansas City Steak Company, I have an easy and delicious appetizer to share with y’all, plus a giveaway!
If you’re a regular reader of A Southern Fairytale, then you know that it’s no secret that I love to grill, and that one of my favorite things to grill (and eat) are steaks, so I know that you get how excited I was when Kansas City Steak Company reached out to me about partnering with them for another giveaway! I was thrilled for two reasons: 1) I love when I get to give things away to y’all, and 2) because I got a shipment of steaks to grill, recipe test with, and eat!!
Nathan got absolutely giddy when I told him that we were getting a shipment of steaks. Nathan is a man who enjoys grilling, steak, eating, playing with different seasonings, spice rubs, cooking techniques, and charcoal vs gas vs wood; these are all thing that brings him great joy <3 so … thanks for the smiles and the delicious food Kansas City Steak Company 🙂
I’m going to take a small detour from the recipe and the giveaway to tell y’all how we season and clean our grills.
It’s easy, simple, and everyone we share this with thanks us.
Many people use the wire brushes that come with grilling tool packs, or that can be found at virtually every store that sells grilling and cooking supplies; the problem with those brushes – the steel bristles can come off and get in your food!!! No thank you!!!!!!!
Here’s the Matthews family way to clean and season your grill in two easy steps
1) Once your grill is hot, take a large ball of aluminum foil and scrub the grates with it; this cleans all the build up off the grill
2) slice a yellow onion in half and rub it over the grates of the grill – the natural oils from the onion season and oil the grill
you’re welcome 😉
Okay, back to the yummies!
With every box of Kansas City Steaks that you order, you get a seasoning packet and a booklet that includes cooking tips and recipes, while I was looking through the booklet, I noticed a recipe for Steak Rustica, and I knew immediately that this needed to happen, and that I was going to tweak the recipe to turn it into an appetizer.
Oh. My. Word. Y’all!!!!
YUM!
As a family, we eat steaks medium-rare, that’s not for everyone, and I begrudgingly get that – so feel free to tweak this to your desired temperature.
Lemons, Garlic Salt, Fresh Cracked Black Pepper, and Olive oil bring bright, delicious flavor to these steak bites and the toasted baguette!!!! Oh. My. Word. This is sooo good!
It only takes a few minutes to season the steak, slice the baguette and lemons, and toss them on the heated, cleaned, and seasoned grill.
I kept having to nudge the dogs away from the grill, and I nearly had to smack my own hand to keep from snagging a slice of toast and an onion off the grill. This recipe is brilliant because of it’s sheer simplicity, and minimalism.
Thinly sliced steak tops grilled baguette that’s been brushed with a garlic olive oil, and the squeeze of grilled lemon adds a wonderful brightness to these delightful little bites. I had them hot off the grill, and cold after photographing them. I can legitimately tell you that both ways are equally scrumptious.
I couldn’t stop snacking on these, y’all. SO good! I may continue to play with these, maybe add a drizzle of a savory sauce, or a dipping option… these would also translate really well into a salad. Turn the grilled baguettes into croutons, the lemon and olive oil into the dressing, and use a yummy greens mix.
Okay… y’all want the recipe? How about the giveaway information?
Steak Rustica Appetizer Bites and a Giveaway

Seasoned steak and grilled baguettes paired with a squeeze of grilled lemon make for a delicious and easy appetizer for your next gathering or party
Ingredients
- 1 10 oz Kansas City Strip Steak
- 2 Medium Lemons, sliced
- 1 french style baguette, sliced on the bias 1/4" slices
- olive oil seasoned with roasted garlic or freeze dried garlic
- fresh ground black pepper
- butter lettuce or greens for garnish
Instructions
- Season both sides of the strip steak with garlic, salt, and black pepper.
- Grill over high heat, to your liking (for us: 5 - 6 minutes per side)
- While the steak is cooking, grill the lemon slices and baguette slices - both about 2 - 4 minutes per side
- Once you've removed the steak from the heat, let rest about 5 minutes.
- Brush each baguette slice with the garlic/olive oil mixture
- Thinly slice the steak, as thin as you can, I then sliced each piece in half
- Place a couple slices of steak on top of each slice of baguette, and sprinkle with pepper and sea salt
- Squeeze the grilled lemons over the platter, and use for garnish
I know y’all want to win a box of Kansas City Steak Company’s Super Trimmed Filets delivered to your front door!
Follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter Giveaway below to be entered to win a box of your very own Kansas City Steak Company Super Trimmed Filet Mignons! Wouldn’t that be a delicious and fun way to kick off 2017!
Disclosure: This post is brought to as part of a partnership with Kansas City Steak Company . All opinions expressed are my own. Sponsored posts help me pay for the costs associated with this blog (like the groceries…so very many groceries,y’all), and help support me as I follow my dreams of recipe development and food photography. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that support A Southern Fairytale.
Jennifer Culek says
Yum! I like how you season the grill. I didn’t know you could do that with an onion.
Rachel says
It’s absolutely my favorite! It’s natural, easy, and seriously smells SO good, and adds a delicious flavor! Now I just need to start growing onions! 🙂
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
These look SO yummy! I love the grilled lemon idea. We eat steak medium-rare in my house too, I can’t understand why anyone would want to ruin a steak by eating it well-done 😉 but to each their own!
Rachel says
RIGHT!!! It’s so perfect! The grilled lemons are absolutely delightful and I can see these happening over and over again here! <3
JeNae says
This looks soooo good! I think the simplest of seasoning is the best for steaks 🙂
Rachel says
I agree! Sometimes it’s fun to get a bit fancy, depending on what you’re doing, but I love the simple deliciousness, too 🙂
Will says
Definitely on the grill.
Rachel says
We do love to grill!
krystin says
I love steak cooked with just a little butter on top. Not too much seasoning.
Rachel says
mmmmm butter! We love adding butter to our steaks and our burgers! I mean, butter makes everything better, right? 🙂
Meg S says
I’m a cast iron pan on the stove kind of steak girl. Extra hot to get that good sear.
Rachel says
That’s always a winning way to make a good steak! <3
Carly Williams says
We like to simply season with oil, salt and pepper. We sear the steaks in a skillet and then finish them in the oven.
Rachel says
That sounds delicious! I’ve seared them in my skillet, but I’ve never done a steak in the oven before. May have to try it! Happy Holidays!
grace says
fajita-style…is that a legal answer? 🙂
Rachel says
absolutely!!!! 🙂
Kimberly G says
I like to marinate.
Rachel says
What’s your favorite marinade?
Lynn Furr says
Grilled with just salt & pepper. And some cooked onions in butter on the side! YUMMY!!!!
Thanks for the chance
Rachel says
YES!!! yummy! I adore onions (and mushrooms) in butter with my steak!
Jackie says
We love grilling steaks! I love to crisp them quickly on a crazy hot cast iron on top of the grill, then finish them in the oven for a few minutes.
Rachel says
You’re the second sear and oven person! Definitely going to have to give this option a try!
David says
I like to prepare them in a cast iron skillet.
Rachel says
I love everything about cast iron skillets 🙂 One of my favorite ways to cook just about everything 🙂
Jennifer S says
Lightly seasoned and grilled is my favorite way to make steak
Rachel says
You can’t go wrong with simple, right? 🙂
Rachel says
My favorite way to prepare steaks is on the grill with a little seasoning salt.
Rachel says
I like your name 🙂 LOL. I love a good season salt!
Nataly Carbonell says
I like my steak a little zesty, kind of like yours.
Rachel says
Hello kindred spirit 🙂
siegalpaula says
We like to grill
Rachel says
are y’all charcoal or propane? 🙂
gracefulcoffee says
My family loves to grill out! 🙂
Rachel says
we do, too! Do you prefer charcoal or gas?
Manda Shank says
Salt and the grill.
Rachel says
simple and wonderful!
Krystal Linkert says
Your pictures are amazing! This looks soo good!
I don’t have a grill so I usually sear them and then throw them in the oven for a bit. Simple salt and cracked pepper is my usual go to.
Rachel says
Thank you so much Krystal! That’s so sweet 🙂 Simple salt and cracked pepper is a delicious way to go! The sear and oven method is really popular apparently! I’m going to have to try it!
Carla S says
I sear them in a frying pan and put A1 sauce on them.
Rachel says
sounds yummy!
Karrie Ann says
Marinated overnight and seasoned
Rachel says
what’s your favorite marinade?
Jennifer L says
Grilled and rested with some seasoned butter YUM!
Rachel says
mmmmm letting the steak rest is so important!!!
susitravl says
I like charcoal grilled steaks but I only have a gas grill right now so that has to do for now. Grilled is the best!
amylou61 says
We grill steaks very simply, with just salt and pepper, rare to medium-rare, and always serve with sauteed mushrooms.
Rachel says
rare to medium rare with mushrooms! I’m in! Sounds delicious!