The Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning. A salt-forward classic that anchors McCormick’s grilling portfolio

By Nora Whitfield, ad hoc news Bestsellers & Flagships Desk. Reviewed July 06, 2026, 12:07 AM ET. Details in the imprint.

Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning lands on the picnic table in a red-capped plastic shaker, its coarse crystals catching the porch light as someone twists the lid and the first hit of garlic and black pepper rises off the jar. One shake over marbled ribeye and you smell the assertive salt and coriander before the steak even touches the grates. It is the kind of pantry staple you recognize blindfolded from the crunch of toasted spices when the meat hits a hot cast-iron pan.

What’s in the iconic blend

According to McCormick’s official product page, Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning is built around coarse salt, garlic, onion, black pepper, and paprika, with additional spices including red pepper and coriander. The texture is deliberately chunky rather than powdery, so you see and feel the spice pieces when you rub them into meat. That coarse cut means the seasoning forms a noticeable crust, especially on fattier cuts like ribeye and strip steak, and you can hear the sizzle as the salt and pepper meet rendered fat on a hot grill.

McCormick positions the Montreal blend primarily for beef, but the label and website both highlight use on burgers, pork, and even vegetables for a straightforward, savory hit. On the company site, recipe suggestions run from Montreal Steak Burgers to grilled portobello mushrooms, signaling that this seasoning is less about niche gourmet grilling and more about accessible backyard cooking. Food writer J. Kenji López-Alt has pointed out in his discussions of pre-blended rubs that coarse salt and cracked spices help draw surface moisture out of meat quickly, which is exactly what you see when a Montreal-coated steak starts to bead up before searing, though that observation is general and not specific to this product.

US availability, formats, and price

In US grocery stores, Montreal Steak Seasoning typically shows up in the Grill Mates section in 3.4 oz plastic bottles, though McCormick also sells larger value-size containers through warehouse clubs and foodservice channels. On major US retailers’ sites, including Walmart and Amazon, the standard shaker tends to sell around the $2.50 to $4.00 range depending on promotions and region. Warehouse-size bottles can run closer to $7 to $10, with foodservice jugs priced higher on a per-unit basis but lower per ounce.

McCormick’s own materials and retailer descriptions emphasize that Grill Mates is the number-one grilling seasoning brand in the US, with Montreal Steak among its flagship blends. The seasoning is widely distributed, from national supermarkets and dollar stores to online marketplaces, so US shoppers in most ZIP codes can usually find it on the shelf year-round rather than just in summer displays. On Amazon’s US marketplace, customer reviews of Montreal Steak Seasoning number in the thousands, with the bulk of ratings clustered around four to five stars, indicating that despite the assertive salt content, the blend has broad mainstream appeal.

Flavor profile and how it hits the palate

Open the cap and the first aroma is briny and garlicky, followed quickly by the woody smell of black pepper and the slightly citrusy note of coriander. Because the salt crystals are large and abundant, a sprinkle on raw steak looks almost like a coarse cure, and tasting a pinch straight from the jar gives an immediate salt punch followed by a slow burn from red pepper flakes. The paprika brings gentle smokiness and color rather than dominating the flavor.

Chef and grilling author Steven Raichlen has commented in his TV segments on Montreal-style steak seasonings generally that they are inspired by the spice rubs used in Montréal’s Jewish delis on cured meats, built on garlic, coriander, and cracked pepper rather than sugar-heavy barbecue. McCormick’s Montreal Steak Seasoning follows that pattern: you don’t get a sweet glaze; instead you get a savory bark that crunches lightly when you cut into a rested steak. Using the seasoning on thinner cuts like flank or skirt can make the salt feel aggressive, so home cooks often either reduce the amount or add a drizzle of olive oil and an extra grind of unsalted pepper to balance the cure-like effect.

How home cooks and pros use it

Scroll through grilling forums and you see user photos of thick ribeyes and Tomahawk steaks covered in the Montreal blend, often labeled as a go-to for quick weeknight meals when there is no time to mix a custom rub. On Reddit’s r/grilling and various barbecue boards, posters note that they keep Montreal Steak Seasoning next to their grill as a "backup" rub and as a base layer under more complex spice mixes. One home cook described mixing it 1:1 with brown sugar for a fast burger crust, dialing back the salt with the sweetness while keeping the recognizable Montreal aroma.

In commercial kitchens, distributors like US Foods and Sysco list Montreal-style steak seasonings, including McCormick options, as part of their standard spice offerings for casual dining chains and steak houses. Industry buyers appreciate the consistency and brand recognition; if a restaurant menu names "Montreal steak" as a flavor, customers often assume something similar to McCormick’s profile. That recognition helps McCormick keep the blend in both consumer and foodservice packaging, supporting volume beyond retail shoppers. Executive chef Carla Hall has noted in interviews that pre-mixed seasonings can help line cooks deliver consistent flavor during busy services, though she typically recommends adjusting salt by taste; her general advice maps neatly onto how many restaurants deploy Montreal Steak Seasoning as a time-saving tool rather than a bespoke spice signature.

Salt, health perception, and alternatives

The nutrition panel on McCormick’s site and US packaging shows Montreal Steak Seasoning is relatively high in sodium, with a quarter-teaspoon serving delivering a notable percentage of daily intake. That has led some health-conscious consumers to look for lower-sodium alternatives or to combine Montreal with no-salt herb mixes to dilute the sodium without losing the familiar flavor. Dietitians quoted by mainstream health outlets often warn that commercial rubs can be salt-heavy, advising home cooks to be mindful of total sodium when seasoning meat and to consider marinating with acid and herbs instead of relying entirely on salty blends.

McCormick itself offers other Grill Mates blends with different flavor balances, such as Brown Sugar Bourbon or Mesquite, which introduce sweetness or smoke notes and may feel less briny on the tongue. Still, for fans of assertive savory crusts, Montreal remains a reference point. Analyst Robert Moskow at Credit Suisse has noted in coverage of McCormick that its core branded seasoning products, including Grill Mates, tend to enjoy strong repeat purchase rates, even as some shoppers trade down in other categories, reflecting the comfort of familiar flavors in home cooking. That habit factor is visible in pantry photos on social media, where Montreal Steak sits next to everyday staples like garlic powder and chili flakes.

Marketing, grilling season, and brand visibility

Each spring, McCormick ramps up Grill Mates marketing in the US, tying Montreal Steak Seasoning into grilling season campaigns across social media and retailer end caps. On McCormick’s YouTube channel and partner content with retailers, you see quick recipe videos where a hand sprinkles Montreal over steaks while flames lick the grates, emphasizing the sensory cues of sizzle and char. Those visuals are designed less for hardcore pitmasters and more for casual backyard grillers who want a reliable way to make store-bought steaks taste "like a steakhouse" without complex prep.

The brand also leans on collaborations, such as recipe co-promotions with beef industry groups and grocery chains, to secure front-of-store placement. Retailers like Walmart and Kroger frequently place Grill Mates shakers in seasonal grilling displays alongside charcoal and disposable plates, effectively nudging shoppers to add a seasoning bottle to their cart whenever they pick up meat for the weekend. Marketing executives at McCormick, including Chief Growth Officer Andrew Foust, have highlighted grilling and flavor trends in earnings calls, describing Grill Mates as a core franchise that "shows up" every summer in US households as consumers spend more time cooking outdoors.

Production scale and supply chain

McCormick produces Montreal Steak Seasoning within its broader network of spice and seasoning plants, which source raw materials like pepper, garlic, coriander, and paprika from multiple countries. The company’s corporate responsibility reports describe efforts to improve traceability and sustainability in key spice crops, especially black pepper and paprika, which feed directly into blends like Montreal. Montreal Steak Seasoning itself is not broken out in sourcing disclosures, but the underlying ingredients fall under these broader programs.

Supply chain analysts note that branded spice companies like McCormick must manage volatility in commodity prices for pepper, salt, and other inputs, yet they also benefit from the ability to adjust blend ratios and pack sizes over time to maintain margins. For a seasoned product like Montreal, gradual adjustments can occur behind the scenes, though the company has an incentive to keep taste perception stable; any noticeable change in flavor would show up quickly in consumer reviews. Packaging shifts, such as lightweighting plastic bottles or adjusting cap designs, may emerge over time to cut costs and improve shelf efficiency, but the core red-and-black Grill Mates identity has remained consistent enough that older and newer bottles look familiar side by side.

Competitive landscape and private label pressure

The Montreal-style steak seasoning niche may feel specific, but nearly every major US retailer offers a private-label version designed to sit next to McCormick’s blend on the shelf. Walmart’s Great Value line, Kroger’s house brand, and Costco’s Kirkland Signature all list coarse steak seasonings featuring garlic, pepper, and coriander, often referencing "Montreal" or "Canadian" flavor profiles. These private labels typically undercut McCormick on price per ounce, posing a challenge for branded sales among more price-sensitive shoppers.

Yet, brand recognition still matters. Consumer panels cited in industry publications like Progressive Grocer suggest that many grillers prefer to stick with a known brand for seasoning, particularly when cooking for guests. McCormick’s long-standing position and repeated exposure through recipes, TV segments, and social content help Montreal Steak Seasoning retain a loyal base. Food trend analysts at Mintel have pointed out that in categories like spices and sauces, brand trust and perceived quality can outweigh small price differences, especially when flavor is central to the meal experience. That dynamic favors McCormick and helps protect key blends like Montreal from being entirely displaced by store brands.

Investor context and the role of Grill Mates

For US retail investors, Montreal Steak Seasoning matters less as a standalone product and more as part of McCormick’s broader branded flavor portfolio that drives recurring revenue. In recent investor presentations, CEO Brendan Foley has highlighted Grill Mates among the platforms that support McCormick’s consumer segment, especially in North America. The predictable seasonal uplift every grilling season adds a rhythm to sales that analysts factor into their models.

McCormick stock (NYSE: MKC) is widely covered by consumer staples analysts who view its spices and seasonings, including Grill Mates Montreal Steak, as relatively defensive products; people keep buying familiar flavorings even in softer economic conditions. For shareholders, the seasoning is not a headline growth engine on its own, but it is one of the brand assets that help sustain McCormick’s pricing power and shelf presence, supporting the long-term case for the company as a steady flavor house rather than a short-term trade.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.