The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (2024)

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (1)

Looking for an easy steak marinade for your next cookout? These steaks can marinate in a freezer bag while you prepare your side dishes. This recipe elevates any cut of steak so no need to spend money on a filet mignon.

Adding flavor and tenderness to an inexpensive steak is so easy to do with a simple steak marinade.

If I am spending a lot of money on a more expensive cut, like a gorgeous filet mignon, I skip the marinating and allow this cut of meat shine.

The truth is, we don’t often purchase filets though. We, instead, rely heavily on the old, “who has steak on sale this week?” method for selection instead.

One technique that I’ve mastered over the years is thinly cutting my beef to disguise any toughness in texture.

It is why you often see inexpensive cuts, like skirt or flank steak, cut very thin strips for tacos.

Which steak is best for this recipe?

I happened to hit a great sale on NY strip steaks, but normally I would use this recipe on tougher cuts of beef that would benefit from being tenderized.

This recipe is great for cuts of beef like chuck steaks, hanger, skirt, orflank.

Consider any tougher cuts of beef that you might prepare in your slow cooker too.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (2)

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (3)

Should you marinate a New York strip steak?

I did marinate my New York strip steaks, but this is definitely not necessary! This cut of meat is tender and flavorful without a lot of intervention.

What is the best way to cook New York strip steaks then?

Fancy cuts of meat don’t require a lot.

Since New York strip steaks are so tender, they don’t require anything beyond a pat of butter.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (4)

What cooking method is best for each cut of beef?

I recommend taking a peek at this article on 4 expensive cuts of beef that are big on flavor. This guide should help explain which cooking method is best and help you understand the difference in flavor profiles between different cuts of meat.

For example, how ribeye and New York strip steak differ?

That, and all your burning questions about the difference between filet mignon and top sirloin are worth reading so you can adapt your cooking techniques based around steak sales.

I really think this is an incredible guide for beginner and experienced cooks.

If you use this method to make a medium rare New York strip steak, you will want to cook it to 140 degrees and then allow it to rest before cutting.

Speaking of New York strip steaks, I can’t wait to try this frozen New York strip steak technique in my kitchen soon.

I don’t want to grill. How do I cook a steak like a restaurant does?

Tired of paying premium prices at your local steakhouse?

One of the best time investments I have made has been learning to make our steak dinners at home.

The trick is starting the steak on the stovetop and then finishing it in the oven.

The best part is that everything can be done in ONE cast iron skillet.

Did someone say LESS DISHES?

Count me in!

Once you master this cast iron skillet method, you can enjoy a weekly steak without the guilt.

I can’t recommend my pan seared oven roasted steak recipe enough.

This is my recommendation for that restaurant experience in your own kitchen.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (6)

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (7)

What can I marinade my beef in that isn’t made of plastic?

Consider purchasing one of these reusable glass dishes for your marinades.

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (8)

Today I wanted to share with you a recipe I tried for a steak marinade.

I am no stranger to marinated steak and the beauty of creating a great steak meal at home. In the past, I have relied on a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil marinade.

I was looking for a fresh marinade recipe and stumbled upon this one.

Honestly, I have never tried a better steak marinade recipe than this one and it is made from ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

For the best results, you will want to marinate your steaks for 24 hours.

Simply add steaks to a gallon size bag (I double bag these or use a freezer bag instead) and then add marinade ingredients to the bag. Seal the bag, removing the excess air, and store it in the fridge until it is time to grill.

Now that I have tried this recipe, it is highly likely I will never make my steak any other way again. You won’t believe the flavors in this and none of them overpower the delicious taste of the meat itself.

Best Steak Marinade in Existence

Recipe Type: Main

Author: Adapted from AllRecipes.com

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 6

A flavorful steak marinade that will enhance the flavor of any cut of meat you might find on sale at your local supermarket.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons dried basil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

  1. Place the soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, basil, parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and whisk well.
  2. Pour marinade over desired type of meat.
  3. Cover, and refrigerate overnight. Grill meat as desired.

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Looking for great grilling side recipes? Check out these easy side ideas!

corn on the cob on the grill

grilled brussel sprouts

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (11)three cheese grilled potatoes

Happy grilling!

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (13)

The Best Steak Marinade Recipe for Grilling (2024)

FAQs

How long should you marinate a steak before grilling? ›

How long to marinate your steak depends on the size and variety of the cut you're using. Thinner cuts, such as skirt or flanks steaks, should be marinated for 2-4 hours. Tougher cuts, such as top sirloin or sirloin tip, will benefit from marinating overnight (about 8 hours).

What is Gordon Ramsay's recipe for steak marinade? ›

How to make Gordon Ramsay's Steak Marinade at home
  1. Meat. • 12 oz Steak.
  2. Produce. • 2 cloves Garlic. • 2 sprigs Rosemary.
  3. Condiments. • 1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar. • 2 tbsp Soy sauce.
  4. Baking & Spices. • 1/2 tsp Black pepper, Ground. • 2/3 cup Brown sugar, Dark. • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt. ...
  5. Oils & Vinegars. • 3 tbsp Olive oil.

What are the three main ingredients when marinating? ›

What to use in a marinade
  • Oils. The oil content in a marinade locks in the natural flavour of the food and prevents it drying out. ...
  • Acids. These ingredients tenderise meat by unravelling its proteins – this softens the surface and allows flavours to be absorbed. ...
  • Seasonings. These provide the unique flavours.

What can I soak my steaks in to make them tender? ›

Make a marinade with acidic components—such as citrus juice, buttermilk, yogurt, wine, vinegar or soda—to help break down tough connective tissue and muscle fibers.

What is the basic marinade formula? ›

Because of the acidic nature of marinades, always marinate in a glass, ceramic or stainless-steel container. (Do not use aluminum containers.) The marinade ratio we suggest is three parts fat, one part acid and one part seasonings.

What not to marinate steak with? ›

Too much salt

No salt can render food almost inedible, too much salt and you have the same result. In a marinade, it is better to err on the side of little to no salt. Salt pulls moisture out of flesh so you could wind up with a tough and dry piece of meat.

Do you wash marinade off steak before cooking? ›

Remove Marinade Before Cooking: To prevent flare-ups on the grill and ensure properly browned meat when sautéing or stir-frying, wipe off most of the excess marinade before cooking. Keep just a little marinade on the meat surface to maximize flavor.

Do steakhouses marinate their steaks? ›

Even at run of the mill chain steakhouses, they don't marinate steaks. High end steakhouses tend to dry age their beef, usually for 2–4 weeks. This reduces the water content and increases the beefy flavor. Marinating dry aged beef would wash away the flavor characteristics of dry aged beef — an utter waste.

What is the secret to a good marinade? ›

Making a mouth-watering homemade marinade isn't rocket science! You simply need to follow this simple formula: an acidic ingredient to tenderize the meat (think vinegar, juice, yogurt, or mustard), fresh herbs and spices for added flavour, and a fatty ingredient, such as oil or butter.

What is the secret to marinating? ›

To sum up:
  1. Choose what flavourings you want to be in your marinade, and bring it to a simmer in advance. Adjust the flavouring once it's cooled down. Never marinade raw meat in warm marinade.
  2. Marinade for between 12–24 hours, but not longer, unless it's a very large cut of meat and the recipe specifically says so.
Jul 8, 2022

What is the key to a good marinade? ›

A great marinade is carefully balanced and made of three basic components – acid, fat and seasoning. Acids, such as wine, vinegar, citrus juice, buttermilk, and enzyme-rich fruits like papaya or pineapple, work to soften the meat's surface by weakening proteins allowing for slight absorption of flavoring.

What does Texas Roadhouse do to make their steaks so tender? ›

How does Texas Roadhouse tenderise their steaks? Season each side of the steak well with the seasoning and set aside to rest for about 40 minutes. This causes the salt to infiltrate the surface (through osmosis) and actually aids in the breakdown of muscle fibres, resulting in more tender meat.

What tenderizes steak the most? ›

Place the meat on the bed and completely cover it with kosher or coarse sea salt. You can rub it in or just let it sit for approximately **15 minutes (or up to 45 minutes for thicker cuts). The salt breaks down the muscle fibers and connective tissue to maximize the tenderness and texture of the steak.

How do restaurants make their steaks so tender? ›

Most fine restaurants age their beef to intensify the flavor and improve the tenderness of the cut. Aging is done by letting the meat sit (in very controlled conditions) for several days or weeks.

How long can I marinate steak in the fridge? ›

Information. Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

Is it better to marinate steak at room temperature or in the fridge? ›

Always marinate foods in the refrigerator, not on the kitchen counter. Some older recipes call for marinating at room temperature. DO NOT FOLLOW THIS PRACTICE. Marinating at room temperature causes the meat to enter the “Danger Zone” (between 40°F and 140°F), where bacteria multiply fastest.

How long can steak sit out while marinating? ›

If you do forego the fridge, monitoring the time the meat has been sitting out at room temperature is a must. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that meat only be left at room temperature to marinate for under two hours.

Do you rinse marinade off steak before grilling? ›

Remove Marinade Before Cooking: To prevent flare-ups on the grill and ensure properly browned meat when sautéing or stir-frying, wipe off most of the excess marinade before cooking. Keep just a little marinade on the meat surface to maximize flavor.

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