Best Steak Marinade Recipe
Up your dinner game with this mouthwatering steak marinade! It’ll turn your meal in a flavor explosion and have ’em begging for the recipe!
Why We Love Marinade for Steak
- A great steak marinade can add depth of flavor to budget-friendly steaks. It can also help tenderize them, turning tougher cuts of meat a family favorite.
- Since steaks can hang out in this marinade for up to 24 hours, this recipe is a great way to prep for camping or to up your tailgating game.
- I also use this marinade to meal prep for my family when I of out of town over a weekend. All my husband has to do is turn on the grill, and slap on the steaks for our oldest and himself. So easy!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make the Best Steak Marinade
WET INGREDIENTS: To start the marinade, you’ll need olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, and your favorite hot sauce. I usually go with Frank’s, Cholula, or The Classic.
DRY INGREDIENTS: To add some extra flavor, grab the garlic powder, dried oregano, dry minced onion, salt, and pepper.
STEAK: You can really use any cut of steak you like. Leaner cuts like sirloin and ranch steaks are recommended, but this steak marinade recipe is just as good on a NY strip or ribeye too. There will be enough marinade for 4-6 steaks. I have
How to Marinade a Steak
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Whisk together the all of marinade ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
STEP 2 Put the steaks into a gallon-size food storage bag and pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and smush the marinade around to coat the steaks. Pop the bag into the fridge and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
STEP 3 Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Use a pair of tongs to lift the steaks from the marinade and then place them on the hot grill. Cook them for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare steaks.
STEP 4 Take the steaks off the grill, transfer them to a platter or cutting board (with a juice groove), and cover loosely with foil. Let the steaks rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- If you like your steak cooked differently (no judgement here), follow these times. Rare – 3 to 4 mins per side. Medium – 5 to 6 mins per side. Medium Well – 6 to 7 mins per side. Well done – 7 to 8 mins per side. I recommend using an instant read thermometer to make sure the internal temp if on point. These times are suggestions and vary depending on the thickness of your steaks.
- You can leave the steak in the marinade for up to 24 hours. If you have more steak than will fit in the bag, or want to double the recipe, you can use a large kind dish instead. Just be sure to cover it with plastic wrap before putting it into the fridge.
- You can use any hot sauce you like. Cholula is our favorite, but Frank’s, Tabasco, or whatever sauce you have on hand will be fine. Just warn your diners if you use a really spicy sauce.
Steak Marinade Recipe FAQ
Should you marinade steak?
Marinades do two things for steaks. They add flavor and help tenderize tougher cuts of meat, depending on the ingredients used. When looking at cheaper cuts of steak like sirloin steaks, charcoal steaks, and ranch steaks – a marinade can give these budget friendly cuts some bang for your buck.
That being said, not all steaks need to be marinated. High-quality cuts like New York strip, ribeye, and filet are already tender and juicy when cooked. A little salt and pepper or your favorite steak rub is all you really need. But, if you want to marinade these cuts, that’s 100% your call to make.
Does marinade make steak tender?
Yes, if you have acids in the marinade they will help breakdown the collagen and muscle fibers. Things like soy sauce, lemon or lime juice, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce are all acidic.
How long to marinade steak?
The time needed to marinate your steaks will depend on how thick they are cut. Thinner cut steaks like skirt or flank only need 2-4 hours. Thicker steaks or tougher steaks like sirloin do better marinating for 8 hours (overnight) and can be left in the marinade for up to 24 hours if needed.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Balsamic Steak Kabobs
- Flank Steak with Corn Salsa
- Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Smoked Sausage and Potato Foil Packets
Best Steak Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dry minced onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 6 steaks (see note)
Instructions
- Whisk together the olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic powder, oregano, onion, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Place the steaks in a gallon-size food storage bag. Pour the marinade over the steaks and seal the bag, pressing out any excess air.
- Chill in the fridge overnight or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat your grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Use tongs to lift the steaks from the marinade (letting an excess drip back into the bag) and place them on the hot grill. If you're using a grill pan, you may need to cook in batches.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 4-5 minutes for medium-rare steaks.
- Remove the steaks from the grill and transfer to a platter. Cover loosely with foil and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.