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    Home » Recipes » Beef » Steak Marinade

    Steak Marinade

    Published: Jun 30, 2021 · Modified: Apr 10, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    This Steak Marinade recipe is a simple combination of pantry-staple ingredients that adds fantastic flavor to your steaks!

    top of cooked sliced steak

    In our family, we pretty much like all steaks cooked any which way, but even so, we have our favorites. We love steaks seared in a pan, as I talk about in this post: How To Cook Steak On The Stovetop. Those steaks are seasoned with salt and pepper. But sometimes, it is fun to switch things up and season with a marinade for steak!

    Table of contents

    • Steak Marinade Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Steak Marinade Recipe FAQs
    • How To Grill Marinated Steak
      • How long should I cook my steak?
    • How To Cut Steak
    • Want more marinade recipes? Try these next:
    marinade ingredients in bowls

    Steak Marinade Ingredients

    • Olive Oil: The olive oil in a marinade helps release the flavor of the herbs, seasonings, and spices. It also adds moisture and helps to prevent sticking when grilling.
    • Soy Sauce: We added soy sauce because it enhances the meaty flavor, helps tenderize the meat, and adds salt.
    • Sea Salt: Salt helps tenderize the meat as well as adding flavor to it.
    • Minced Garlic: For this recipe, we used fresh minced garlic for a great flavor boost, but you could use dried minced garlic or garlic powder as well.
    • Coarse Ground Black Pepper: Black pepper goes so well with steak, and we love the coarse ground option with those bigger grains of pepper.
    • Crushed Red Pepper: Adding a little crushed red pepper brings additional flavor to the steak as well has a touch of heat.
    • Paprika: The paprika also adds a peppery flavor to the steak marinade.
    steak marinade in a small glass jar

    Variations

    We tested several different combinations, and although they were all okay, this combination ended up being the best steak marinade, in our opinion. But everyone likes different things! Here are some more things you could add:

    • Worcestershire sauce – this could be added as a tenderizer, but it also adds a distinctive flavor.
    • Balsamic vinegar – is another tenderizer option that adds a different flavor.
    • Lemon juice – works as a tenderizer and gives the meat a zesty flavor.
    • Brown sugar – adds a touch of sweetness and helps with caramelization
    • Honey – another option for when you want to add sweetness.
    • Mustard – adds a spicy flavor to the marinade
    steak in a bag marinating

    Steak Marinade Recipe FAQs

    Should you marinate steaks?

    That depends on the cut of meat and the flavors you want to add to the steak. High-quality, tender cuts of steak can simply be seasoned with salt and pepper. More economical, tougher cuts of steak can definitely benefit from a steak marinade.

    What is in steak marinade?

    Steak marinade is a combination of oil, meat tenderizers, and seasonings. You can use different flavor combinations depending on how you plan to serve the steak.

    How long should steaks marinate?

    You should marinate steaks for at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours, depending on the thickness of the steak and the cut of meat. We’ve found that 3-4 hours is usually just the right amount.

    steak cooking on a grill

    How To Grill Marinated Steak

    Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the steak and discard the marinade for the steak. Grease the grill grates before adding the steak. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of your steak and how well you want it cooked.

    How long should I cook my steak?

    The length of time for cooking steak depends on how thick the steaks are and how you want them cooked. You can use a thermometer to check the temperature. For medium-rare, the temperature should be 130˚F, 140˚F for medium, and 160˚F for well-done.

    herbed butter on a cooked steak top view

    How To Cut Steak

    After removing the steak from the grill, top it with herbed butter, and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the steak into thin slices against the grain. That means you want to look closely at the steak to see which way the lines are running. You’ll want to make the cuts in the opposite direction so that the lines in the steak and the cuts you are making are perpendicular, forming a “T”.

    steak marinade in a glass jar

    Want more marinade recipes? Try these next:

    This Adobo Peppers Chipotle Sauce is a fabulous chicken marinade. Put the chicken and the sauce in a gallon sized zip top bag and marinate for 30 minutes before cooking.

    A Coconut Milk Marinade is perfect for Mango Chicken Kabobs with a tropical flair including mango and pineapple pieces!

    Use a Jamaican Jerk Marinade to make grilled Jamaican Jerk Chicken topped with a fresh pepper salsa is bursting with flavor!

    This Garlic and Herb Chicken Marinade recipe makes the BEST juicy, tender, flavorful chicken that is a perfect main dish or delicious on a salad.

    steak on a pan.

    Marinade for Steak

    This Steak Marinade recipe is a simple combination of pantry-staple ingredients that adds fantastic flavor to your steaks!
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    Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Additional Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
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    Equipment

    Ziploc Freezer Bags
    Salt and Pepper Grinder Set
    Olive Oil
    Char-Broil Gas Grill

    Ingredients

    Marinade

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika

    Steak

    • 1 lb steak I used top sirloin
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ½ teaspoon thyme

    Instructions

    • Whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, sea salt, garlic, black pepper, red pepper, and paprika.
      whisking steak marinade in a glass measuring cup
    • Put the steak in a gallon-sized zip-top bag. Add the marinade, seal the bag and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
      pouring marinade on a steak in a gallon sized ziptop bag
    • Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Remove the steak and discard the marinade for steak. Grease the grill grates before adding the steak.
      bag with steak and marinade
    • Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of your steak and how well you want it cooked.
      placing a steak on the grill with tongs
    • Remove the steak from the grill, top it with a mixture of the butter and thyme, and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
      putting herbed butter on a steak

    Video

    Notes

    Note: Nutrition facts calculated using 1/2 of the marinade since much of it is discarded.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 777kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 37g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 2336mg | Potassium: 674mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 433IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 5mg
    Course: Beef
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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