Best Marinade for Steak

In my opinion, the Best Marinade for Steak is quick to make and full of flavor. That is exactly what this is, and the flavor just intensifies the moment it hits the grill.

You can use this recipe to marinate and cook any cut if beef you prefer. It is especially good on sirloin or fillet. Leaner cuts that can benefit from a little extra flavor is the best place to use a marinade.

Ingredients

This list of ingredients is short and full of flavor. Each thing has to bring a hit of flavor. The soy and Worcestershire add salt and umami. I like to use both fresh garlic and roasted garlic powder. The powder has a depth of flavor that gives everything it is used on that extra, what is this, goodness that will have everyone hemming and hawing.

The honey and olive oil bring sweetness and balance respectively. And you do still need salt and pepper, I suggest salting the meat with a sprinkle before and after marinating to ensure deep flavor.

Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.

Method

I am highlighting cooking sirloin steak in this recipe. If using it, the first step I suggest is to tenderize the meat with a Jaccard. Besides tenderizing the meat, it also pricks little holes into it, allowing the marinade to penetrate the meat faster and more effectively.

I first stir up the marinade in a bowl, then pour it over the beef in a zip-top bag. This allows me to ensure the honey is well distributed. Once everything is in the bag, seal it up and roll it around until all of the beef is coated in the marinade.

Refrigerate the beef until you are ready to cook it. This can be anywhere from a couple of hours up to overnight. And don't forget to pat the beef dry after removing it from the bag and sprinkle it with a little bit of salt and pepper too, just before cooking.

You can then sear the steaks in a cast iron pan or cook on a grill. I personally prefer the grill outside. This is a recipe I typically make in the summer, so it lends itself perfectly to being grilled.

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📖 Recipe

Best Marinade for Steak

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

The Best Marinade for Steak is quick to make and full of flavor. That's exactly what this is and it intensifies the moment it hits the grill.

Print

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons Honey
• 2 tablespoons Tamari Soy Sauce
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 teaspoon Roasted Garlic Powder
• 3 cloves Garlic, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt, Morton’s
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 pounds Sirloin Steaks, tenderized
• Green Onions, for serving
• Flakey Sea Salt, like Maldon or Nordur, for serving

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the honey, soy, Worcestershire, garlic powder, minced garlic, salt, Peppe, and olive oil. Stir until well mixed.
2. Tenderize the beef with a meat mallet or Jaccard and place it in a zip-top bag or shallow bowl/container.
3. Pour the marinade over the meat in the bag, press the air out, and toss the bag around until the marinade coats the meat.
4. Let the steak marinate for 6-8 hours, up to overnight. It can be left as little as an hour, but the longer the better.
5. When ready to cook, remove the meat from the marinade, pat it dry, and sprinkle over a little bit more salt and pepper just before cooking. 
6. Then heat a grill, grill pan, or large cast iron skillet over HIGH heat, cook the meat until it gets dark lines on it, give it a ¼ turn and allow it to get cross hatch marks. (If cooking in a flat pan, get a dark crust on the first side, and let it naturally release from the pan, then flip and repeat.)
7. Flip and get a good sear on the second side, then turn the heat down to medium-low and continue cooking until an instant read thermometer reads your favorite temperature.

• Rare: 115 to 120°F (46-49°C)
• Medium-Rare: 120 to 125°F (49-52°C)
• Medium: 130 to 135°F (54-57°C)
• Medium-Well: 140 to 145°F (60-63°C)
• Well-Done: 150 to 155°F (66-68°C)

8. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes, covered, then slice and serve with a few pinches of flakey salt on top and green onions if desired.

Notes

Notes & Tips

If making more than 2 pounds of steak, double the recipe. The flavor doesn't carry quite as well if you use more beef.

The longer the steak rests in the marinade the more flavor it will have. 1-2 hours are ok in a rush, but if you can make the time let it rest for at least 8. Remove the marinaded steak from the fridge 1 hour before cooking to allow the meat to temper, this will also intensify the marinade a bit just before cooking.

You can use just about any cooking method with this marinaded steak. Grilled, air-fried, or sous vide all work with this recipe.

Substitutions

A good swap for honey is maple syrup. Be sure to use real maple if you do use that swap. Agave can also be used.

I prefer tamari because it is a little less salty than regular soy sauce, and bonus it is gluten-free for those who need it. You can use regular soy sauce though if that is all you have access to.

If you can not find roasted garlic powder, you can use regular garlic powder. Just be sure to use a fine powder and not granulated garlic. Swap for only fresh garlic if needed.

I prefer using olive oil for the extra flavor it brings to the marinade. But you could also use vegetable, avocado, or grapeseed oil if needed.

I use this marinade in this recipe to help tenderize and add flavor to the very economical cut of sirloin steak. It can also be used on a more expensive cut, but I don't suggest using it on a fattier cut of meat. Leaner cuts benefit more from the extra flavor.

Recommended Products

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  John Boos MPL1812125G Chop-N-Slice Select Maple Edge Grain Cutting Board, 18 Inches x 12 Inches x 1.25 Inches
• 
  SC Johnson Professional Ziploc Freezer Bags, For Food Organization and Storage, Double Zipper, Gallon, 250 Count
• 
  Jaccard 200348T 48-Blade, HACCP Color Coded Meat Tenderizer, Tan – Pork, 1.50 x 4.00 x 5.75 Inches

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 436Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 826mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 9gProtein: 42g

This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.

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