The easiest and most amazing ways to elevate any cut of meat.
Unless you're grilling the finest and freshest Wagyu beef in your backyard on a routine basis, chances are you're cooking with meat that could use just a little helping hand. Fortunately, the right steak marinade can help you elevate any slab of beef by tenderizing it and infusing it with loads of extra steak marinade flavor at the same time.So whether you're grilling, pan-frying, broiling, searing, Pittsburghing, sous-vide-ing, or even slow-cooking, here are the best steak marinade recipes that are guaranteed to make your dinner turn out a whole lot better when it's done. And remember: whatever steak marinade you choose, all of them call for marinating the steaks between two and four hours before cooking. (However, the longer you let it marinate, the more the flavor your steak will have. We recommend doing it overnight, if you can.)
1.The Classic Italian Steak Marinade
This simple balsamic vinaigrette–based marinade is ideal if you're looking for a lighter flavor to add to a thick porterhouse steak. Inspired by the classic bistecca alla Fiorentina dish from Florence, Italy, this steak marinade won't overwhelm the flavor of the meat, but will help accentuate it.
What You Need
One 3-pound bone-in T-bone steak, about 4 inches thick
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped rosemary
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground pepper
What To Do
Combine the vinegar, olive oil, and rosemary in Ziploc bag. Add the steak, seal the bag and refrigerate overnight, turning the bag several times.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Remove steak from marinade and season with salt and pepper. Discard marinade. Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high in grill pan. Grill the steak about 5 minutes on each side, until lightly charred on both sides.
Place the steak on a baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the tenderloin section reads 125 degrees.
Transfer the steak to a carving board and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. Use a carving knife to slice it across the grain and serve.
2.The Lemon-Garlic Combo Steak Marinade
Lemon and garlic can make for a terrific combination, blending into a mouth-wateringly complex flavor. This is a great one, that hits citrusy notes with a kick of spice from the red pepper flakes.
What You Need
Two 6-ounce bone-in ribeye steaks
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
What To Do
Combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and sea salt, as well as steaks, in a sturdy Ziploc bag.
Marinate in fridge for 2-4 hours.
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high in grill pan. Grill the steak about 5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the meat.
3.The Soy Sensation Steak Marinade
Soy sauce is a solid base for a wide range of steak marinade recipes (as you'll see from the others on this list), bringing rich, salty and savory undertones to the meat. With this marinade, you can leave the steak sauce on the shelf.
What You Need
Two 8-ounce boneless steaks (sirloin works well)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1 lemon, squeezed, with seeds removed
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon dried basil
2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
What To Do
Combine all ingredients, including steaks, into a sturdy Ziploc bag and mix well.
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours.
Remove steak from marinade and discard marinade. Grill on medium-high for about 5 minutes on each side.
4.The Savory Ginger Soy Steak Marinade
Ginger goes great with soy when creating a steak marinade, particularly if combined with something to add a bit of sweetness—honey, molasses, or hoisin sauce, for example (sugar can always work too, in a pinch). This recipe comes from The New York Times' Mark Bittman, who is not a big advocate of long marinating times and says it's "ideal for steak, but it works beautifully with any tender meats like burgers, boneless chicken, tuna and swordfish, all of which can be turned in the sauce before putting them on the grill."
What You Need
One 16- to 24-ounce boneless steak (rib-eye, skirt or strip), or one 24- to 32-ounce bone-in steak (rib-eye or T-bone)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon honey, molasses, or hoisin sauce
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Juice of 1/2 lime
What To Do
Mix together the marinade ingredients; taste and add more of anything you like.
Turn the steak in the sauce once or twice, then let sit in the sauce until the grill is hot. (If you prefer to let your steak marinate for longer, consider combining all ingredients into a Ziploc bag and putting in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours prior to grilling.)
Start a charcoal or wood fire or heat a gas grill; the fire should be hot and the rack no more than 4 inches from the heat source.
Turn the steak one more time, then place on the grill; spoon any remaining sauce over it. For rare meat, grill about 3 minutes a side for steaks less than an inch thick. For larger or more done steak, increase the time slightly.
5.The Korean-Style Steak Marinade
If you've ever been to Korean barbecue and tried the bulgogi, you can appreciate how flavorful this sweet and savory dish can be. Though that's usually made with short ribs, it can work great on steaks, too. Here's a recipe from celebrity chef and James Beard Award winner Michael Symon that does just that.
What You Need
4 1/3-inch thick slices strip steak
3 tablespoons ginger, finely grated
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
For serving: 2 limes, cut into wedges; 1/2 bunch cilantro, leaves picked
What To Do
Combine the ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, Sriracha, and olive oil in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the beef and cover with plastic wrap. Let marinate for a few minutes to as long as one hour.
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high in grill pan. Remove the meat from the marinade and place on the grill, cooking 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill.
Serve the strip steaks with lime wedges, cilantro and Sriracha.
6.The Vietnamese-Style Steak Marinade
Southeast Asia offers its own delicious flavor elements that work great in a steak marinade, including fish sauce—yes, fish sauce. This sauce, popular in Vietnamese cooking, comes from fermented fish, as its name implies. It might not taste great on its own, but neither does Worcestershire sauce (which is itself made of fermented anchovy). But when incorporated into a savory steak marinade, balanced with garlic, ginger, and brown sugar, it's pretty amazing.
What You Need
16 ounces skirt steak
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 cup lime juice
Sunflower or canola oil
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
What To Do
Combine the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar into a sturdy Ziploc bag. Taste to be sure it's not too salty, and add more sugar or lime juice if so. Place the skirt steak in the marinade and seal the bag. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high in grill pan. Set the steak on the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side, until a both sides have a good char. Slice the steak across the grain and serve, adding a fresh squeeze of lime juice.
7.The Cuban Twist Marinade
Cuban cuisine is rich with citrus, cumin, and spices. This steak marinade goes well with strip steak and a tropical salad (and maybe some Buena Vista Social Club on the radio)
What You Need
24 ounces boneless sirloin strip steak
2 tablespoon McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1-1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup of orange juice
Juice of 1/2 fresh lime
grated lime zest
What To Do
Combine the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Add the steak and turn, coating both sides.
Refrigerate a minimum of 30 minutes.
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high in grill pan. Grill the steak for about 4 minutes on each side, until meat is as well done as you prefer. Slice and serve.
8.The Chipotle Adobo Steak Marinade
For rich flavor with a serious spiciness, you can't do much better than chipotle chilis—with a big assist from the adobo sauce it comes soaked in. This recipe leverages both of these delicious ingredients.
What You Need
16 to 24 ounces of beef flank steak
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons chipotle chilies, minced in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons adobo sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lime peel, freshly grated
Salt
What To Do
Mix the marinade ingredients in small bowl, combining thoroughly, and place in a Ziploc bag with the steak. Turn steak to coat and refrigerate marinating steak for 6 hours or more.
Heat grill pan to medium high, adding a dollop of olive oil. Remove steak from marinade and discard marinade, placing steak on pan about 5 minutes on each side (or slightly less or more, depending on how you prefer it). Thinly slice across the grain on the diagonal and serve.
9.The Pop of Papaya Marinade
This one's probably a bit different than steak marinade recipes you've used in the past. Papaya naturally tenderizes tough meat fibers through an enzyme in its skin, while also adding a natural flavor to it. This recipe just requires the papaya skins, but don't let the fruit go to waste—a fresh papaya salad goes great with this marinated steak.
What You Need
28 ounces flank steaks or skirt steaks
2 skins from medium ripe papayas (should still have 1/8 inch of papaya flesh intact)
2 scallions, minced
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves
3/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, stir scallions, mustard, thyme, pepper, ginger, and cumin. Rub the mixture evenly over the steak.
Put 2 of the papaya skin halves in a glass baking dish, flesh side up. Place steak on top of them, then top with remaining 2 papaya skins, flesh side down. Be sure the skins are touching the meat's surface—that's what will break down the fibers to effectively marinade
Cover baking dish and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
Heat grill pan to medium high.
Discard papaya skins and lightly oil both sides of steak, seasoning with salt. Grill the steak about 5 minutes on each side. Carve the meat across the grain into thin slices and serve.
10.The Red Wine Steak Marinade
Red wine goes great with steaks—but not just as an accompanying beverage. The subtle flavors of the wine actually make it a terrific ingredient for a steak marinade, and one which goes particularly well with a well-marbled tri-tip steak. Here's the recipe.
What You Need
2 ½ pound tri-tip steak
2/3 cup red wine (go with a nice mid-shelf wine—not dirt cheap, since the flavor will come through, but don't waste the really good stuff)
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon fresh garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
What To Do
Combine the marinade ingredients into a Ziplock bag, mix well and add the steak. Marinade for 6 hours or more (it's a big piece of meat, so longer will help ensure more flavor gets through). Remove meat from refrigerator and lest sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Preheat outdoor grill for high heat, lightly oiling the grate. Place the meat on the preheated grill, cooking for about 4 minutes, then flipping, repeating this every 4 minutes until the beef firms up and appears to be a juicy reddish-pink in the center (generally about 25 to 30 minutes). It should read 130 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.
Let sit for 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
11.The Dijon Kick Steak Marinade
This recipe will give your steak a nice Dijon-spice kick, incorporating rosemary and crushed red pepper to create a really satisfying combination of flavors.
What You Need
2 24-ounch hanger steaks, trimmed
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
2 sprigs rosemary, picked and finely chopped
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Pinch crushed red pepper
What To Do
Combine the Dijon, garlic, rosemary, lemon juice and zest, and crushed red pepper into a bowl, fully mixing them. Place steaks in the bowl, fully coating them with the marinade. Cover and place in the fridge for at least two hours (though overnight would be even better).
Preheat the grill. Remove steaks from refrigerator and remove from steak marinade. Season the steaks with salt but hold on to the marinade.
Brush and oil the grill. Place the steaks on a hot spot on the grill and brush them with the excess marinade, moving steaks out of the flame if there is a flare up. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium rare (longer for more well done). Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Slice and serve.
12.The Herb Magic Steak Marinade
This herb-heavy recipe gives a nice light flavor to your steak, and works best with a thicker cut, like a porterhouse. The apple cider vinegar rounds out the flavors nicely.
What You Need
2 16-ounce porterhouse steaks
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 sprigs of thyme
6 sprigs of rosemary
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, combine oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and mustard, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic, thyme, and rosemary to the bowl, mixing well.
Put marinade into large Ziplock bags, adding steaks and ensuring they are covered completely.
Place bag(s) in refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours—turning once or twice.
Remove meat from bag. Discard the sprigs of thyme and rosemary. Season steaks with kosher salt.
Prepare a charcoal or gas grill with coals or heat on medium-high. Brush both sides of the marinated steak with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic and herbs. Grill the steaks, turning at least once, cooking until meat reaches desired doneness. Slice and serve.
13.The Garlic Special Steak Marinade
Some guys love garlic, some hate it. During dates and romantic evenings, it's probably best avoided, but for a hearty night of steak at home, you'd do well to make friends with the bulb. Here's a simple, delicious recipe that will allow you to do just that.
What You Need
2 16-ounce rib-eye steaks
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
15 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
Coarse salt and pepper
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, combine oil, garlic, and thyme. Add steaks, making sure to completely coat. Cover dish and refrigerate at least 1 hour or as long as overnight. Turn steaks a few times if marinating overnight.
Prepare grill, lightly oiling grates. Remove steak from marinade and season with salt and pepper, discarding marinade. Place steak on grill, and cover, turning once, until meat is desired doneness (12 to 16 minutes should get it to medium-rare).
14.The Rich Tomato Steak Marinade
Here's another excellent marinade option that incorporates red wine, but goes even more hearty by making tomato sauce part of the flavor.
What You Need
Two 8-ounce boneless steaks
2 teaspoons of thyme
1 cup of Worcester sauce
I cup red wine
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, combine the Worcester sauce, wine, and tomato sauce, as well as the salt, thyme, and chili peppers. Fully mix and add the steak, coating completely and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Remove steaks, remove excess steak marinade and pan grill about 5 minutes on each side or longer, depending on your preferred level of doneness.
Pour the marinade into a sauce pan. Bring to a boil and simmer until reduced by half. Serve over the finished steaks.
15.The Sweet and Savory Steak Marinade
Brown sugar is a great option when marinating, particularly when complemented by soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The three work together brilliantly and give the meat a deep, satisfying flavor.
What You Need
1 cup soy sauce
2 pounds ribeye steak
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
4 teaspoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and mix. Add steak and stir to coat. Marinate 6 hours to overnight.
Prepare grill, lightly oiling grates. Remove steak from steak marinade and season with salt and pepper, discarding marinade. Place steak on grill, and cover, turning once, until meat is desired doneness (12 to 16 minutes should get it to medium-rare).
Alex Daniel