Best Steak Marinade

I promise this is the Best Steak Marinade you’ll try! The balance of salt, tang, herb, and a touch of sweetness is the perfect way to treat your favorite steaks. When you’re serving up a special meal, it deserves to be a guaranteed flavor bomb.

I usually just stick to some salt and pepper on my steaks, but every once in a while I crave more in each bite. This steak marinade will do just that for you! The flavors complement that red meat beautifully to create such a harmony. If you’re going to expand that grocery budget to include steaks, you have to do it right.

I am such a big fan of this marinade, I’ll keep the excess to brush liberally over the steaks as they grill. You can even make an extra batch, without touching raw meat, of course, to serve on the side as a dipping sauce. Am I obsessed with this recipe or what? I’ll happily include it in each step of the process!

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

• Balsamic vinegar – Wine vinegars or lemon juice can be used instead,
• Soy sauce – Make sure to use low-sodium.
• Worcestershire sauce – You can use more or less if you like.
• Olive oil – Sunflower, safflower, canola, vegetable, or avocado oils will work instead.
• Garlic – Use as much or little as you like.
• Brown sugar – Honey or agave can be used instead.
• Herbs – Dried basil and rosemary. Italian seasoning will work too.
• Pepper – Freshly cracked.

How to make the best steak marinade

1. Whisk all the ingredients together. Pour over your steak(s) of choice in a sealable freezer bag and let the steaks marinate for two hours to overnight.

You can even skip the bowl and add all the ingredients straight to the freezer bag. Mix everything well by squishing it around with your hands. This marinade can be used for other types of meat like poultry or pork as well!

How to cook a perfect steak

Now that you’ve given these steaks the tender love and care they deserve, let’s make sure the cooking process goes off without a hitch! Whether you’re using the grill or a skillet on the stove top, you want to make sure the heat is nice and high to get that sought-after sear.

Temperature

• Rare: 130F-140F, 2-3 minutes per side
• Medium-rare: 145F, 4-5 minutes per side
• Medium: 160F, 6-7 minutes per side
• Well done: 170F, 8-9 minutes per side

Tips & tricks

• Before you start, give the meat 20-30 minutes to sit at room temperature. This will help give you a nice and even color throughout.
• First make the “okay” sign with your pointer finger and thumb. Now poke the fleshy part right under your thumb with your other pointer finger, that is how rare steak feels.
• Next press your thumb and middle finger in the okay sign and feel that same fleshy part, that is how medium rare steak feels.
• Press your ring finger and thumb in the “okay” sign and feel that fleshy part, that is how medium steak feels.
• Now press your pinky and thumb together and feel the fleshy part, that is how well done steak feels.

How long does steak marinade last?

You can make a big batch of this marinade and keep it on hand for whenever you need to marinate some protein. Keep this marinade in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

You can also keep the marinade in the freezer. If it’s already in the bag with the steak, it will keep for 3 months. If you’re storing the marinade on its own, you can freeze it up to 9 months. It it thaw overnight in the fridge if it’s paired with meat, or it can thaw at room temperature if it’s alone.

More great homemade grocery staples:

• Chimichurri Sauce
• Thousand Island Dressing
• Homemade Mayonnaise
• Homemade Pesto Recipe
• Enchilada Sauce
• Seasoning Salt
• Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Lemon Pepper
• Taco Seasoning