Marinade for Steak

5 from 2 votes

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This Marinade for Steak is the perfect combination of flavors and ingredients to give you the most tender and juicy steak. The best part? It’s made with ingredients that you likely already have on hand!

steak inside a clear mixing bowl with the marinade

Looking for a quick and easy method to make your steak more tender and juicy? This marinade for steak is the answer! It’s so simple and takes less than 10 minutes to put together. It’s made by combining olive oil, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and a few spices. Each ingredient plays a specific role in making sure that your steak is infused with a variety of flavors while keeping the meat tender, soft, and juicy!

While I do love making steak for a fancy occasion, this recipe made me realize that it doesn’t take much effort to have an amazing, delicious steak dinner any night of the week! Once you try this marinade, you’ll never be able to go back to eating plain steak again!

side view of marinated cooked steak on a white plate

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Can be used for almost any cut of beef.
  • It is full of flavor thanks to a simple, but special blend of spices!
  • Doesn’t take much effort to make, but turns out juicy and perfect every time!

Recipe Ingredients

raw ingredients portioned for a steak marinade
  • Steaks—Any cut of steak will work! If you’re feeling fancy, pick up a rib-eye! Otherwise, I usually opt for a flank steak or strip loin.
  • Worcestershire Sauce—This tangy and savory sauce pairs wonderfully with red meat. 
  • Soy Sauce—Acts as the acid in this marinade. It tenderizes the steak and adds a ton of salty flavor. 
  • Olive Oil—Locks in flavor and moisture.
  • Spices—The most important part of your marinade! You’ll want equal parts of coarse sea salt, garlic powder, dried minced onion, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning. 

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Marinade for Steak 

spices and herbs for the steak marinade

Step #1. In a small bowl, whisk together the worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, and spices.

small clear dish with steak marinade

Step #2. Once the mixture is homogeneous, pour the marinade over the steaks in a medium bowl or Ziploc bag. 

steak inside a clear mixing bowl with the marinade

Step #3. Cover the mixture and allow the steaks to rest in the fridge. This will allow the meat to absorb the flavor of the marinade.

top view of a white plate with a marinated steak

Step #4. Use your favorite method to cook the marinated steak. I prefer to use our air fryer steak method!

Recipe FAQs

What is the best way to tenderize steak?

Pounding your steak is one of the most effective ways to tenderize it. But, a good marinade can create a juicy, tender steak too! Most marinades include some type of acid such as lemon juice or vinegar to help break down the connective proteins in the steak. You’ll want the steak to sit in your marinade for at least 30 minutes, but up to 3 hours for juicy results!

What are the 3 components of a good marinade?

A typical marinade will include 3 parts: an acid, an oil, and some type of flavoring agent. The acid will help break down the connective protein, the oil or fat will help transfer flavor and balance the acid, and the flavoring agent will make your steak savory, salty, and unforgettably tasty!

Should I always marinate my steak?

Not necessarily. If you are using a cheaper cut of steak with not much marbling, then marinating the steak is a great idea to help tenderize and bring out the natural flavors of the meat! Flank steaks or sirloins are cuts of meat that would benefit from a marinade. On the other hand, if you have a more expensive cut of meat with lots of marbling and flavor, a marinade is not as necessary.

side view of a white plate with a marinated steak

Expert Tips

  • If you are letting your steak marinate in a bowl, you will want to cover the bowl with some plastic wrap to keep everything sanitary and safe
  • The red pepper flakes in this recipe add a bit of heat to help balance the sharpness of the garlic, and savoriness of the Italian seasoning. Feel free to add more or less depending on your spice tolerance.
  • You can prep this marinade ahead of time and store it in a Ziploc bag for up to a week before using it. 
  • Marinating your steak before cooking it will not only bring flavor and juiciness to your meat, but it will also give you a slightly caramelized thin coating around the steak for a more elegant look
  • Don’t be afraid to use different spices and bold flavors! Make this marinade unique to your taste and don’t worry that you are using too much spice, because the flavors will settle in as the steak cooks. 
top view aesthetic with two servings of marinated plates

What to Serve with Marinated Steak

After you have marinated and cooked your steak, there are so many wonderful ways to serve it! First off, I always like to garnish my steak with a small slab of butter and some fresh parsley. When it comes to side dishes, I usually go the classic route and serve my steaks with a side of easy mashed potatoes, green beans, and buttered homemade dinner rolls.

More Condiment Recipes To Consider

steak inside a clear mixing bowl with the marinade
5 from 2 votes

Marinade for Steak

This Marinade for Steak is the perfect combination of flavors and ingredients to give you the most tender and juicy steak.
Prep: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients 

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Instructions 

  • Whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Once the mixture is homogeneous pour the marinade over the steaks in a medium sized bowl or Ziploc bag.
  • Allow the steaks to sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to absorb the flavor of the marinade.
  • Use your favorite method to cook your steak, or use our air fryer steak cooking method (see notes).
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Find our air fryer steak instructions here.
  • If you are letting your steak marinate in a bowl, you will want to cover the bowl with some plastic wrap.
  • The calorie count on this recipe is deceiving because you don’t eat all the marinade so I would not calculate that into your meal.
  • The longer you let your steak sit the more flavor it will absorb. When you have the time, I recommend letting your steak rest for an hour rather than 30 minutes.
  • You can prep this marinade ahead of time and store it in a Ziploc bag or plastic container for up to 3 days.
  • You can use any cut of steak with this recipe. For a higher end meal, try using a filet mignon. For a more budget friendly option, grab a couple of flank steaks.
  • The red pepper flakes add a tiny bit of heat to help balance the sharpness of the garlic and savoriness of the Italian seasoning.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 2 servings, Calories: 1031kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 48g, Fat: 87g, Saturated Fat: 22g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 55g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 3213mg, Potassium: 1264mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 427IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 142mg, Iron: 9mg
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