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Our favorite easy steak marinade requires only four ingredients and makes mouth-watering steak every time!
our favorite marinade!
Summer means grilling season is upon us, which means you can find us regularly cooking steak, Chicken, and our Hamburgers for dinner.
Decades ago, we got a steak marinade recipe from a neighbor, and we’ve been using it ever since. Not only is it super simple, but it makes our steak even more delicious and flavorful.
Trust us – you’ll never need another steak marinade recipe after trying this one!
Why we love it:
- So easy. This simple recipe whips up in minutes and only requires 4 ingredients!!!
- Make it yours. You can easily change up the flavor profile or add a bit of spice, but we love this marinade just as it is.
- For all grilled dinner ideas. This works well with a variety of steak cuts, chicken, or even ribs!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 4 hours 5 minutes
COOK TIME: 12 minutes
- 1 cup Italian dressing – We don’t have a favorite brand and have successfully made this recipe for steak marinade using whatever brand was on sale that week. Use 1 cup liquid dressing, not a powdered Italian seasoning mix.
- ½ cup A.1. Original sauce – the original flavor. A1 Sauce is a commonly found steak sauce in the US. A very similar product outside the US would be HP sauce. It is a bit tangier and spicier than A1 sauce, so you may wish to balance the flavor by adding a bit of sugar.
- ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice – optional, or lime juice to add a bit of a zesty layer of flavor
- 1 pound steak of choice
Best Cuts for the Grill
- Our family loves flat iron steak or skirt steak, but other cuts of meat that are good for marinating and grilling include sirloin, t-bone, porterhouse, round steak, New York strip steak, and flank steak.
- Prime cuts like filet mignon, ribeye, or other premium aged beef are already flavorful and tender so pass on marinating those.
How to Marinate Steak
This steak marinade recipe is perfect for 2 whole steaks. If you are grilling more, double the recipe for every two steaks added.
- MARINATE. Combine 1 cup Italian dressing, ½ cup A.1. sauce, ½ cup Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a large resealable plastic bag or airtight container. Mix well.
- Add 1 pound steak to the marinade, coating all sides.
- Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 4 hours up to 36 hours.
- GRILL. When ready to cook, preheat the grill to 450–500°F. Allow steaks to come to room temperature.
- Place steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred (4–5 minutes). Flip steaks over and continue to grill to the desired doneness (see below; 5–7 minutes for medium).
- Let meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. The steak will continue to cook a bit and the juices will distribute.
Simple Steak Marinade Tips
- Poke a few holes in the steak with a fork to allow the marinade to easily reach the center of the meat.
- Be sure you have enough marinade for the amount of meat. Flip the steak halfway during the marinating time to ensure all sides get coated.
Complete the Meal
- SIDE DISHES: Oven Roasted Vegetables, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Best Mashed Potatoes, Twice Baked Potatoes
- DESSERTS: Chocolate Lava Cake, Jello Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake
- More marinades: Fajita Marinade, Best Chicken Marinade, Carne Asada Marinade
More collections: Beef Dinner Ideas, Grilled Dinner Ideas, Family Dinner Ideas
Steak Marinade
Our all-time favorite steak marinade requires only four ingredients and makes mouth-watering steak that tastes amazing!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- ½ cup A.1. Original sauce
- ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
- 1 pound steak of choice, (flat-iron, skirt, top sirloin or flank steak)
Instructions
- Combine dressing, A.1. sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice in a large resealable plastic bag or airtight container. Mix well.
- Add steak to the marinade, making sure it is coated on all sides.
- Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 4 hours or up to –36 hours.
- When ready to cook, preheat the grill to 450–500°F. Allow steaks to come to room temperature.
- Place steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred (4–5 minutes). Flip steaks over and continue to grill to the desired doneness (see below; 5–7 minutes for medium).
- Let meat rest for 5 minutes before serving. The steak will continue to cook a bit and the juices will distribute.
Video
Notes
Grill prep. Start with a clean grill and add a little vegetable or olive oil to the grate before heating.
Doneness guide. For steaks that are 1½ inches or thicker, use a meat thermometer. Start by charring them on both sides over high heat, then move them to low heat to finish cooking to the desired temperature:
o Rare: 120°F
o Medium-Rare: 130°F
o Medium: 140°F
o Medium-Well: 150–160°F
o Well Done: over 160°F
Freeze marinating meat. Freezing stops the marinating process so it is safe to add your meat to a marinade and then keep it in the freezer until ready to thaw and cook. For best results, do not freeze in this flavorful marinade for longer than 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
STORE. After cooking the meat in the homemade steak marinade, store it in a Ziploc bag and place it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZE. Wrap the steak tightly and place it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1steak, Calories: 702kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 50g, Fat: 36g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 136mg, Sodium: 3154mg, Potassium: 1609mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 271IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 148mg, Iron: 8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
What makes a great steak marinade?
- A great steak marinade has 3 key components. The components can be mixed and matched to create so many flavor combinations. They should be balanced and given ample time to marinate the beef.
- Fats enhance flavors and moisturize. Use coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, duck fat, butter, or an oil-based salad dressing.
- Acid to tenderize and flavor. Use vinegar, wine, citrus, or buttermilk.
- Flavor not only enhances the taste but aids caramelization. Try fresh herbs, spices, sauces, sugar, honey, garlic, onions, chilis, pepper, salt, or onion powder. Add spice with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
steak grilling tips?
- Oil. Start with a clean grill and add vegetable or olive oil to the grate before heating.
- Room temperature. Allow the steaks to come to room temperature before putting them on the grill (about 30 minutes).
- Cooking. Only flip the steak once. Let the meat rest after taking it off the grill. The steak will continue to cook a bit and the juices will distribute.
- Marinade. Never reuse this best steak marinade for steak once it has come in contact with raw meat. To use this best marinade for steak to baste the meat or to make a sauce, set some aside BEFORE adding raw meat.
- Cooking temperature. I heat my grill to between 450-550°F before grilling steak.
- Searing. Remember to sear the steak over direct heat.
- Thinner steaks will cook sufficiently with searing.
- For a thinker cut. once seared, move to indirect heat to finish cooking.
How can I tell when the steak is done cooking?
- For steaks that are 1½ inches or thicker, use a meat thermometer. Start by charring them over HIGH heat then moving them to a section set to LOW heat to finish cooking.
- Rare: 120°F
- Medium Rare: 130°F
- Medium: 140°F
- For thinner steaks, use a timer and cook over high heat
- Rare: 3 minutes on each side
- Medium Rare: 4 minutes on each side
- Medium: 5 minutes on each side
Cook steak without a grill?
- Use a cast-iron skillet or a grill pan to cook the steak on the stovetop.
Can I freeze steak in marinade?
- Freezing stops the marinating process so it is safe to add your meat to a marinade and then keep it in the freezer until ready to thaw and cook. For best results, do not freeze in this flavorful marinade for longer than 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
How to store leftover steak?
- After cooking the meat in the homemade steak marinade, store it in a Ziploc bag and place it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Wrap the steak tightly and place it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Easiest recipe ever. The meat comes out so flavorful and tender. A definIte one to try.
I used this recipe to serve to my family at our annual bbq & it was fabulous!! Definitely a go to from now on!!!
Woohoo!! Isn’t it the best?! Thank you for trying it!!
What brand of Italian Dressing do you use?? There are so many out there would love to know which you prefer please!
I do not have a favorite. I have honestly used so many….Kraft, Wish Bone, store brand…I like them all 🙂 Whatever is on sale!
The steak looks so great! Wow! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Gotta try this recipe soon!
It is the best marinade! I hope you try it & like it!!
interesting marinade. Do you pat the steak dry before grilling.
Nope 🙂 It is so good!!
Hi,
Can you please tell me what ‘A1 (original) is? I’d love to try your marinade but have no idea what A1 is.
Thanks,
Mike
It’s a sauce that is so good with meat!! Here is the definition from google…..A.1. Sauce includes tomato purée, raisin paste, distilled vinegar, corn syrup, salt, crushed orange purée, dried garlic and onions, spice, celery seed, caramel color, and xanthan gum. The original sauce included more expensive malt vinegar, molasses, and marmalade in its ingredients.
Wow all of those looks absolutely delicious and love the photos! Steak has always been one of my favorite foods to cook! Also those fried zucchini got me very interested to try, thanks for sharing this!
Thanks and they are so good together! It’s a great meal!
I too have been using this homemade marinade for years & sometimes I replace the worsteshire sauce for terriyaki marinade & it’s so good too!
Oh, I love teriyaki!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
What kind of steaks do you use? I only use rid eyes or new york steaks..haven’t seen the kind you used..going to make this the next time I cook steaks..just bought 6 steaks 2 days ago..I froze them..
thank you for sharing your recipe with us…
I love flat irons! But, I also love steak, so usually whatever is on sale, that’s what we get. Hope that helps!! This marinade is so tasty!
Hi Krystyn
I live in Australia & I would love to use your Marinade, but I am lost as to what “A1” is???
Could you please explain & suggest a substitute?
Kind regards
A friend “Down Under”
A1 is a steak sauce and I can’t think of anything that would work for it. It’s has a very unique flavor.
HP sauce would work