This is Our All-Time Favorite Steak Marinade. It requires only four ingredients, and makes our steak taste SO amazing!
Grilling season is upon us, which means you can find us regularly cooking steaks, chicken, and burgers for dinner. We are always whipping up a batch of this easy Steak Marinade to add ALL the flavor!
our fav marinade – only 4 ingredients!
One of the best and nostalgic things about the summer are BBQ dinners!! Who’s with me?! Have you ever gone out for a walk or drive and caught a “whiff” of the heavenly smell of someone grilling? Delicious, right?!
Usually the smell is meat – someone grilling delicious steak, chicken or ribs on the grill. Today we are sharing our all-time favorite Steak Marinade that is simple and makes your steak taste so delicious.
The hubby and I LOVE to grill steak for special occasions and this marinade is always our go-to. And best part? It only requires 4 ingredients. We got it from a neighbor years ago, and I’m not sure that we’ll ever find another Steak Marinade Recipe that beats it!
How to make steak marinade
This marinade is perfect for 2 whole steaks. If you are grilling more, then double the recipe for every two steaks you’re adding.
As I mentioned, this marinade only requires 4 ingredients (and the 4th ingredient is even optional!).
- Italian Dressing
- A1 Sauce – the original flavor
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Lemon juice (totally optional, just adds a little zest!)
MIX. All you have to do is throw each of these steak marinade ingredients into a gallon sized ziploc bag or small bowl and mix them. Once they’re mixed, add your steak.
MARINATE. We love flat iron steaks – they don’t have too much fat, are fairly inexpensive, and really delicious!
GRILL. Once they have marinated long enough, throw them on the grill, cook them to your liking.
How long should I marinate?
- Marinade a cut of meat for as little as 30 minutes- 2 hours. I like to marinade my steak overnight, about 8-12 hours. You can marinate steak for up to 24 hours.
- The longer you marinate a steak the more the marinade can break down the tissues in the meat which causes the meat to become mushy, tough and dry.
- Marinate at room temperature for up to 1 hour. Any longer and you’ll need to use the refrigerator.
Key Marinating components
A great steak marinade has 3 key components. The components can be mixed and matched to create so many flavor combinations. The components should be balanced and given ample time to marinate the beef.
- Fats enhance flavors and moisturizes: coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, duck fat, or an oil based salad dressing
- Acid to tenderize and flavor: viegar, wine, citrus, buttermilk
- Flavor not only enhances the taste but helps with caramelization: herbs, spices, sauces, sugar, honey, garlic, onions, chilis, pepper, salt, onion powder
what to serve with steak:
Best cuts for the grill
- Flat Irons/Skirt Steak
- Top Sirloin
- T-bone
- Porterhouse
- Round Steak
- New York Strip Steak
- Flank Steak
Prime cuts like filet mignon, ribeye, or other premium aged beef is already flavorful and tender so you’ll want to pass on marinating those. There are still several other cuts of meat perfect for marinating.
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.
Tips for the Grill
- Start with a clean grill and add a little vegetable or olive oil to the grate before heating.
- Allow the steaks to come to room temperature before putting them on the grill.
- 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.
- Never reuse steak marinade once it has come in contact with raw meat. If you wish to use the marinade to baste the meat or to make a sauce, then you’ll need to set some aside BEFORE adding raw meat.
Other cooking methods: Grilled steak is my absolute favorite. Thankfully that’s not the only way you can cook a marinated steak. You can also use a cast-iron skillet or a grill pan to cook the steak on the stove top.
How to tell when your steak is done
For steaks that are 1.5” 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 each side
- Medium Rare: 4 minutes each side
- Medium: 5 minutes each side
Storing info
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 you wish to thaw and cook it.
- Meat must be frozen before the freeze by date
- For best results do not freeze in a marinade for longer than 3 months.
- Thaw in the fridge
STORE. After being cooked, store it in a Ziploc bag and place in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZE. Wrap it tightly and place in a freezer bag, freezing for up to 3 months.
Using leftover steak
If we have leftover steak, we also like to use it in these recipes:
For more grilling recipes, check out:
- Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers
- Chicken Souvlaki
- Delicious Chicken Marinade
- Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Skewers
- Fajita Marinade
- Carne Asada Marinade
Steak Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 c Italian Dressing
- 1/2 c A1 Original
- 1/2 c Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Place all your ingredients in a gallon bag or tupperware. Mix well.
- Add your steak (we prefer Flat Irons because they are tender and fairly inexpensive).
- Let marinade for 24-36 hours. You can even do 12 hours if you’d like but I think it’s better if it’s for at least 24 hours.
- Grill and ENJOY!
This looks amazing!! Have to try it!
(The steak marinade 🙂 )
What a great recipe! I’d love for you to share it at my party this week!
http://www.livingbettertogether.com/2013/07/tgif-link-party-no-4_11.html
Have a great day!
Rebecca
How can I print this recipe for the Steak Marinade??????
This looks so good! I love grilling season! I am going to add this to our list of things to try this summer! xo
Every picture is mouthwatering! Can’t wait to try the marinade;)
Ooooo YUM!!I cannot wait to try this!!
Ah ha! The steak marinade! Yes, I can attest that it is delicious. I may have to actually try cooking steak sometime cause it was so good.
how many steaks will this cover? sorry if I missed that earlier in the post…
I usually will stick 2 whole steaks in there and it gets covered well. I think 1 1/2 the recipe would do 3 or 4 easily. 🙂
Thank you, this looks delicious! Will try this tonight 🙂
I tried this the other night and you’re right it is amazing!!!! We’re having guests this weekend and I’m planning on soaking the steaks tomorrow!! The only A-1 I had in the house is the one with tobasco in it and it truly was amazing!! Thank you fir sharing!!!
Made this marinade for dinner last night and it was so good. My filets came out so juicy and flavorful. Definitely my new favorite marinade.
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Hi, what is A1, can somebody tell me please? Thank you!!!
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
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!
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!!
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!
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.
interesting marinade. Do you pat the steak dry before grilling.
Nope 🙂 It is so good!!
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!!
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!
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!!
Easiest recipe ever. The meat comes out so flavorful and tender. A definIte one to try.
This is seriously the best marinade. It adds so much flavor! I need to try it with chicken next! I love how easy it is too!!
NEEDED A STEAK MARINADE LAST MINUTE AND THIS SOUNDED QUICK AND EASY – I MISSED THE a1 SAUCE IN THE INGREDIENT LIST, SO ADDED SOME HONEY ~ LESS THAN 1/4 CUP – AND USED IT ON SOME SKIRT STEAK – IT WAS AMAZING! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECIPE, WILL TRY IT WITH a1 NEXT TIME <3
You are welcome!! I’ll have to try adding honey! Thank you for letting me know!
This Recipe was a hit with the Entire Family! That Marinade is to die for! So tasty!
Soooooo easy and sooooo delicious. THanks!
WE followed the directions exactly and this was a “miss” for me and my husband, It sure was easy though. We marinated for 1.5 days. Used Rib eyes. Not our favorite 🙁
I appreciate you giving it a try 🙂
Thanks for this recipe- it sounds delicious. I’m planning on trying it for my daughter’s birthday dinner next week. Do you use a full bottle of each of these ingredients for the marinade?
Thank you so much!
You are welcome!! It is our favorite go-to!! No, the measurements are listed in the recipe box 🙂 Hope you like it!
Made this tonight, and the family loved it!
Thanks for trying it! Glad they did!
one of my bosses give me this recipe over 30 years ago . did not have a1 sauce in it but have used the recipe for years. have grilled and cooked under broiler. it is so easy and tastes awesome. I have also used top of round cut at least 1 inch thick.
You will have to try adding the A1 sauce & let me know what you think. Thanks for sharing that!
I would like to put this in the oven, how long should I bake it for and on what temperature?
Love this simple marinade!! We used this all summer on different cuts of meat. So much flavor from just a few ingredients that we always have in hand.
We enjoy this so much. Thank you for a great recipe
My favorite marinade! Steaks, chops, brisket, it’s the only one I use.
My fav!
Dry Italian seasoning or liquid Italian seasoning?
It is 1 cup Italian dressing (liquid).
Can I substitute lime juice for lemon juice ?
You sure can! 🙂
Thanks a lot for this tasty recipe! It’s very helpful.
I can’t eat steak without this marinade!! It adds a delicious flavor!
I absolutely love the smell of steak grilling. This marinade was absolute perfection. Perfect combination of flavors. I love that I had all the ingredients on hand too!
Always good recipes to try. All very good!
Thank you!! So glad you enjoy the recipes!
Sohbet
Soooo good! So helpful when you can’t decide how to cook the steak
This is GO TO!
Thank you! So glad you enjoy it!
I used this marinade when making beef kabobs. I doubled the recipe to marinade the cut up steak in one Ziploc bag, and the cut up bell peppers and mushrooms in another Ziploc bag. I did use the optional lemon juice when I made this. The kabobs came out great, and I got several compliments on them when served at a cookout.