This is a simple but magical beef steak marinade that truly tenderises and infuses the steak with flavour, transforming good value steaks into “wow!”. It injects enough flavour that the steak can be eaten plain without sauce or even butter but does not overpower the flavour of the beef, which would be a travesty!
Use this beef steak marinade when you aren’t splurging on prime-grade steaks. It works great on any cut of beef suitable for grilling!
Beef Steak Marinade
I got a hankering for a big, juicy steak.
As it happened, last Friday was abnormally warm considering it’s the middle of winter – 25C/ 80F. Perfect grilling weather. So I tottered into my local village (breaking in new heels), planning to go all out and get a thick top-of-the-line 45 days dry aged Rib Eye. Tied Dozer up outside the butcher and went inside.
As I eyed off the steaks, I heard a pathetic wail from outside. Yes, Dozer. Wailing because I’m inside with all the juicy meat and he’s tethered to a pole.
One little howl and he draws a crowd like moths to a flame. Patting and consoling, cooing to him.
He’s pathetic.
But it worked. Because I paused. And realised that it would be inevitable that I would cave and give him some steak because he’s been somewhat depressed lately, being sidelined due to injuries.
And there was no way I was sharing a prime grade rib eye with him.
So I got a normal T-Bone. And decided to doll it up with a marinade. 😉
The Serious Stuff About Steaks & Marinades
Now that I’ve had my moment of Dozer fawning, I can get down to business!
Fact: Steaks are like wine – the more you spend, the better they are. Juicier, more flavour, more tender, no random bits of sinew throughout.
Fact: Steak Marinades can make steaks more tender and inject flavour into them. So you can seriously transform an every day beef steak into something that tastes as good as a premium cut (in my humble opinion).
Fact: It’s easy to make marinades that infuse flavour into meat. But it’s harder to make marinades that enhance without adding too much flavour into the steak. You want the steak to taste mainly of (gasp, shock horror!) BEEF. Not overwhelmed by marinade flavour.
Fact: Many beef steak marinades will flavour but won’t actually tenderise meat. In order to tenderise beef steak, you need either a tenderising ingredient (typically something acidic) and/or salty liquid to act as a brine to retain moisture. I use both. Soy sauce as the brine element and balsamic vinegar as the tenderiser. So there’s a double effect – tenderising PLUS keeping the beef plump and juicy. 🙂
I promise you, this Beef Steak Marinade makes the beef so juicy and adds enough flavour that you do not need a sauce or mustard on the side.
But because steaks are a bit of a treat in my world, I couldn’t resist going all out and making a little herb butter to accompany the steak.
Oh – and baked potatoes. And grilled corn. (And a few sad stalks of asparagus I dug out from the bottom of the fridge).
Who’s in the mood for a STEAK DINNER now? 🙂 – Nagi x
My favourite back-pocket marinades
These are the ones I use over and over again, made with pantry staples with lots of sub options!
- Just a great Chicken Marinade
- Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade
- Asian Chicken Marinade
- A Great Pork Chop Marinade
- Rosemary Garlic Marinated Lamb Chops
And more steak recipes
- Garlic Thyme Butter Basted Steak – a simple, amazing Cheffy technique for cooking steak
- Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
- Steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce
- Creamy Mushroom Sauce – excellent with steak!
- Mushroom Gravy – this is a seared chicken recipe, just switch the chicken with steak. And another gravy option – Onion Gravy
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Beef Steak Marinade
Ingredients
- 2 large steaks (I used 2 x 400g/14oz t bone steaks) (Note 1)
Marinade
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic (1 large garlic clove)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (or sub with garlic powder)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp oil (I use olive oil, but any oil is fine)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Mix together mustard, garlic and onion powder. Then mix in remaining ingredients.
- Place beef in a ziplock bag with Marinade and marinade overnight (12 - 24 hours).
- Remove from the fridge 1 hour before cooking to bring to room temperature. Shake off excess marinade.
- Heat skillet (or BBQ) on high heat until is really hot - you should see wisps of smoke. Add oil - it will heat almost instantly. Add steaks and cook the first side for 2 minutes, then turn and cook the other side for 1 1/2 minutes (for very medium rare). (Note 3)
- Remove from skillet onto a WARM plate, cover loosely with foil and set aside for 5 minutes.
- Serve with baked potatoes and corn! I couldn't resist herb butter - see recipe in notes.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
We shared one steak. The homeless man at the dog park got the other. He really enjoyed it too!
SaveSave
My hubby requested steak for his birthday dinner, and this recipe popped up in my search. It was just what I was looking for! Just enough flavor but not so much as to overpower the meat flavor. The steak stayed tender, and all 4 kiddos said it was yummy, too. Everyone, especially hubs, was happy. A definite keeper! Thanks for sharing!
Winner! That’s awesome Arlene – N x
When my husband asked me to marinate some Tbones, my response was, “all marinades taste like exactly what they are: soy sauce, Worcestershire, and vinegar.”
But, I thought, if anyone is going to have a good marinade recipe, it’s going to be Nagi.”
I was not wrong. This recipe is fantastic! I didn’t even taste the ingredients – all I tasted was beautiful steak flavour, and the steak was soooo tender.
Thanks for another hit, Nagi!
That’s so great to hear Stella, you’ve totally been converted! 🙂
Best marinade for steak !! Very tasty. Steak was very jucy and tender . Thanks.
I’m so glad you loved it Leah!
We loved this marinade! Grilled the steaks and served them with your Strawberry Avocado Salad. I didn’t make the butter this time but will definitely try it the next time! Both of these will be remade again and again I’m sure. Thanks Nagi!
Perfect Christianne!!
Loved the humour and sense of care for Dozer and people. Best wishes.
Thanks so much Michael!
Hi Nagi, I can’t use soy for my hubby. Can I just sub extra worcestershire sauce instead or something else?
Hi Peebee, the soy is just for the salt content, just add a little extra salt and omit the soy – N x
Really really good.
I tried 2 ways.
First one i just salted before bbq, it was good.
Second one garlic pepper and salt.
It was awesome.
Wahoo! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Peter!
your recipes are awesome I
Thanks so much!
You mentioned Tamari is too strong a flavour for this recipe. I’m allergic to wheat, can I still use Tamari, but just use less (eg 1/2 Tbsp)?
Hi Lee, yes, maybe just add 1 tsp ☺️
Since trying this recipe my kids get disappointed if we are having steak and I haven’t marinated it using this recipe! Another winner! I usually only marinate for a couple of hours (because I forget 🙄) and the steak is still great 👍
I’m so glad it’s a hit with your family!! ☺️
Quite possibly the best marinade i’ve ever used! the steak was amazing, i used wholegrain mustard as i didn’t have dijon, let it marinade for around 6 hours, Nagi thank you!
Woah what great feedback!! Thanks Scott!
Hi Nagi, is using outside flat steak good for grilling?
Thinking of vacuum sealing in a bag. Could I then prepare it earlier, say 48hrs in advance?
YES! Perfect for vacuum sealing! 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi,
I have some rump steak from the supermarket in the UK and the instructions say to fry. I am guessing this will not be suitable for your marinade?
Susan, I used a supermarket grade rump steak because I didn’t have the money for a premium grade steak. I also had no balsamic vinegar, so I used apple cider vinegar and the result was superb.
Great marinade – the meat was tender, soft and delicious. My girlfriend was super impressed how yummy it was!!
Thanks Nagi! Keep up the good work
That’s so great to hear Dizzle! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x
Yum, husband thoroughly impressed.
Thank you!
Cathy
Absolutely money! Used this with Tri Tip and marinated for 24hrs… #MVP
That’s so great to hear Mandae! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this! N x
If you don’t have 12 to 24 hours to marinate should you not do it? I have about five or six hours that I could marinade. Or I could just save it for another night
Definitely still do it!!!!
Do you think this would work well with pork tenderloin?
What about sirloin steak? Good flavor, less calories – think this marinade will do the trick?
Definitely but to be honest, if it’s an expensive good quality sirloin steak, I personally would not marinade but if it’s an economy one, I would! N x
Well, I did it. Best sirloin I ever grilled! Tender, juicy and not tough. Consider it a success! First visit to this website – I will be back …..Thanks a bunch!
WHOOT!!! So pleased to hear that Kathy!! N xx