Simple Marinated Steak

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 07/26/21
Simple marinated steak recipe

The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 17 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
534 Calories
40g Fat
1g Carbs
40g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 534
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g 51%
Saturated Fat 13g 63%
Cholesterol 147mg 49%
Sodium 762mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 33mg 3%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 530mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Simple marinated steak is a super easy recipe. You can marinate the steak for a few minutes or several hours; it will be delicious either way!

If you've never marinated an inexpensive cut of steak before, you are in for a treat. Marinating breaks down the fibers in the meat and helps flavor it, so when it's grilled or broiled, the steak becomes very tender and flavorful. The meat will also be juicier since marinating adds moisture to the meat.

But don't marinate the meat too long, or the fibers will break down too much, and the meat will be mushy. About eight hours is the maximum time for marinating most cuts of meat.

You can cook this steak on an outdoor grill, on an indoor grill, or under the broiler. Just make sure that you don't overcook it. Steak should be cooked to a minimum temperature of 140 F, which is medium-rare, for food safety reasons. The steak will be nice and pink on the inside, with a great sear and crust on the outside.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 pounds steak (round steak, family steak, or sirloin steak)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for grilled marinated steak
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  2. In a heavy duty ziplock bag, combine the olive oil, garlic, garlic powder, soy sauce, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

    Marinate in bag
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  3. Cut the steak into serving-sized pieces and add to the bag. Seal bag and massage marinade into steaks with your hands.

    Mix
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  4. Place the bag into a large casserole dish and refrigerate for 20 minutes up to 8 hours.

    Put in casserole dish
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  5. When you're ready to cook, preheat either your grill or your broiler for cooking.

Grill Method

  1. Preheat the grill.

    Grill
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  2. Remove the steak from marinade; discard any remaining marinade.

    Steak on plate
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  3. Grill the steaks over medium-hot coals for 4 to 7 minutes per side, turning once, until the desired doneness.

    Grilled steak
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  4. Serve and enjoy!

    Serve
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

Broiler Method

  1. Preheat the broiler.

  2. Place the steak on a broiler pan with a rack.

    Broiler pan
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  3. Broil about 6 inches from the heat source for about 5 minutes per side, turning once, until the desired doneness.

    Broiled steak
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  4. Remove the steaks from the grill, place on serving plate, cover with foil and let stand 10 minutes before serving so the juices redistribute, and the steak will be wonderfully tender and juicy.

    Cover with foil
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

  5. Serve with your choice of sides. Enjoy!

    Serve with sides
    ​The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

Tip

Not sure what temperature to cook your steak to? Below is a quick guide for the three most common types of doneness. Using a meat thermometer, measure the temperature:

  • Medium-rare = 140 F
  • Medium = 150 F 
  • Well-done = 160 F

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