Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (2024)

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Want to add juicy flavor to steaks? You just need 5 minutes of prep time with this flank steak marinade recipe. Most of the ingredients are pantry and fridge staples. Let’s make it!

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (1)

Table of Contents

Why marinade flank steak?

Did you know flank steak is a pretty tough cut of meat? Using a simple acidic marinade like this one will help to tenderize those otherwise chewy muscle fibers. The result is meat that is juicy and tender.

In addition, a marinade adds so much more flavor than just adding salt and pepper to steak.

3 easy steps to marinating success

  1. Whisk together marinade ingredients.
  2. Marinade steak in the fridge for 2-24 hours. (marinating overnight is great)
  3. Sear, BBQ grill, or broil finish marinated flank steak to perfection.

See how to smoke flank steak

Ingredients to make it

Grab your pantry staples and flavor boosters to make this marinade in just a few minutes.

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (2)
  • Steak: 1.5 lb flank steak will feed about 2 people. Substitute skirt steak.
  • Base marinade ingredients: olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice (substitute lemon juice), honey, dijon mustard, fresh garlic, pepper.
  • Optional flavor-boosters: fresh ginger, red pepper flakes, cilantro.
  • To cook and plate it: olive oil and fresh chopped cilantro.

Don’t have some of the ingredients above? No problem!

Check out the recipe at the bottom of this post for substitutions including brown sugar and worcestershire sauce.

Check out this homemade flap steak marinade to break down tough cuts of beef…

How to Make Flank Steak Marinade

Step 1. Make the marinade in a large bowl or freezer bag.

Add the olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice, honey, dijon mustard, garlic, pepper, ginger, and red pepper flakes.

Whisk to combine.

Set aside ¼ cup of the marinade for later (refrigerate if desired, though the olive oil will solidify at a colder temperature for a longer period of time).

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (3)

Step 2. Marinade flank steak. Add flank steak and cilantro to the marinade bowl and toss to cover it in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight or 24 hours. Once done marinated, remove steak from marinade and discard cilantro and excess marinade liquid.

Step 3. Grill, broil, or sear finish marinated steak. See the printable recipe at the bottom of this page for steps to grilling the steak or doing a broil flank steak finish.

To sear it, heat a large cast iron skillet to medium high to high heat. Add half the olive oil to the pan.

When the oil is hot and shiny and begins to smoke, remove the steak from the marinade and add the steak to the pan.

Sear for about 3-4 minutes per side until the outside begins to brown.

See how to make a steak salsa marinade…

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (4)

While cooking, add more olive oil to the pan if the steak begins to stick. Use tongs to sear the edges of the flank steak for about 30 seconds. Check the internal temperature of the flank steak and remove from heat when desired temperature is reached.

Suggestion: until desired temperature is reached, continue flipping steak every 10-20 seconds so it gets a beautiful brown crust and doesn’t burn.

Final step: Rest cooked flank steak for at least 10 minutes.

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (5)

To plate the meat, thinly slice steak against the grain and serve with a drizzle of reserved marinade (that was set aside and not in contact with the raw beef, from the first step).

Very thinly sliced steak about ½″ thick or less is perfect for steak sandwiches or to add steak to tacos.

Sprinkle steak with fresh cilantro and enjoy.

Have you tried all these exotic asian fruits?

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (6)

FAQs

What to serve with flank steak?

– Make it carne asada style and serve with guacamole dip or salsa.
– A sauce like jalapeno ranch, chimichurri sauce, or basil spinach pesto.
– Regular rice or Trader Joe’s cauliflower rice.
Red wine caramelized onions.
– Veggies like sous vide corn on the cob.
– Genius idea: throw all these things in a bowl and devour!

Do you need to tenderize flank steak?

You definitely can, but don’t need to. If you have a mallet, tenderize the steak with a few hits on each side before adding it to the marinade bowl.

Can you marinate steak in a bag instead of a bowl?


Yes, use a large ziplock bag to marinate the steak with the liquid mixture and fresh cilantro. When I use a bag instead of a bowl, I place a plate under the bag while the steak is in the fridge.

What are the best steak temperatures?

I usually cook steak medium-rare to medium with the help of a meat thermometer. Here’s a temperature chart:
– Rare steak (125-130°F) is still red inside.
– Medium rare steak (130-140°F) is red to pink inside.
– Medium steak (140-150°F) is mostly pink, similar to my photos.
– Medium well steak (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside.
– Well cooked steak (160°F) has no red or pink inside.

When do you say marinate vs marinade?

Just a quick little English lesson here for my foodie friends. I looked it up! You say “marinade” when referring to the liquid (a noun). And you say “marinate” (as a verb) when the steak is sitting in the juice, marinating.

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (7)

New recipes and foodie guides….

  • Tri tip (it’s so good!)
  • Chicken enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce
  • Homemade pizza
  • Smoked wings
  • Traeger pizza
  • Pan grilled chicken
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  • Potato side dishes
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Grill and smoker recipes…

  • Grilled chicken wings
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  • Flank steak marinade
  • Skirt steak marinade
  • Smoked mac and cheese
  • Smoked chicken breast
  • Grilled broccoli
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Meat thermometer recommendations

Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly.

On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

  1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
  2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill.

It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature.

How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

Are you a foodie, too?

I want to know what you think about this easy marinade and see photos of your food! Find me on Instagram @sipbitego to tag me and connect. And don’t forget to check out the Sip Bite Go channel on YouTube.

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (8)

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe | Sip Bite Go

Want to add juicy flavor to steaks? You just need 5 minutes of prep time with this flank steak marinade recipe. Most of the ingredients are pantry and fridge staples. Let’s make it!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian

Prep Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Finish Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 937kcal

Author: Jenna Passaro

Ingredients

Simpleflank steak marinade ingredients

  • cup extra virgin olive oil substitute vegetable oil
  • cup soy sauce substitute Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Champagne vinegar substitute white or redwine vinegar
  • ½ lime juiced
  • 2 tbsp honey substitute brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • ½ tsp black pepper ground
  • ½ tbsp ginger minced, optional
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 1.5 lb flank steak substitute skirt steak
  • 2 tsp cilantro fresh chopped, optional

Ingredientsfor flank steak searing and plating

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp cilantro fresh chopped

Instructions

  • Make the marinade in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice, honey, dijon mustard, garlic, pepper, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Whisk to combine. Set aside ¼ cup of the marinade for later (refrigerate if desired, though the olive oil will solidify at a colder temperature for a longer period of time).

  • Marinade flank steak. Add flank steak and cilantro to the marinade bowl and toss to cover it in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight or 24 hours. Once done marinated, remove steak from marinade and discard cilantro and liquid.

  • Option 1: Sear finish marinated steak. Heat a large cast iron skillet to medium high to high heat. Add half the olive oil to the pan and when the oil is hot and shiny and begins to smoke, add the steak. Sear for about 3-4 minutes on each side until it begins to brown. While cooking, add more olive oil to the pan if the steak begins to stick. Use tongs to sear the edges of the flank steak for about 30 seconds. Check the internal temperature of the flank steak and remove from heat when desired temperature is reached. Suggestion: until desired temperature is reached, continue flipping steak every 10-20 seconds so it gets a beautiful brown crust and doesn't burn.

  • Option 2: Grill finish marinated steak. Brush grill grates with a little olive oil if desired to prevent the steak from sticking and heat the grill to high, about 500°F. Add the steak once the grill has reached temperature. Grill on each side of the flank steak for 3-4 minutes until grill marks form. Check the internal temperature of the steak and remove from heat when desired temperature is reached. Suggestion: until desired steak temperature is reached, continue flipping grilled flank steak so it gets beautiful BBQ grill marks.

  • Option 3: Broil finish marinated steak. Preheat the oven broiler to high heat. Drizzle or brush 1 tsp of olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet, to cover an area that matches the size of the steak. Add the steak to the pan, then brush the remaining olive oil on top. Broil on high for 6 minutes, then flip and broil another 6 minutes or until desired temperature is reached.

  • Rest cooked flank steak on a cutting board for at least 10 minutes. Slice against the grain and serve with a drizzle of reserved marinade (that was set aside and not in contact with the raw beef, from the first step). Sprinkle steak with fresh cilantro and enjoy.

Video

Notes

Marinade steaks for at least 2 hours, up to overnight or 24 hours for delicious results.

In this recipe, you’ll see the cast iron seared flank steak is served with fresh guacamole and a drizzle of reserved marinade. Remember to take out ¼ cup of the marinade before adding the steak to it, so you have steak marinade to drizzle over the steak in this final step.

To make my simple guac, smash 1 ripe avocado with a squeeze of lime juice and pinch of garlic salt.

STEAK TEMPERATURE CHART

  • Rare steak (125-130°F) is still red inside.
  • Medium rare steak (130-140°F) is red to pink inside.
  • Medium steak (140-150°F) is mostly pink, similar to Sip Bite Go photos.
  • Medium well steak (150-160°F) has just a slight bit of pink inside.
  • Well cooked steak (160°F) has no red or pink inside.

See the Sip Bite Go recipe video on how to make a marinade for flank steak.

Nutrition

Calories: 937kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 78g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 2439mg | Potassium: 1325mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 179IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 7mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe (To Sear, Grill, OR Broil Finish) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to grill or broil flank steak? ›

Grilling is perhaps the best way to cook Flank steak, but you can also pan-sear it in a skillet, broil it in your oven, or even use a specialty cooking method like an instant pot.

Should you marinate steak before searing? ›

Do you marinate steak before cooking? Yes, marinate steak before cooking for at least 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. Pat the steaks dry before cooking them to remove excess marinade and allow the steaks to crisp on the grill, in a pan, or in the oven.

What is the best way to tenderize flank steak? ›

Most people who cook using flanks prefer to marinate them first, regardless of the cooking method. The salt and acidity of a marinade can help tenderize the meat in addition to providing extra flavor.

Is flank steak good for searing? ›

Flank steak usually cooks in 10 minutes or less using the pan-searing method. Sear the steak on each side for 2-3 minutes, and continue cooking on low until the steak reaches the temperature range for your desired doneness level.

How do you cook flank steak so it's not tough? ›

The best way to cook flank steak is to tenderize it with a mallet, marinate it first for at least 8–12 hours, then sear it on both sides and bake/broil it until it reaches 125–130 degrees, then let it rest and slice it thinly against the grain.

What is the secret to cooking flank steak? ›

Because flank steak is relatively thin, it's best to cook it over fairly high heat so that it can develop a flavorful crust on the outside before it's overcooked on the inside. This means a flank steak will do best with quick, high-heat cooking methods like grilling, broiling, and pan-searing.

Is it better to sear a steak before or after grilling? ›

Steaks, burgers, and chops that are 1 inch or more in thickness are best cooked using a two-stage cooking method. Sear first over direct heat, then finish over indirect heat. Be sure to deduct the searing time from the total estimated cooking time to determine the finishing time.

Do you rinse off marinade before grilling? ›

Remove Marinade Before Cooking: To prevent flare-ups on the grill and ensure properly browned meat when sautéing or stir-frying, wipe off most of the excess marinade before cooking. Keep just a little marinade on the meat surface to maximize flavor.

Is it better to marinate or dry rub flank steak? ›

The big advantage of dry rubs, and the reason we love using them so much, is that they don't add any additional moisture to the exterior of a piece of meat the way that a marinade does.

Can you marinate flank steak too long? ›

Don't Marinate More Than 24 Hours.

The steak will begin to break down after a day of marinating, which isn't what you want! A minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 24 hours marinating in this flank steak marinade will yield a tender, juicy flank steak.

Why is my grilled flank steak tough? ›

The critical reason for this is that flank steak, although lean and tasty, is tougher than other cuts of beef due to the many long, thin fibers running through it. To help tenderize flank steak, it is often marinated and cooked by grilling, stir-frying, broiling, or smoking.

How do Chinese tenderize flank steak? ›

There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts. “People go for either egg white or baking soda as they are both alkaline ingredients.

How long to sear flank steak on each side? ›

In a cast iron (or stainless steel) pan over medium-high heat, add oil. When hot and shimmering, add flank steak with tongs and allow to sear for 2 and ½ minutes on the first side. Flip steak and sear for an additional 2 and ½ minutes. For a 1-¼" flank steak (like pictured) this will give you a medium-rare flank steak.

Why is my flank steak always tough? ›

The most important thing to do before you grill flank steak is to marinate it. Acidic marinades work well for a tougher piece of meat like flank steak, though you're always free to experiment. There are two main things to remember when marinating your flank steak: the lack of marbling and the high muscle fiber content.

How do you sear a steak like a steakhouse? ›

The steaks should be evenly coated with the salt and pepper. When the pan is extremely hot, add the steaks and sear evenly on all sides (top, bottom, and sides) for about 2 minutes per side. (Be sure the cooking area is well ventilated.) You'll probably need about 3 turns to sear the sides and about 10 minutes total.

Does flank steak grill well? ›

As mentioned in the previous section, you can cook flank steak in many different ways, including roasting, boiling, grilling, braising, and more. The muscle fibers in flank steak all run in a single direction, so this cut of beef is ideal for tenderizing with a marinade and grilling over high heat.

What kind of meat is best for broiling or grilling? ›

Best Foods for Broiling

Also, because broiling is a dry-heat method of cooking, you'll want to use tender beef cuts or steaks, including ribeye, tenderloin, top loin, top sirloin, tri-tip (bottom sirloin), flank, porterhouse, rib, and T-bone. Ground meat patties are also suitable for broiling.

Why was my grilled flank steak tough? ›

Flank steak is known for being a finicky cut, and if you accidentally keep it on the grill for even a minute too long, you can end up with one that's dense and chewy rather than tender. Don't worry, though. If you know what you're doing, flank steak can be just as delicious as any other, more expensive slab of meat.

Is flank steak good for grilling? ›

Grilled flank steak is the easiest and most versatile of all the steaks out there. Thin, inexpensive, and quick to marinate, it's the perfect choice for an easy steak dinner on the grill, but that's not all flank steak can do. Slice it and serve over greens as a.

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