Grilling Made Easy With This 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade
How Do You Make a 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade?
👩‍🍳 Grilling your own steak doesn’t need to be complicated. To make a scrumptious marinade, all you need are oil, vinegar, and soy sauce! You can also use this easy homemade marinade for other meats.
If you’re looking for a scrumptious steak, why shell out extra cash at an overpriced restaurant when you can make it yourself? We have the perfect solution for you: a 3-ingredient steak marinade! Transform your favorite cut of meat into a mouthwatering steak in as easy as 1-2-3! Yes, you only need three ingredients for this recipe.
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with the simplicity and deliciousness of this marinade. All you need is a few key ingredients including olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Not only does it make steak succulent and juicy without complicated recipes or messes but also works wonders on any meat. So if you’re looking for an easy way to step up your dinner game in no time, let’s get cooking with this incredibly tasty 3-ingredient steak marinade recipe.
Table of Contents
- Three Basic Components of a Steak Marinade
- 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade Recipe
- How to Use This 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade
- What to Serve With Steak
- Other Ways to Use This Marinade
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Three Basic Components of a Steak Marinade
Creating the perfect homemade steak marinade requires a harmonious combination of oil, acid, and salt or flavoring. Without any one of these ingredients present, you can’t even call it a marinade! When all three work together, they transform your dish into something extraordinary with remarkable taste and texture.
Oil
A marinade should include oil to not only help maintain the steak’s moisture but also balance out any overpowering acidic flavors. Moreover, the oil helps the marinade coat the meat and stick to its surface. In addition, it will carry through any fat-soluble components into your steak while preventing dryness during cooking. Finally, a coating of an oily sauce before grilling ensures that your meal cooks evenly and more thoroughly each time.
Acid
Another crucial steak marinade component is acid, which can be vinegar, wine, or citrus juice. In this recipe, we’re using balsamic vinegar. The acidic components contained in a marinade can help tenderize meat by dissolving the tough muscle fibers and tissue on its outside. Additionally, it adds a deeper flavor that complements the heavy flavor of beef. However, be careful not to add too much of this ingredient for too long or all proteins will be broken down, resulting in a mushy mess!
Flavoring
A touch of saltiness is essential when it comes to beef, as it gives your steak the perfect balance of flavor and depth. Salt can be used in its pure form or swapped out for a more flavorful option like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Both provide an Umami taste that clings to the meat during and after cooking, enhancing the flavor to an entirely new level.
Our 3-ingredient steak marinade doesn’t require any additional seasoning, but you can boost the flavor of your meat with garlic or onion and any spices of your choice, including black pepper and paprika. But remember, too many aromatics could make the taste overly strong, so limit yourself to just one or two extra ingredients for a delicious final outcome.
3-Ingredient Steak Marinade Recipe
Making a tasty marinade for your steak doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up an exquisite dish in no time.
The Ingredients
To make the most flavorful steak marinade imaginable, gather these three key ingredients. Feel free to double or triple the recipe for more servings. A general rule is to use half a cup of marinade per pound of meat.
The following measurements should be sufficient to cover one pound of steak:
- ÂĽ cup of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
To add more spice, you also have the option to use any one or two of the following:
- Minced garlic or garlic powder
- Ground black pepper
- Italian herbs
Steps to Make Steak Marinade
Creating this steak marinade is easy. Here are detailed steps to make your marinade and then marinate and cook the meat.
To Marinate Steak:
- Whisk together the soy sauce, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. If desired, incorporate any optional ingredients you’d like to add for enhanced flavor.
- Coat your steak in the marinade, placing it into either a large bowl or an airtight bag. Allow the steak to rest in the marinade for anywhere between 30 minutes and 12 hours depending on how much time you have.
Note: If you’re letting the marinated meat sit longer than half an hour, store it away in the fridge while flipping it over at least once during its stay. Don’t worry about the oil solidifying—just make sure to take out your steak thirty minutes before cooking so that its temperature can adjust first.
To Grill Steak:
- To begin, take your cast-iron skillet and set it to high heat. Alternatively, you can fire up a gas or charcoal grill for direct, high-temperature cooking.
- Before sizzling the steaks on the grill, make sure to shake off any extra moisture. Depending on how you want your steak, place them onto one side of the barbeque for 4-5 minutes (medium rare – 135°F), 5-6 minutes (medium – 145°F), or 7-8 minutes (well done – 160°F).
- For a delectable burst of flavor, save the extra marinade and generously drizzle it over your freshly grilled steak.
- Allow your steak to savor its flavorful juices for at least 3 minutes (but no more than 7) prior to cutting.
- Round out your steak with a variety of sides and sauces to complete the perfect meal!
How to Use this 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade Recipe
Here are a few tips and tricks for the best steak marinade recipe from the types of steak you can use, substitutions for steak marinade ingredients, to the perfect amount of time you need to marinate before grilling your steak.
Types of Steak to Use with this Marinade
If you’re looking for the most delicious cut of beef for grilling, filet mignon (or beef tenderloin) is by far the most tender as it comes from an underused muscle with very little fat or connective tissue. Another popular choice when it comes to grilling is ribeye steak since it contains ample amounts of fat and marbling, which helps prevent drying out while being cooked.
You don’t need to splurge on an expensive steak for this marinade. Top sirloin is affordable and will give you the full, rich taste of beef. Besides that, flank and skirt steaks are also superb options when it comes to acidic marinades like this one since they contain more connective tissue than regular grilling steaks. With a 12-hour soak in your marinade, these cuts can be cooked quickly while becoming so tender.
Ingredient Substitutions
For the best steak marinade, vegetable or olive oil would suffice. If you don’t want to find any taste of the oil, try grapeseed or canola as they are more neutral in taste. Feel free to get creative and mix different types of oil together to add extra flavor. Once all other ingredients have been mixed, you can drizzle some extra on top if needed.
As for the acidic component, there are various options to choose from based on the flavor desired. For a sweeter taste, use balsamic vinegar. For an extra tangy kick, opt for red wine vinegar. For something more tropical, use fresh fruit juices such as lemon juice, orange juice, or pineapple juice. Other types of vinegar like apple cider and rice vinegar all present distinct tastes. Alternatively, buttermilk, yogurt, and puréed onions with garlic can also be used to add acidity to your marinade.
If you’re seeking a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and Worcestershire, your best option is tamari. It is a Japanese version of soy sauce that typically contains no wheat. Just be sure to double-check the label on the bottle before consuming it as some varieties may contain trace amounts of wheat.
An alternate option is to use either coconut aminos or liquid aminos. Coconut aminos are derived from fermented coconut sap and liquid aminos is crafted with non-fermented soybeans. Both of these items are naturally gluten-free, but less salty and much sweeter than regular soy sauce.
How Long to Marinate Your Steak
Contrary to popular belief, a steak doesn’t require an extended marinade time in order to reach its full flavor potential. In just half an hour of marinating, the steak will be polished with seasoning and each bite will be loaded with exquisite taste. Although letting it soak for several hours may intensify the flavors even more, there’s no greater or lesser difference than when done within 30 minutes.
When marinating your steak, it’s important to keep the time no more than 24 hours. If left too long, not only will the acidic component of the steak marinade over-tenderize and turn your meat into mush, but the salt content can also become overpowering. So, aim for a timeframe between 30 minutes and 12 hours to ensure you achieve the perfect texture of your steak.
What to Serve with Steak
This delightful 3-ingredient steak marinade adds flavor to any side dishes that you want to accompany your meal. To achieve the classic steak and potatoes combination, consider a loaded baked potato, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or roasted potatoes. If you’re on a low-carb diet, you can also pair it with roasted vegetables such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts, creamed spinach, sauteed green beans, asparagus, or a simple fresh salad.
To truly make your steak stand out, top it off with a bold and delicious sauce like Bordelaise with mushrooms, or Chimichurri, a sauce made from fresh herbs and hearty greens such as kale. You can also go with a classic peppercorn sauce or simple garlic butter to add the perfect blend of brightness, spiciness, and saltiness that bring out the marinated steak’s intense flavors.
Other Ways to Use This Marinade
This 3-ingredient steak marinade is truly an all-purpose delight that makes a delicious addition to beef, chicken, pork, and even seafood. For the best flavor, below are some of our favorite proteins to soak in this savory blend:
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken thighs
- Salmon fillets
- Pork chops
- Chicken drumsticks
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you refrigerate meat while it’s marinating?
Keep your kitchen safe by marinating meat in the refrigerator. Doing this can hinder any bacteria from developing and causing potential foodborne illnesses. It’s recommended to refrigerate for up to 24 hours only. However, if a 30-minute or hour-long marinade is what you’re going for, then feel free to leave it at room temperature.
How long should you cook the steaks on each side?
The cooking time may vary slightly on the type of steak and how done you prefer it. If it’s a one-inch thick cut, cook it over high heat for four minutes per side for medium-rare, five minutes per side for medium, and seven minutes per side for well done. If you want to find out if your steak is cooked just right, use an instant-read digital meat thermometer. A medium rare steak should have a temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit, 145 for the perfect medium cook, and 160 for a well-done piece of meat.
Should you let your steak rest before cutting?
As you cook the steak, the juices inside are pushed toward its center. To ensure each bite is packed with flavor and juiciness, let it rest for at least three minutes before slicing it. Otherwise, these delicious flavors will drip onto your chopping board and make the steak taste dry.
Is steak keto-friendly?
Yes, steak is absolutely keto-friendly! It’s high in protein and low in carbs. Meat in itself contains zero net carbs—it’s the additional ingredients during preparation and the sides per serving that change the final carb count. If you don’t have any sweet additions to this 3-ingredient steak marinade, then it should be safe to use on keto.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to make this easy 3-ingredient steak marinade, you can confidently take on grilling duties at your next weekend cookout with friends and family. This steak marinade is a great way to boost the flavor and tenderness of your steaks. All it takes is oil, soy sauce, and vinegar to make an expensive-tasting steak right from your kitchen.
Not only does this tasty concoction work perfectly on steak but can be used with other meats as well. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a multitude of flavors by trying out this easy marinade recipe. Fire up the grill and get ready to impress your family and friends.