8 Best Steak Marinades {Recipes + Meal Prep Tips}

Name: 8 Best Steak Marinades {Recipes + Meal Prep Tips}
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp red wine; 1 tbsp dried rosemary; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper; 2 tbsp sesame oil; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp fresh gingerroot; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp chili powder; 1 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp oregano; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper

Learn how to make the best marinades for steak – each only contain 5 simple ingredients. Plus, get tips on making perfectly cooked steak.

8 different freezer bags, each containing a different kind of marinated steak.

Ingredients for steak marinades

There are four important components for making steak marinades:

Acid – like vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice or wine to tenderize the meat and prepare it for cooking.
Flavourings – try out different herbs and spices until you find a flavour profile you love.
Oil – olive oil or any other kind of cooking oil will help to hold all the ingredients together and add moisture to the meat.
Salt – in addition to adding flavour, salt acts like a barrier to keep the juices inside the steak which prevents it from trying out.

8 Best Ever Steak Marinades (Freezer Meal Prep)

Why should I marinate steak?

The purpose of a steak marinade is to infuse the meat with flavour. It's much more effective than seasoning during the cooking process, since marinades impart all of their flavour throughout the cut of meat. It's particularly important if the steak will be grilled, since a steak marinade nearly eliminates the carcinogens created by grilling.

In my steak marinade recipes, the citrus and vinegar ingredients serve to tenderize the meat. This makes it not only easier to chew but also easier to digest. It locks in the moisture for a better meal all around.

How to cook steak

Marinade the steak: Choose your selected marinade, then marinate the steak for at least 20 minutes.
Cook the steak: Sear the steak on each side in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat or on the grill at 450° F. Cook to your desired level of doneness.
Let it rest: Remove the steak from the heat and set it aside, then let it rest before serving.

Level of doneness for steak

Check out this article that goes over the hand test for doneness or use the general guidelines below:

Rare: 1-2 minutes per side, internal temperature of 125° F to 135° F
Medium-rare: 3-4 minutes per side, internal temperature of 145° F
Medium: 5-6 minutes per side, internal temperature of 160° F
Well-done: 7-8 minutes per side, internal temperature of 170° F

Steak marinade tips

Here are some of my top tips for these marinade recipes:

As a general guideline, use 1/2 cup marinade per 1 pound of steak.
Marinate your steak for at least 20 minutes and up to 48 hours.
Olive oil is best in terms of quality and smoking point!
Use these Ziploc bag holders to marinate your steak.
Marinate and freeze your steak up to 3 months in advance – if you're freezing the steak, make sure it fully thaws in the fridge before cooking.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure your steak is cooked to your preferred level of doneness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you marinate steak in the fridge?

Any type of meat must always be marinated in the refrigerator. Bacteria grows quickly at room temperature, making the meat unsafe to eat.

How long should you marinate it for?

You can marinate a steak anywhere from 20 minutes to 48 hours. If you're in a hurry, choose more tender cuts of beef like filet mignon and marinate for a shorter time. Sometimes you really want to lock in that flavour though, or are meal prepping ahead, and in that case you can leave your steak marinating up to 2 days. Typically, I'd say that 4-8 hours is a happy medium. Get your steak marinating earlier in the day and then cook it later at night.

How do you make steak tender and juicy?

Some people pound their meat to tenderize it. Personally, I find a good steak marinade recipe will serve to tenderize the meat enough and then you don't have to go through any extra work so you can feel free to skip the pounding step.

Can you freeze steak with marinade?

Absolutely! Any of these steak marinades can be made in advance and frozen. Tightly seal a large Ziploc freezer bag to prevent leaking and the marinade will last in the freezer for about 3 months. Defrost the steak in the fridge overnight then cook it as normal.

Can you make the marinades ahead of time?

You can make the steak marinades themselves and keep them in mason jars in the fridge for up to one week. I wouldn't recommend any longer than that, especially for marinades with fresh herbs, as they can lose their flavour. Making the marinades ahead of time is a great way to cut down on prep time if you like to do a little bit of meal prep earlier in the week before cooking.

My 8 Favourite Steak Marinades

Pictured below are the eight of my favourite steak marinades. Don't be afraid to get creative but also keep in mind that you want the flavours of the steak to shine through! These marinades are delicious ideas for pan frying and summer grilling. You'll find the all the recipes below in the recipe card. Each marinade listed will marinate between two to four steaks.

Cilantro Lime Marinade

Calling all cilantro lovers! This is one of my favourite steak marinades that gives you a taste of summer all year long. It’s made with fresh cilantro, lime juice and minced garlic.

Orange Chili Marinade

This steak marinade is the perfect combo of sweet and savoury. You’ll get the sweetness from the orange juice, with a bit of kick from the chili flakes!

Tex Mex Marinade

Take taco night to the next level with this Tex Mex steak marinade! Made with lime juice, chili powder and cumin, it makes for great fajitas or Mexican-inspired dishes.

Mediterranean Marinade

Bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your dinner table with this flavourful marinade. The oregano really shines alongside the flavours of lemon and garlic.

Balsamic Marinade

Balsamic is so good in steak marinades! The balsamic vinegar helps tenderize the steak while also adding delicious flavour.

Teriyaki Marinade

This delicious teriyaki steak marinade uses sesame oil for Asian-inspired flavours, in addition to soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and gingerroot.

Rosemary Red Wine Marinade

This rosemary red wine marinade is perfect for date night. The red wine acts as the acid, while the rosemary adds plenty of flavour.

Garlic Herb Marinade

This garlic herb marinade is a classic and uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand. It’s made with lemon juice, Italian seasoning and garlic.

What to serve on the side

Here are some great side dish ideas to go with these steak marinade recipes:

Storing steak marinades

If you are planning to recycle your steak marinades, I'd recommend boiling the marinade for about 10 minutes after you use it (assuming the marinade touched raw steak) then cool it completely in refrigerator before the next use. You'll likely lose some flavour, but it should still be delicious.

If you mixed the marinade in a bowl and reserved half of it (not ever touching the steak), then you can use it for other purposes such as a salad dressing or sauce for other dishes. I've even used leftover marinade in stir fries before!

Can you freeze marinated steak?

You can definitely freeze marinated steak! Freeze the steak in the marinade for up to 3 months in freezer-safe Ziploc bags. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the steak defrost in the fridge overnight then cook as normal.

More marinade recipes

See more related recipes

Meal Prep Tools

Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these steaks into your weekly lunches.
I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
Get a meat thermometer to make sure your steak is cooked through.
Use these Ziploc bag holders if you're marinating the steak then freezing it.

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