8 Best Steak Marinades {Freezer Meal Prep}

These 8 Best Ever Steak Marinades are perfect for freezer meal prep and each of the marinades only contain 5 easy ingredients.

Ingredients for steak marinades

There are four important components for making steak marinades:

• Acid: The first ingredient in steak marinades is acid. This can be vinegar, citrus (lemon and lime juice are what I use in most of my marinades) or wine. The acid tenderizes the meat to prepare it for cooking.
• Flavouring: Different herbs and spices give each marinade a distinct flavour. Try out different flavourings until you find a combination you love!
• Oil: The oil holds all of the ingredients together and adds moisture to the meat. I like to use oil olive for its quality and taste, but really any type of cooking oil will work.
• Salt: In addition to adding flavour, salt acts like a barrier to keep the juices inside the steak. This prevents the steak from drying out.

How to cook steak

You can cook these steaks on the BBQ or on the stovetop. Using a cast iron skillet is best for pan frying as the heat is distributed more evenly and gives the steaks a better cook. Grilling is a great option as well to get that smoky flavour most people associate with steak. Either way, you're going to be looking at approximately the same amount of cook time and cooking on high heat for a short time period for best results.

When it comes to cooking the steak, it all depends on how well done you like your steak. Follow the general guide below based on your preference:

• 1-2 minutes per side for rare
• 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare
• 5-6 minutes per side for medium
• 7-8 minutes per side for well-done

Here's a great article that goes over the hand test for doneness. If in doubt, you should be looking at internal temperatures of 125-135 F for rare, 145 F for medium rare, 160F for medium and 170F for well done steak.

Steak marinade tips

The tougher the cut of meat, the longer it needs to be marinated. Tough cuts (such as sirloin, chuck and round cuts) are from the muscular parts of the body that do the most work. An animal’s legs are always working hard and therefore will produce a tougher cut of meat. Those steaks should be marinated between six and 24 hours.

More tender cuts of steak (such as ribeye, tenderloin and t-bone) are found where the animal carries less weight and work. Four-legged animals (such as cows), do almost no work with their back muscles. Those muscles then provide the tender meat that we look for when we’re going to be grilling. Those tender cuts will only need to sit in steak marinades for 15 minutes to one hour but you could marinate them for longer if you wish.

Here are the top cuts that I recommend you use for steak marinades:

• Sirloin
• Ribeye
• Flank
• Tri-tip
• New York strip steak
• T-bone
• Filet mignon
• Tenderloin
• Skirt steak

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Steak Marinades

Pictured below are the eight of the best 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, and the marinades themselves are made up of mostly pantry staples such as oils, vinegars, herbs and spices. I don't tend to use more than four to five ingredients in steak marinades in order to keep things simple and to focus on the steaks themselves.

Take a look at the pictures below then jump to the recipe below to make the recipe of your choice!

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.