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 steak with these easy marinades – each only contain 5 simple ingredients. Plus, get tips on meal prepping them!

8 different freezer bags stacked on top of each other, each containing a different kind of marinated steak, labelled "Mexican", "Greek", "Asian", "Rosemary", "Cilantro Lime", "Balsamic", "Orange Chili" and "Garlic Herb".

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.

8 Best Ever Steak Marinades (Freezer Meal Prep)

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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

In a skillet

Using a cast iron skillet is best for pan frying as the heat is distributed more evenly and gives the steaks a better cook. Here's how to cook steak on the stovetop:

Marinate the steak.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until smoking.
Add the steak and sear on each side.
Remove from heat and let it rest.

On the grill

Grilling is a great option to get that smoky flavour most people associate with steak. Here's how to cook steak on the grill:

Pre-heat the grill to 450° F.
Marinate the steak.
Once the grill is heated, sear the steak on each side.
Remove from heat and let it rest.

Level of doneness for steak

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.

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 a more tender cut of steak and marinate it 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.

Should you pound the meat first?

Some people pound their meat to tenderize it. Personally, I find a good marinade 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 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, 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.

What to serve on the side

Here are some great side dish ideas to go with these steaks:

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.

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More marinade recipes

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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.
**Get my full list of tools here**

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