These 8 best-ever steak marinades are made with just 3 simple ingredients.
They are truly ideal for freezer meal prep, make-ahead dinners, and more.
Whether you are craving garlicky, herbal grilled steak, or Hibachi-style teriyaki steak, we got you covered.
These delicious steak marinades not only add bursting flavors but also tenderize your steak.
Marinades are a great way to flavor your steak as they are so efficient in distributing flavor throughout the meat. And it’s quite an effortless way to prep your family dinner or summer BBQ.
Marinated steaks are often juicier, tastier, and more flavorful. Much thanks to their acidic ingredients that make the cuts of meat tender and easier to chew.
If you are grilling the steak, it’s an added bonus that steak marinades are known to remove cancer-causing carcinogens greatly.
The citrus and vinegar elements in these steak marinade recipes are especially useful in tenderizing the meat.
Also with these liquid steak marinades, meat would maintain extra moisture while cooking or grilling. It’s a great way to prevent your steak from getting too dried and hard.
Thankfully, making steak marinades is just as effortless.
Here is how to prep a steak marinade with 3 ingredients – 8 different ways.
How to prepare a three-ingredient steak marinade
In a small dish, combine the steak marinade of your choice and pour it over the steak in a Ziploc bag.
After marinating, refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
On the stove: In a cast-iron pan, heat the cooking oil or avocado oil over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. For medium-rare, add the steak and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side (this is if your steak is 1-inch thick). The internal temperature of the steak should be 135 degrees F.
On a barbecue grill: Preheat the barbecue grill to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. For medium-rare, add the meat and sear for another 3-4 minutes on each side (this is if your steak is 1-inch thick). The internal temperature of the steak should be 135 degrees F.
Remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool for 5 minutes before cutting or slicing. Serve with a side dish right away. Enjoy!
To freeze steak, follow these steps:
Combine the marinade ingredients as directed above. Place them in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag with the steak. Freeze it for up to 3 weeks. Allow 24 hours in the refrigerator to thaw before pan-frying or grilling.
Three-Ingredient Steak Marinades
A few important notes: We don’t count kitchen staples like salt, ground black peppers, sugar, oil, and milk as part of the ingredients. So if you see 4 ingredients instead of 3 it is because of that.
1. Rosemary Red Wine Marinade
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil or any other oil of your choice. Olive oil is used to marinate the meat because it binds all of the ingredients together and provides moisture to the meat.
- 2 tablespoons of red wine. The acid in red wine tenderizes the meat in preparation for cooking.
- 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary. The flavor of the marinade is enhanced by the addition of dried rosemary.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. It adds a particular taste to each marinade. Use ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper. It enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
2. Teriyaki Marinade
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil. The oil binds the ingredients together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce. The soy sauce provides taste as well as a significant amount of umami to the dish.
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Brown sugar enhances browning and adds taste.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. It adds a particular taste to each marinade.
- 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger (optional). It imparts a particular taste to each marinade.
3. Tex Mex Marinade
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The oil binds the components together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons lime juice. The acid in lime juice tenderizes the meat in preparation for cooking.
- 1 tablespoon chili powder. It adds a particular flavor and taste to each marinade.
- 1 tsp of cumin. Cumin adds a unique taste to each marinade.
½ teaspoon of salt and pepper to enhance the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
4. Mediterranean Marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil. The oil binds the components together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice. The acid in lemon juice tenderizes the meat so it may be cooked.
- 1 tablespoon oregano. It adds a particular taste to each marinade.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. It adds a particular taste to each marinade.
½ teaspoon of salt and pepper: it enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
5. Balsamic Marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil. The oil binds the components together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar’s acidity tenderizes the meat, allowing it to be cooked.
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard. Dijon mustard tenderizes proteins, which is ideal for harder cuts and adds a lovely tanginess to the meat.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. Garlic, minced: it adds a particular taste to each marinade.
- ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper: it enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
6. Cilantro Lime marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil. The oil binds the components together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons lime juice. The acid in lime juice tenderizes the meat in preparation for cooking.
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped. It adds flavor to the steak.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. Garlic, minced: it adds a particular taste to each marinade.
- ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper: It enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
7. Orange chili marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil. The oil binds all of the components together and gives the meat moisture.
- 2 tablespoons orange juice. The acid in orange juice tenderizes the meat in preparation for cooking.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced. It adds a particular taste to each marinade.
- 2 teaspoons chili flakes. It enhances flavor and taste.
- Seasonings: salt and pepper It enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out. Use half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper.
8. Garlic herb marinade
- 2 tablespoons olive oil. The olive oil in the herb marinade keeps everything together and gives moisture to the meat.
- 2 tablespoons white wine or lemon juice. To prepare the meat for preparation, the acid tenderizes it.
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. It boosts the taste and flavor of the dish.
- 4 garlic cloves, minced. It adds a particular taste to each marinade. Use ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper: it enhances the flavor. Salt, in addition to imparting flavor, works as a barrier, keeping the steak’s fluids within. This keeps the steak moist and prevents it from drying out.
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