Easy 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade

All you need are 3 ingredients to make this simple and flavorful steak marinade! Perfect for grilling or pan-searing, this recipe will take your steak to the next level. You can even add in extras to change up the base marinade as you desire!

about this 3-ingredient steak marinade

It’s so easy to add a ton of flavor to your steaks with this 3-ingredient steak marinade! The simple ingredients not only infuse the steak with a ton of flavor, but also helps to tenderize the meat.

If you’ve ever wondered how to give your steaks more flavor, this is the way to do it. There’s tons of advice out there on how to cook steaks perfectly, but when you have a marinade involved, the flavor of the meat is made that much better.

You don’t even need to marinate the steak for that long! All you need is at least 30 minutes before cooking it as you like.

After a bunch of trial and error in perfecting this recipe, we recommend marinating the meat for about 2 hours to get the sweet spot of flavor and tenderization. You can simply season the steaks with salt and pepper before cooking, but you can also use your favorite steak seasoning to provide additional flavor.

what makes this recipe work

There are several reasons this marinade works. The truth is, you don’t need a ton of ingredients to make a truly delicious marinade. While you can make a complicated mixture, all you need is olive oil, Worcestershire sauce for tanginess, and soy sauce for salt. Here’s some other reasons why this recipe works so well:

• Easily customize this recipe by adding your favorite spices to give the best steak marinade your own unique flavor profile.
• Double or triple the recipe to marinade multiple steaks at one time. This is perfect for a dinner party to easily prep ahead.
• Cook the steak however you like! Cut it up for skewers. Grill it or pan sear it.

ingredients

oil. Use extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. Make sure it is a good quality oil to help flavor the marinade. You can even use a flavored oil if you prefer! We recommend trying truffle oil – it’s so decadent in this marinade.

soy sauce. The soy sauce is the salt element of the recipe. We like to use low sodium, but you can use your favorite brand. Note that you can also use tamari (a wheat-free version of soy sauce), if you need to make this recipe gluten-free. Other options include coconut aminos or liquid aminos that are naturally gluten-free. They are a little sweeter and less salty than soy sauce, but they will also work.

Worcestershire sauce. This gives the marinade some flavor! The tangy taste pairs really well with the soy sauce. You could also use balsamic vinegar in this marinade.

dried herbs/spices (optional). If you want to add some flavor to the marinade, you can use 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. You could even use black pepper, cajun spice blend, and any other spice mix you love to customize the recipe. See below for more specific recommendations!

here’s how to make an easy steak marinade

mix

Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Add Italian seasoning, or other spices, if using.

marinate

Add the marinade to a resealable bag or shallow bowl along with the steak. Cover or seal the bag and place in the refrigerator.

Marinate for at least 20 minutes and up to 12 hours.

cook

Remove from the marinade and cook as desired. We recommend using the grill, if you can!

tips for success

use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the marinade will taste. It’s as simple as that!

let the steak rest. Don’t forget to let the steak rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it. You need to allow enough time for the juices to redistribute within the meat so that each bite is tender and juicy. If you slice it too soon, the juices will spill out and then you end up with a dry piece of meat. Nobody wants that!

More steak recipes to enjoy: The Perfect Ribeye Steak | Steak Fajita Foil Packets | Balsamic Grilled Flank Steak | Flank Steak Tacos

how many hours should you marinate steak?

There is a large range of time for marinating steaks. You can go quickly, marinating the steak for only 30 minutes, if you are short on time. We like to marinate our steaks for around 2 hours to hit the sweet spot of tenderizing and flavor.

You can also leave the steak in the marinade for up to 12 hours. This is particularly a good timeframe for flank steak or skirt steak (steaks that have more connective tissue).

why marinate steak in olive oil?

Olive oil is used in steak marinades to add flavor, but also to keep the meat moist and to prevent it from sticking (especially important if you are grilling the steak!). By adding the oil to emulsify the mixture, it also thickens the liquid so that it coats the meat well as it marinates.

what other flavors can I add to this marinade?

This marinade is magical because it can so easily be changed up! You can add Italian herb seasoning to it, as suggested in the recipe card below. However, you can also use many spice other options to make your own variations. Add 1/2 teaspoon of each seasoning, but do not add more than 1 teaspoon total if combining spices/herbs.

• Red pepper flakes give you a little heat. You could also add in Sriracha!
• Dried herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary give some fresh herbaceous flavor.
• Curry powder will give a subtle curry flavor to the steak.
• Cajun spice blend will add heat and savory flavor.
• Add in minced garlic for additional flavor!
• Use your favorite spice blend to make the marinade your own!

how should I cook my steak?

Cook your steak however you like! We prefer to grill the steaks, but you can also pan sear them or even broil them if you prefer. Just be sure to cook to medium rare (130˚F to 135˚F) for the best flavor!

what types of steaks can I use with this recipe?

You can really use any type of steak with this marinade! We love to use steaks that are best for grilling like a filet mignon, NY strip steak, sirloin steak, and ribeye steak. For these smaller cuts, you don’t have to marinate the steak as long. We recommend marinating them around 30 minutes (at minimum) to 4 hours (the sweet spot).

You could also use a more inexpensive cut like a flank steak or skirt steak! Since the latter couple of steaks have more connective tissue than traditional grilling steaks, the marinade really helps break those down to tenderize them. Be sure to marinate these tougher cuts of beef for longer though! Usually 10 to 12 hours is ideal for these bigger steaks.

Don’t forget to check out our full guide on how to make a grilled new york strip steak!

Need some inspiration for dinner this week? Check out my main dish recipes page!

how to use this 3 ingredient marinade

Use this marinade with your favorite cut of steak! As mentioned before, there are certain cuts that really shine with a marinade like this. Of course, you can really choose any steak, whether cheap or expensive. Beef just works with this marinade!

However, this simple marinade is also delicious with pork and even chicken.

side dishes to pair with your steak

Creamy Instant Pot mashed potatoes are so easy to make! With roasted garlic and parmesan, the depth of flavor cannot be beat.

If you love simple roasted vegetables, honey roasted carrots and parsnips and oven fried potatoes and onions are classic side dishes.

Using the grill to cook your steaks? Make some smoky blackened corn!

Finally, if you make this 3 ingredient steak marinade recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!