Simple Flank Steak Marinade

Tired of tough, flavorless flank steak? This marinade is about to level up your beef game. It’s the key to unlocking maximum flavor and tenderness from this budget-friendly cut.

We wanted to turn this cheap cut of meat into something better, so we got to work perfecting this marinade. To balance bold flavors and make it as quick and easy as possible while making sure the steak stays as tender and juicy as possible. The results? We’ll let you be the judge.

This easy flank steak marinade is the first step to the most tender and flavorful results from your recipe, whether oven-roasted or grilled. It’s quick and simple will take your dinner to a whole new level.

This is the Best Marinade For Flank Steak

A marinade not only adds flavor, but it’s also science. Marinades contain acid, oil, and flavor enhancers (spices, herbs, etc.). The acidity works to tenderize the meat, and the whole combination also adds depth to the flavor. For this easy steak marinade, we went with simple flavors that go well with Latin-inspired meals and summer grilling but our traditional steak marinade will also work if you want to serve this in a different manner.

Flank steak is an incredibly flavorful cut. It comes from the flank area of the cow, behind the belly. However, it’s a lean cut, meaning it has little fat and unique muscle fibers that run in long strips that can be a tough cut of meat if not cooked right.

A steak marinade helps tenderize the flavorful cut of beef because of its acidity. And it can boost the umami flavor of your flank steak recipe. The flank steak, just like a skirt steak or bavette, takes well to a hot and fast cook, and where an easy marinade isn’t an essential step for an amazing steak dinner, if you have the time, it can really elevate the meal.

Flank Steak Marinade Recipe Ingredients

• Salt – we use kosher salt when cooking
• Oil – vegetable oil. Extra virgin olive oil has a distinct flavor, so if using, cut it with a more neutral oil like avocado or canola.
• Acid – Lime juice from fresh limes (lemon juice will also work)
• Worcestershire sauce – adds depth, soy sauce, GirlCarnivore Ooomami powder, and even a dash of fish sauce are great options for adding to the savory flavor too
• Cumin – this is optional, but we love it for our grilled flank steak recipe.
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Garlic cloves – or pre-minced garlic
• Fresh cilantro – and if you’re feeling spicy, add some sliced jalapenos or red pepper flakes to heat up the flavor of the marinade.

Girl Carnivore Testing Note: Although we use this for flank steak most often (hello, Taco Tuesday), it works for any lean cut of meat from thin shaved London broil to chicken for fajitas.

How to Make This Simple Flank Steak Marinade

This recipe is incredibly simple, but such a big part of making a steak your whole family will love.

1. Start by whisking the salt, oil, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, fresh garlic, and minced cilantro into a small bowl or pan.
2. Then add the flank steak, flipping to coat several times. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.
3. If storing the flank steak in a large resealable bag, pour the marinade over the steak and seal the bag, removing as much air as you can. Then rub the steak and marinade to coat.
4. Place the marinade flank steak in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours and up to 12 hours.
5. When ready to cook, remove the flank steak from the marinade and brush off any garlic or cilantro stuck to the meat. Use this marinade immediately or store it overnight without the meat to use the next day.

Now that you’ve made the best flank steak marinade, cooking it to a perfect medium-rare steak is your next challenge.

How to Cook Flank Steak

• Flank steak is perfect for hot and fast cooking, 10-15 minutes on a charcoal grill or gas grill, over high or medium-high heat to a medium rare temperature of 135 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the beef. It begs to be grilled flank steak, shaved into thin slices for salads and sandwiches, or turned into grilled flank steak tacos.
• The key to tender flank steak, though, after the delicious marinade, is how you slice it. To guarantee the best results, look at the direction of the grain. Make sure to slice thinly into strips against the grain of the meat (and on a bias if you’re feeling fancy).
• Cutting against the grain with a sharp knife is important because of the muscle fibers in this cut of beef. It shortens the long fibers, making the best mouthfeel and chew, so you can savor the flavors of the flank steak marinade ingredients added to your cut. Try to keep the slices around 1/4″ thick.

Flank Steak Marinade Variations

This is our go to for when we want to slice flank steak thin for tacos or fajitas. But try our all-purpose steak marinade for flank steak that makes amazing sandwiches or even our London broil marinade to tenderize this cut with italian flavors for salads and wraps.

Tips For Using Marinade For Flank Steak

• Pat the steak dry with paper towels before grilling to avoid flare ups.
• For the most tender bites, start with a marinate, grill to a perfect medium rare and then slice the flank steak into super thin strips, no more than 1/4” thick against the grain.
• Skip the cumin and use your favorite taco or fajita seasoning depending on what flavors your family enjoys.

What to Serve With Marinated Flank Steak

Once you’ve marinated the flank steak and decided if you want to oven-roast or fire up the outdoor grill, the next choice is the side dishes. This simple marinade can be used for various dinner options, but we love grilled flank steak tacos with fresh tortillas, char-grilled peppers, and onions.

Try your grilled marinated flank steak with rajas con crema, tasty smoked corn on the cob, and a drizzle of homemade chimichurri. Or go homestyle with mashed potatoes and sliced steak on top.

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