There is nothing wrong with Salt & Pepper for your steak seasoning when done correctly. However, these 6 Rubs and Marinades will change the way you season your steaks for the grill. After mixing up a few rubs and marinades, your family will think of you as a super hero….. changing the ordinary weeknight steak into a night out at home!
I recommend starting with the marinades first… as they are heavy hitters that will open your eyes to the possibilities.
Asian Steak Marinade
One of my all time favorite marinades that has sweetness, saltiness, and a little funk and heat on the backend. If you do not like the heat, leave out the chili paste and you will be fine. Great for skirt steak, flank steak, hanger steak, and flat iron steak.
Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours ahead of time. Recipe for 1-2 lbs of Steak.
- 3 Tablespoons Hoisin Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Black Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Gochujang
(or 2 teaspoon chili paste) - 2 Cloves Crushed Garlic
- 1 teaspoon crushed ginger
- Pinch of Black Pepper
- Pinch of Salt
Carne Asada Marinade
I have had a quite a few bad carne asada tacos here in Iowa… I created this marinade to solve my own problem, and I am pretty proud of this one. It is the “freshest” marinade on this list with plenty of citrus and cilantro that brings a bright punch of flavor. Try this for a great steak by itself, or take taco night to the next level at home. I usually pair this with Skirt Steak or Flank Steak.
Marinade for 2-6 hours ahead of time. Recipe for 1-2 lbs of steak.
- Juice of 1 Orange
- Juice of 1 Lime
- 1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Honey
- 1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
- 3 Cloves Crushed Garlic
- 1/2 Cup Mexican Beer
- Handful of Chopped Cilantro
- 1 Jalapeño Diced
- 1/2 Kiwi Smashed
- Pinch of Salt & Pepper
Amazing All Purpose Steak Marinade
This is a steak marinade for all occasions. Well balanced with a touch of sweetness and a little salty tang that goes well with any steak. Great for thin cut steak sandwiches or steak & potato night. Can’t lose with this marinade recipe.
Marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours prior to grilling. Recipe for 1-2 lbs of steak. If you are going overnight, add 8 Tablespoons of additional water. Try this with flank steak or flat iron steak.
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Black Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Worsteshire Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar or Honey
- 2 Tablespoons Water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
Red Chile Steak Rub
I would add a little heat to all my dinners, if it was my choice alone. This Red Chile Steak Rub adds a little kick to a classic steak rub, and gives your steaks at home one more added dimension. Season evenly and liberally. After seasoning, I like to drizzle some olive oil and rice vinegar for nice marinade.
Season 30 – 90 minutes ahead of time and rest in the fridge. Try this with Ribeye, New York Strip, or Hanger Steak.
- 2 Tablespoons Sea Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Black Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Ancho Chile
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
Sweet and Salty Steak Rub
For years I was in search of a steak rub that was more balanced, that tasted less salty. This rub allows you to coat the steak pretty heavily if it is a thicker steak, which really creates an amazing flavor crust over a hot grill. I like this on thicker steaks, such as Ribeye, Hanger Steak, and New York Strip.
Season 30 – 90 minutes ahead of time and rest in the fridge.
- 2.5 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Sea Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Black Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Lawry’s Seasoned Pepper
- 1/2 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1.5 teaspoon lemon pepper
Classic Steak House Rub
A little touch of salt, pepper, herbs, and spice. This is a great all purpose rub for Steaks and Burgers. Feel free to experiment with the herbs you use in this rub for a change of pace. Great for all steaks and burgers. Season the thicker cuts more heavily.
Season 30-90 minutes ahead of time and rest in the fridge.
- 2 teaspoon Coconut Sugar
- 1.5 teaspoon Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
- 3 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ancho chile
- 3 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 2 teaspoon oregano,
thyme, or other herbs
More Details on Steak Marinades and Rubs
I go through all the nuances and details of these steak rubs and marinades in the video below. Want to know why I choose certain ingredients or where to find some of them? All in my YouTube video below…
