Make the best steak of your life with this top-rated recipe. A complex, savory flank steak marinade ensures perfectly tender and juicy beef every time.
What Is Flank Steak?
Flank steak is a lean cut of beef that comes from the cow's lower abdominal muscles. It's a relatively tough cut that's low in fat, which means a few things: Flank steak doesn't need to be trimmed, it's inexpensive compared to other cuts, and it benefits greatly from marination.
Flank Steak vs. Skirt Steak
Flank and skirt steaks are similar in a lot of ways, but they do have notable differences. Skirt steak comes from the diaphragm of the cow, while flank steak comes from the lower abdomen. Also, skirt steak is fattier and has more marbling than flank steak. Flank steak is thicker and wider.
Flank Steak Substitute
No flank steak? No problem. Skirt steak is a great substitute. Top round and hanger steak are also excellent options.
Flank Steak Marinade
This crowd-pleasing flank steak marinade consists of the following ingredients: vegetable oil, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, and ground black pepper.
As long as you marinate the flank steak in the fridge for two to six hours, you'll have great results. However, for the absolute best results, marinate overnight or up to 12 hours.
How to Cook Flank Steak
There are plenty of ways to perfectly cook a flank steak. In this recipe, the steak is grilled — we love the bold, smoky flavor the grill gives the meat. But you can also easily cook your flank steak in the oven or on the stove. You'll find the step-by-step recipe for marinated and grilled flank steak below, but here are some rough guidelines for three different flank steak cooking methods:
- On the grill: Season and marinate the steak according to your recipe. Preheat a lightly oiled outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Remove the steak from the marinade, shake off excess liquid, and grill on each side to desired doneness. The steak is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads between 130 degrees F and 145 degrees F.
- In the oven: Season and marinate the steak according to your recipe. Remove the steak from the marinade, shake off excess liquid, and arrange the steaks in a baking dish lined with aluminum foil. Bake until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the steak reads between 130 degrees F and 145 degrees F.
- On the stove: Season and marinate the steak according to your recipe. Sear the steaks in a cast-iron skillet until lightly browned on the bottom, then flip to the other side and repeat. Finish the steaks in a preheated oven. Bake until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the steak reads between 130 degrees F and 145 degrees F.
How Long to Cook a Flank Steak
It depends on the degree of doneness you're after. This marinated flank steak should be totally cooked after about 5 minutes of grilling time on each side. Of course, tastes and preferences will vary.
![Marinated Flank Steak](https://www.allrecipes.com/thmb/QqgPuTAidBauB-PBKQEhV3er85Q=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/2435664-f288734beabc4acd958c024be201d3c3.jpg)
What to Serve With Marinated Flank Steak
Pair your marinated flank steak with a side salad, grilled or roasted veggies, or something starchy (such as mashed potatoes or French fries). In need of a little inspiration? Check out our collection of the 20 Best Side Dishes for Steak. Here are a few of the recipes you'll find:
- Wedge Salad With Elegant Blue Cheese Dressing
- Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
- Sautéed Swiss Chard with Parmesan Cheese
Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise
"I've made this twice and it was wonderful both times," says gertrong. "Each time I marinated the meat for 24 hours and ended up with a wonderful flavor and very tender meat."
"Easy to prepare and pretty tender," according to one Allrecipes community member. "As another reviewer suggested, I boiled the remaining marinade until it thickened into a nice sauce and drizzled a little over the meat and added some butter sauteed mushrooms. Looked fancy and tasted wonderful!"
"This recipe was so easy and tasted FANTASTIC," raves DUBYANGE. "I always love to marinade meat in Italian dressing but this takes the cake. Luckily we ate it all because if there was any left, I would have kept eating it. Way to go on this easy, great tasting recipe. I wouldn't change a thing."
Editorial contributions by Corey Williams
Ingredients
Marinade:
-
½ cup vegetable oil
-
⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
-
¼ cup red wine vinegar
-
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
-
1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
-
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Steak:
-
1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak
Directions
-
Gather all ingredients.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
-
Whisk together oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, and pepper for marinade until thoroughly combined. Place steak in a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
-
Pour marinade over flank steak in the baking dish; turn several times to coat thoroughly with marinade. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours, or up to 12 hours if you have time.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
-
When ready to cook, preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
-
Remove steak from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
-
Cook steak on the preheated grill for about 5 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
-
Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
-
Serve hot and enjoy!
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Recipe Tip
You can use regular soy sauce if preferred.
Editor's Note:
Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of marinade ingredients. The actual amount consumed will vary.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
363 | Calories |
28g | Fat |
4g | Carbs |
25g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
Calories 363 | |
% Daily Value * | |
Total Fat 28g | 35% |
Saturated Fat 6g | 31% |
Cholesterol 46mg | 15% |
Sodium 638mg | 28% |
Total Carbohydrate 4g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Protein 25g | 49% |
Vitamin C 3mg | 4% |
Calcium 41mg | 3% |
Iron 2mg | 13% |
Potassium 440mg | 9% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.