Balsamic Marinated Flank Steak

Make a flank steak marinade that can be added to steak for a flavorful and tender grilled piece of meat.

This marinade is so simple to make and includes so many great flavors like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, dijon, and some spices.

Marinate the meat for a few hours to make it extra tender and tasty!

What is Flank Steak?

Flank steak comes from below the loin and while it has less marbling than other cuts, it still has great flavor. This piece of beef is usually a thick rectangular shape and it’s easy to see the long fibers running down the length of it. (The fibers make it VERY important that the steak is cut correctly, more on that below).

Flank Steak vs. Skirt Steak A skirt steak is from the area under the ribs and is a cut of beef commonly used in steak fajitas. While they aren’t the same, these cuts are often used interchangeably and with both of these cuts, be sure not to overcook them as they are lean.

Balsamic Marinade for Flank Steak

Flank steak is a great steak that benefits from a marinade. This bold and delicious marinade with balsamic vinegar helps to tenderize the meat, making it extra tender and juicy.In addition to making it taste great, the marinating flank steak helps make it tender. Marinate the steak for up to 24 hours meaning that this can be prepared the day before for an easy meal.Use this steak for easy steak tacos, stuffed grilled steak fajitas, or an easy beef stir fry!

Ingredients & Variations

Flank Steak – This recipe uses flank steak and we love how flavorful and tender it is. This marinade is great on other cuts of beef as well like skirt steak or hangar steak.

Acid – Acidic ingredients in a marinade (like vinegar or lemon juice) help break down tough fibers in the meat. This recipe uses balsamic vinegar, however, this can be replaced with red wine vinegar which also adds great flavor.

Oil – Olive oil is the choice of oil for this recipe, but you can use any mild flavored oil.

Bold Flavors – Soy sauce, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic all add great flavor to this flank steak marinade.

Other Seasonings – A bit of rosemary and a sprinkle of chili flakes are our fave choices. Other great additions include lime juice, fresh cilantro or oregano, or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

How to Cook Flank Steak

This flank steak marinade recipe makes a flavorful and tender steak cooked on the grill or in a large cast iron skillet broiled in the oven.

Prepare the marinade and add it to a glass or ceramic bowl, dish, or a ziploc bag. Add the meat to the marinade and let it marinate for 4 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Remove the steak from the refrigerator and allow it to sit. Cook the steak on the grill or under the broiler in the oven (as per the recipe below). Remove the steak from the grill and loosely cover it with aluminum foil and let it rest before cutting against the grain.

Serve flank steak with garlic mashed potatoes, pan fried mushrooms, and garlic toast. Flank steak also makes a great steak salad.

More Savory Steak Recipes

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How to Make Tender Flank Steak

Before marinating, gently cut the steak to allow the marinade to penetrate the meat.Marinate the meat for a minimum of 4 hours so all the flavors can get soaked up into the meat. Marinating meat too long will render it mushy once it’s cooked, so marinate the flank steak for a maximum of 24 hours.It’s important to let the meat rest in order to seal in the juices before slicing.MOST IMPORTANTLY when cutting flank steak, you want to be sure to cut across the meat fibers or it will be tough. You’ll see long strands of muscle fibers running down the length of the meat, cut across them.