Skirt Steak Marinade

Equal parts salty, tangy, and garlicky, this simple, easy, Skirt Steak Marinade will soon become your go-to marinade for summer grilling.

Looking for delicious steak recipes? Try Steak with Mushrooms and Onions, the BEST Sirloin Steak, and Quick Steak Marinade.

I love a good steak on the grill. And it doesn’t have to be the fanciest piece of steak either. I’ve found with the right marinade any steak can taste amazing, be moist and juicy, and cook up to perfection. This has been my go-to skirt steak marinade for quite some time now, but you can really use it on any cut of steak you like, and it would be amazing on pork tenderloin too! 

Here’s How You Make It 

Ingredients

• Skirt Steak — If you can’t find skirt steak at your grocery’s meat counter or by asking the butcher, you can also use a flank steak or a hangar steak. 
• Balsamic Vinegar — I’ve found the salty/sweet richness of balsamic is the perfect ingredient for skirt steak. I try to use a quality brand but in a marinade you could really use any balsamic vinegar you have on hand. 
• Soy Sauce or Worcestershire Sauce — My go-to is soy sauce (I tend to go for low-sodium since I’m also adding salt as an ingredient) but you can use Worcestershire in a pinch too. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar — The addition of apple cider vinegar adds another depth of flavor that you won’t want to skip. Any apple cider vinegar you have is good. 
• Minced Garlic — Mince your own or use a scoop out of a jar of minced garlic, either works just fine. 
• Salt — I use kosher, fine-grain salt but you can use any fine-grain salt.
• Cracked Black Pepper — Nothing beats a few twists of the pepper mill on this skirt steak marinade for that peppery bite but you can use ground pepper too. 
• Olive Oil — I use extra virgin olive oil, I’ve found that it works well in marinades. Any good brand will do. 

Step by Step Instructions

1. First, combine the balsamic, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl and whisk vigorously.  (photo 1)
2. Next, combine the steak and marinade in a Ziploc bag, making sure to press out any excess air, and then seal tightly. (photo 2)
3. Marinate the steak on the counter for 30 minutes or pop it in the fridge to marinate up to 2 hours. When you’re ready to grill, use tongs to transfer the steak to a preheated grill or a cast iron pan over medium-high heat. (photo 3)
4. Cook the marinated skirt steak for 6-8 minutes on each side or til it’s cooked to your desired doneness. Let the skirt steak rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. (photo 4)

Why This Recipe Works

Easy — Putting together this skirt steak marinade is soooo easy. You put everything in a sealable container and wait 30 minutes before grilling — that’s it! 

Delicious — I LOVE how this grilled skirt steak tastes after marinating and then being grilled. I’ve used way fancier marinades and this easy skirt steak marinade is by far my favorite. 

Versatile — You can use this marinade for really any cut of steak and for pork tenderloin or pork chops too. 

Great for guests — Skirt steaks can feed about 4 people. Grill up a couple (double the marinade) if you have guests. The more, the merrier I say! 

Is There Another Name for Skirt Steak? 

You might not find a cut of meet at the grocery or butcher labeled “skirt steak.” It could be called instead London boil or flank steak. Both will work well in this skirt steak marinade but pay attention to whether or not your particular cut is a bit more muscly, as that kind of meat might need a little more time to marinade (go for the two-hour mark in this case). 

What to Serve with Skirt Steak? 

We love steak at my house but we also love all the sides that you can serve with steak. Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order: 

• This corn salad is chock full of roasted corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, and feta and is served with an out-of-this-world delicious herby dressing. 
• I love a good Mexican rice dish as a side for just about anything we’re grilling out — Mexican or not. 
• A yummy, simple, iceberg lettuce wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, bacon bits, and croutons really hits the spot with this grilled skirt steak. 
• On that note, if you want to take your meal a little more on the homestyle route, try making a side of mac and cheese. 
• Why not roast some veggies while you’re at it, like asparagus or green beans?  
• Another delicious homestyle side are these garlic mashed potatoes. 
• Add some rolls or breadsticks along with a copycat Olive Garden salad for a most delicious summer meal. 
• Fries are a great route to go too, whether you choose sweet potato, wedges, or air-fried. 

What Makes Steak Special?  

my own (and buy my own groceries too) I eat steak more often — even if it’s not a special occasion. There are so many cuts of steak you can usually find one that’s budget friendly and will taste amazing if you cook it the right way.

But overall I think people enjoy eating steak because it’s a more expensive cut of beef (thereby elevating it to that “special occasion” status). It’s also delicious. It’s flavorful, juicy, and tender (when cooked correctly, of course). And, if you buy the right kind of steak you don’t need much seasoning at all for it to be delicious all on its own. 

Expert Tips 

• For the most evenly cooked steak, let the meat rest once for about 30 minutes before grilling (if you’ve refrigerated it to marinade) to come to room temperature. Then, let the steak rest again for about 10 minutes after you pull it off the grill or out of the oven to lock in those juices before you slice it. 
• Any leftover skirt steak will keep in the fridge for about 5 days in a sealed container. 
• You can freeze this cooked skirt steak for up to 5 months (but it’s better to just eat any leftovers). 
• Throw away any leftover marinade from the bag or container the steak was marinading in. 
• If you want to make the marinade ahead of time, you can make it up to 4 days in advance and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. I store mine in a Mason jar with a lid, then shake it up before pouring it over the steak 30 minutes to 2 hours before I’m wanting to grill. 
• When cooking more than one steak at a time, and to ensure doneness, use a meat thermometer. A rare steak is done at 125℉, medium-rare is 130-135℉, medium is 140-145℉, and medium-well is 150℉.

More Steak Recipes

For more delicious ways to enjoy steak on the grill, head on over to my popular posts for Mushroom Sauce for Steak, Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce, and Cilantro Lime Marinated Steak. 

• Steak with Mushrooms and Onions
• Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
• Grilled Tri-Tip Steak with Tiger Sauce

If you make this marinated skirt steak, please come back and let me know what you think by leaving a comment and rating the recipe! And be sure to snap a photo and email it or tag me on social media, I love connecting with you and seeing your CDLC creations!