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3-Ingredient Steak Marinade

Elevate your steak game with this quick and easy 3-ingredient steak marinade featuring Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce. Perfect for tenderizing and flavoring your favorite cuts!

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3-ingredient steak marinade

If you’ve been looking for a simple yet flavorful way to elevate your steak game, take a look at this homemade steak marinade recipe!

Using just 3 ingredients — Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce, you can transform a basic steak into a tender and tasty cut of meat.

But why stop at just using this marinade for steaks?

You can use this homemade steak marinade on carrots and asparagus or fresh green beans. It also works well with different types of proteins like chicken breast, pork chops, and even tofu!

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This 3-ingredient steak marinade is the perfect solution for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. So, say goodbye to bland and boring steaks — this is the best steak marinade to make your grill nights unforgettable.

ingredients needed to make 3 ingredient steak marinade

How to Make 3 Ingredient Steak Marinade with Worcestershire Sauce

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Combine all three ingredients in a small bowl, whisking them together until well blended.

quick steak marinade whisked together in a bowl

STEP TWO: Pour the marinade over your chosen steak and let it soak for at least 2 hours. Make sure to turn the meat occasionally to ensure it’s evenly coated.

overhead shot of raw steak in a glass bowl with a side of steak marinade
pouring soy sauce marinade over piece of steak

STEP THREE: When ready, cook the steak as desired to your preferred level of doneness. Enjoy!

sliced steak in a cast iron skillet

Tips for Making 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade

  • Use a ziplock bag for easy cleanup. Simply add your steak, pour the marinade on top, then seal shut. After removing the steak to cook, you can seal it back up and toss it in the trash — no mess and one less thing to wash!
  • Double the recipe as needed. As written, this makes enough marinade for 1 pound of meat. Increase the measurements accordingly to ensure you have plenty to cover your steak.
  • Always use a whisk. Because we’re working with vinegar and oil bases in the ingredients, it’s important to emulsify the mixture thoroughly. A spoon won’t cut it, so be sure to whisk really well until everything is well combined.

What to Serve With Marinated Steak

Once you’ve gotten your juicy, marinated steak off the grill or out of the oven, serve it up with a side of mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, roasted acorn squash, and top it with some easy mushroom gravy.

For a complete meal, make this cheesy broccoli casserole!

overhead shot of the best steak marinade

Variations for this Quick Steak Marinade

  • Give it a spicy Cajun flair with a mix of Cajun seasoning and a squeeze of lime.
  • Swap the Worcestershire sauce for balsamic vinegar for an extra tangy twist.
  • You can step up this basic marinade by transforming it into a teriyaki-style marinade. To do this, simply add brown sugar, ginger, and garlic.
  • Incorporate fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil to elevate the marinade’s aroma.
  • Sweeten the 3 ingredient steak marinade with Worcestershire sauce by adding a bit of honey. The sweet, floral undertones taste delicious with the Dijon mustard. 
  • Add the zest of one lemon or orange to the marinade for a zesty, citrusy twist.
soy sauce and dijon mustard marinade for meats

How Can I Make My Steak More Tender When It Marinantes?

Be sure to have the correct amount of acid in the marinade — in this case, the Worcestershire sauce. 

The flavor is too potent for a 1:1 ratio with the soy sauce, but a 1:2 ratio (so half the amount of Worcestershire to soy sauce) is the perfect flavor balance while being an effective tenderizer.

If you’re working with a dryer steak or don’t have the ingredients for this recipe on hand, try using Italian dressing instead. It’s a fantastic steak marinade, offering a flavorful shortcut to achieve incredibly juicy and tasteful steaks. 

What Are The 3 Basic Components of Marinating?

A standard marinade consists of three key ingredients: an acidic component (like vinegar, wine, or citrus), an oil (such as olive or sesame oil), and a flavor enhancer (such as herbs and spices). 

In this recipe, the soy sauce is sweet, salty, and rich in umami. Worcestershire sauce has a vinegar base — making it our acidic component — with anchovies, molasses, and seasonings for sweet, savory, and tangy notes.

Dijon mustard contains plenty of fat, making it a suitable replacement for the oil — and it adds flavor, too!

basic homemade marinade for veggies and meats

Should I Discard the Marinade After Use, or Can I Use it As a Sauce?

You can safely repurpose the steak marinade as a sauce by bringing it to a boil and then simmering it for at least a few minutes or until reduced. This process eliminates any potential bacteria from the raw meat and enhances the flavor. 

Drizzle the marinade over your cooked steak, or use it as a dipping sauce!

More Marinade Recipes To Try

steak marinade made with mustard, soy sauce, and worcestershire sauce
soy sauce and dijon mustard marinade for meats

3-Ingredient Steak Marinade

Samantha Erb
This 3-ingredient steak marinade combines the rich flavors of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard to add a balanced savory-sweet taste to your steak.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Sauces & Dips
Cuisine American
Servings 1 serving
Calories 55 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine all the soy sauce, Worcestershire, and dijon mustard.
  • Whisk until they are fully incorporated. 
  • Pour over your steak of choice and marinade for 2 or more hours. 
  • Turn the meat occasionally so all sides are evenly coated with the marinade. 
  • Cook steak as desired.

Notes

  • Makes ⅓ cup of marinade, which is good for 1 pound or less of meat. For additional meat, double the recipe as needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 55kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 4gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3284mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

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