Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

A flavorful, juicy flank steak is all but guaranteed with this easy recipe.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 25, 2023
Elise Bauer

Flank steak is a lean, somewhat tough but flavorful cut of beef that benefits from the tenderizing effects of a marinade. It is best cooked medium rare and thinly sliced at an angle across the grain of the meat.

How to Cook Flank Steak

Prepared this way, marinated, cooked quickly at high heat, and thinly sliced, flank steak practically melts in your mouth. This recipe calls for grilling the steak. But if you don't have a grill, you can prepare the steak in a large cast iron frying pan as well.

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak sliced on a cutting board

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

The Best Marinade for Grilled Steak

The flank steak marinade in this recipe calls for a lovely blend of soy sauce, honey, and garlic. It works wonderfully for this cut of meat.

For more Southwestern flavors, see our carne asada recipe. Do you have a favorite flank steak marinade? Or a grilling trick for flank steak? If so, please let us know in the comments.

Love Flank Steak? Try These Recipes

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

What Is Flank Steak?

Flank steak is the cow's lower chest or abdominal muscle. Since it's muscle that's used a lot, the flank is a thick-grained, low-fat cut. The beauty of it is that it's inexpensive but flavorful. It's a versatile cut of beef, especially when prepared well. It's best marinated and then seared whole over high heat. Cutting the cooked flank steak against the grain at a 45-degree angle ensures you're cutting through the tough parts, making it easier to eat.

Skirt steak is a similar cut, but has a different shape, a bit more fat, and the grain runs in a different direction.

How Long to Marinate Flank Steak

The ideal amount of time is 12 hours, but you can marinate it for up to 24 hours. You should let it sit in the marinade for a minimum of 2 hours, even if you're pressed for time.

How to Store and Reheat Cooked Steak

You can store leftover flank steak for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm up in a preheated 225°F oven until it's warmed through with an internal temperature of 110°F (about 15 minutes or so). Then, sear on a well-oiled cast iron pan for about 60 to 90 seconds on each side.

Ideas for Leftover Grilled Flank Steak

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Marinating 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the steak

  • 1 (2-pound) flank steak

  • Coarse salt, to taste (optional)

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (optional)

Method

  1. Marinate the steak:

    Combine the marinade ingredients in a large non-reactive bowl.

    Place the steak in the bowl and turn it, so it is completely coated with the marinade. (You can also place the steak and marinade in a plastic freezer bag and place it in a bowl.)

    Chill and marinate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

    flank steak marinade in glass bowl
    Elise Bauer
  2. Prepare your grill:

    Prepare the grill for high, direct heat with one part of the grill for lower, indirect heat. The grill is hot enough when you hold your hand about an inch over the hot side, and you can only hold it there for about a second.

  3. Grill the steak:

    Remove the steak from the marinade and gently shake off the excess marinade from the steak (But make sure there is still a coating of it, you'll want the oil on it to help keep the steak from sticking to the grill.).

    If you want, sprinkle generously on all sides with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. The salt and pepper will help form a savory crust on the steak.

    Place steak on the hot side of the grill. Grill for a minute or two on each side to get a good sear. Then, move the steak to the cooler side of the grill, cover and cook a few minutes more until done to your liking.

    grilled flank steak on coal grill
    Elise Bauer
    perfectly grilled flank steak on coal grill
    Elise Bauer

    How do you know when the steak is done? One way to tell is to poke it with your fingertips. While the steak is still raw, test it with your fingers; it will be quite squishy. That's what a very rare steak feels like. Touch the tip of your nose and that's what a very well done steak feels like. Here's a visual guide, the finger test to check the doneness of steak.

    Otherwise, use a good meat thermometer (I recommend a Thermapen.) Pull the steak off the grill at 120 to 125°F for rare, 130-140°F for medium rare, and 145°F for medium.

  4. Rest the steak:

    When the steak has cooked to your liking, remove from the grill and place on a cutting board. Cover with aluminum foil to hold in the heat while the steak rests for 10 to 15 minutes.

  5. Slice across the grain:

    Notice the direction of the muscle fibers of the steak; this is called the grain of the meat. Flank steak is a very lean cut that will be tough and chewy unless you cut it in a way that breaks up the muscle fibers.

    So, cut the steak across the grain of the meat, at a steep diagonal, so that the slices are wide. I find it easiest to use a long serrated bread knife for this, but any long sharp knife will do.

    Letting grilled flank steak rest on cutting board
    Elise Bauer
    Slicing perfectly grilled flank steak
    Elise Bauer

    If you want, you can take the excess marinade and bring it to a boil, simmer for several minutes, and serve with the flank steak. Great also with salsa or horseradish sauce.

    Did you love this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
353 Calories
19g Fat
9g Carbs
35g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 353
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 5g 27%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Sodium 653mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 35g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 31mg 2%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 475mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.