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One of the easiest and most flavorful meals that you will ever prepare! Whether you serve it for a St. Patrick’s Day feast, throw it on a summer barbecue, or broil it in a cozy oven on a chilly evening, this Guinness Flank Steak Marinade is a simple 3-ingredient recipe that comes together in seconds!

Sliced flank steak on a cutting board with knife and tongs
Table of Contents
  1. How do you marinate flank steak for tenderness?
  2. How to make Flank Steak Marinade:
  3. How long can flank steak marinate?
  4. Guinness Flank Steak Marinade Recipe

Check out these other great St. Patrick’s Day recipes like Guinness chocolate cake with cake mix, dump-and-bake corned beef and cabbage, sheet pan cabbage potatoes and sausage, and Irish stew, too!

Just look at that tender, juicy meat…

Flank steak might be considered less desirable than pricier cuts like filet mignon and New York strip, but I love this humble beef! It’s ideal for simple, weeknight dinners because it’s relatively affordable and easy to work with. It’s thin, so it cooks quickly (always nice for busy home cooks!), and it can be prepared in advance.

After a few hours (or overnight) in this savory flank steak marinade, the beef is transformed from a tough cut of meat into a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy!

How do you marinate flank steak for tenderness?

If you want to make your flank steak tender, there are two keys:

(1) A good marinade that will break down the tough fibers in the meat and add flavor to the dish; and

(2) Thinly slice the cooked steak, cutting against the grain.

Front view of sliced steak with flank steak marinade

How to make Flank Steak Marinade:

All it takes is 3 basic ingredients! So much flavor is packed into each of these items, and they work beautifully together.

3 ingredients for flank steak marinade

In less than 1 minute, you can whisk together a bottle of Guinness beer, 1 cup of your favorite balsamic vinaigrette, and a Brown Sugar Bourbon seasoning packet. DONE!

Guinness Flank Steak Marinade in a glass measuring cup with whisk

How long can flank steak marinate?

TO QUICKLY MARINATE FLANK STEAK, put the flank steak in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour marinade into the bag and coat steak with the marinade. Squeeze excess air from the bag and seal. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.

But, if you have the time, it’s best to use this FLANK STEAK MARINADE OVERNIGHT! Then, when you’re ready to actually serve your dinner, you can simply pull the marinated meat out of the oven and cook it for about 10 minutes! So easy, right?!

The end result is a beautiful char on the outside and an incredibly juicy, tender inside.

What to serve with Flank Steak Marinade:

This steak is perfect served with a simple green salad and a crusty loaf of French bread if you’re looking for a speedy option.

Celebrating St. Patty’s Day? Serve it with some braised cabbage, with a side of potatoes, or with a loaf of warm Irish Soda Bread!

Other great sides that pair nicely with the marinated flank steak:

Sliced grilled marinated flank steak on a cutting board

COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

  • This flank steak marinade recipe obviously uses balsamic and beer; however, you can substitute with an equal amount of red wine instead of the beer if you prefer!
  • Prepare your flank steak in the oven or on the grill! Both sets of instructions are included.
  • Prefer a flank steak marinade made with soy sauce and honey (with a nice teriyaki flavor)? Try this recipe!
  • Looking for a Mexican flank steak marinade that’s perfect for tacos or fajitas? Try this recipe!
Overhead shot of sliced marinated flank steak on a cutting board

Looking for even more easy flank steak recipes? Try these:

Square side shot of guinness flank steak marinade on a cutting board.

Guinness Flank Steak Marinade

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 16 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total: 8 hours 21 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 201.3 kcal
Whether you serve it for a St. Patrick’s Day feast, throw it on a summer barbecue, or broil it in a cozy oven on a chilly evening, this Guinness Flank Steak Marinade is a simple 3-ingredient recipe that comes together in seconds!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1.5 – 2-lb. flank steak
  • 1 bottle (11.2 ounces) Guinness stout
  • 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) packet Brown Sugar Bourbon dry seasoning mix (such as McCormick Grill Mates brand)

Instructions

  • Place flank steak in a large (9 x 13-inch) baking dish.
  • Whisk together beer, salad dressing, and dry seasoning mix; pour marinade over steak. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours), turning occasionally.
  • Remove steak from marinade. Discard marinade.

GRILL INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Prepare a hot fire by piling charcoal on one side of grill, leaving other side empty. (For gas grills, only light one side.) Place food grate on grill. Place steak on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) about 20 minutes or to desired degree of doneness.
  • The steak is done when the edges are charred and crispy, and you see some nicely dark searing on the top. Check the temperature in the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer: 115 to 120°F for rare steak, 120 to 125°F for medium-rare steak, 130 to 135°F for medium steak, and 140 to 145°F for medium-well steak.
  • Let stand 10 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving.

OVEN INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Heat your broiler to HIGH.
  • Place an oven rack a few inches below the broiler. Line a broiler pan with aluminum foil, add the broiling rack, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Place marinated steak on prepared broiler pan. Slide it directly under the broiler.
  • Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, flip it over, and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes (8 to 12 minutes total).
  • The steak is done when the edges are charred and crispy, and you see some nicely dark searing on the top. Check the temperature in the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer: 115 to 120°F for rare steak, 120 to 125°F for medium-rare steak, 130 to 135°F for medium steak, and 140 to 145°F for medium-well steak.
  • Let stand 10 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving.

Notes

Have leftovers? The extra meat is delicious served over salad or piled high on hoagie rolls for steak sandwiches.
COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:
  • This flank steak marinade recipe obviously uses balsamic and beer; however, you can substitute with an equal amount of red wine instead of the beer if you prefer!
  • Prepare your flank steak in the oven or on the grill! Both sets of instructions are included.
  • Prefer a flank steak marinade made with soy sauce and honey (with a nice teriyaki flavor)? Try this recipe!
  • Looking for a Mexican flank steak marinade that’s perfect for tacos or fajitas? Try this recipe!

Nutrition

Serving: 4ounces cooked steak + 2 tablespoons marinadeCalories: 201.3kcalCarbohydrates: 2.9gProtein: 24.1gFat: 8.9gSaturated Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 361.9mgSugar: 1.7g
Keyword: flank steak marinade, flank steak recipe
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Irish
Author: Blair Lonergan
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Comments

  1. Mmm I love a good steak marinade and this sounds perfect! I haven’t made flank steak in the longest time, so I have to try this out. My husband would love this, too! Pinned!

  2. My family is a huge lover of meat and marinade but we’ve never thought of adding beer to steak, Blair! Thanks for the intriguing and inspiring recipe which we will definitely try soon! 🙂

  3. I adore flank steak..I grill it in my creatively made marinade, I make a killer ropa viaja, actually just went before to Western Beef (a superbly priced real meat mecca) and it was still priced at $10.99 a pound! The continued escalating price of this highly desired cut of meat isn’t practical for cooking for a crowd. sad sad????

  4. Thank you for this recipe. My family really liked this marinade. It’s so delicious with glass of red wine. Do you have similar recipes for cooking in pellet smoker/? I just want to do something in it and I can’t find any good recipient the internet.

  5. Excited to try this recipe it’s marinading right now! I’m having beef but my wife doesn’t eat beef so using pork for her hope she likes it!!