Best London Broil Marinade {Oven or Grill}

This is simply the best London Broil marinade ever! It's a bold claim, but we used it at our Make-Ahead Meal Kitchen thousands of times to prepare tender and juicy steak that could be cooked in the oven, on the grill or prepped and stored in the freezer until cook time.

This classic recipe is perfect for weekly dinner meal planners. Make it for dinner one night and prep a second meal for the freezer. Then, plan for leftovers so you can make easy fajitas or top Massaged Kale Salad the next night.

This guide is packed with tips and tricks to make outstanding steak using the Best London Broil Marinade every single time!

Jump to:

• What is London Broil?
• How to tenderize
• Marinade ingredients 
• How long to marinate
• How to cook in the oven
• Cut against the grain
• How to grill
• Freezer guide
• Serving ideas
• Other marinades
• 📋 Recipe

What is London Broil?

This question came up A LOT at our store! London Broil is not a cut of meat. It's the name for preparing a cut of beef.

London broil is meat that is marinated, cooked and thinly sliced. In the grocery store, buy top round steak or flank steak to make this recipe. Common Cuts of Beef by Real Simple provides overviews of the various cuts.

How to tenderize

Tenderizing helps break down tough muscle fibers in beef. Top round steak and flank steak need this because they are lean cuts of meats...as in not much fat. To avoid steak that is tough and chewy, tenderize it!

Here are some easy steps to tenderize London Broil:

1. Use a fork to poke holes in the meat. (Or pound it with a mallet, which is preferable if the meat is uneven in thickness.)
2. Marinate meat with a recipe that includes an acidic ingredient, like red wine vinegar and lemon juice (like this recipe!.)
3. Cut the meat across the grain before serving. Tips below.
4. Don't overcook it! Check out the suggested times and temps below.

Marinade ingredients 

This marinade yields about 1 cup of marinade, which is perfect for 2 pounds of London Broil or other beef. Double or Triple it as necessary.

• Canola oil
• Soy sauce - or use Coconut Aminos for a soy-free marinade
• Red wine vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce - for a soy-free marinade leave this out
• Ground mustard
• Pepper
• Garlic

Mix it up in advance and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about week in a glass jar.

How long to marinate

We recommend marinating London broil or other beef for a minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator. 4 hours is better and overnight will allow all the flavor to sink in.

The easiest way to marinate beef is to place it in a resealable plastic bag with the marinade so it can be easily turned every so often. Otherwise, place the meat flat in a glass baking dish.

If using the plastic bag method, place the first plastic bag in another plastic bag or a baking dish to contain any leaks that may happen!

Safety Tip: Always marinate meat in the refrigerator and not on the counter!

However, it is a good idea to allow the London Broil to come to room temperature (it takes about an hour) before you begin cooking it.

How to cook in the oven

The length of time it takes to broil London Broil in the oven will vary depending upon the thickness of the meat. Generally, top round steaks are about 1 inch in thickness. Flank steaks are thinner. It also depends on how you enjoy your steak.

Remove meat from bag and discard the excess marinade. It can't be reused.

Move the cooking rack within 3 to 4 inches of the heating element. Place meat on a broiler pan (sprayed with non-stick cooking spray) and cook for 14 - 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

If you're not used to cooking beef in the oven, then flip at 7 minutes and check for doneness at 14 minutes and go from there.

Per the USDA's Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart, beef should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 °F.

However, here are internal temperatures for London Broil with a pinker center.

• Medium-rare meat about 135 °F
• Rare meat about 125 °F.

Use a meat thermometer to get things just the way you like them.

If you would prefer baking London Broil in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven, then be sure to use a recipe that involves liquid and other wet ingredients so it doesn't dry out.

Cut against the grain

Tip: Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes before cutting. This allows the juices to seep back into the meat. The Spruce Eats provides a scientific explanation in the Secret to a Juicy Steak is Letting it Rest.

When you're ready to cut the meat, go against the grain or the meat will be stringy and each bite will be chewy because you have to soften the meat.

The muscle fibers go in one direction. Slice the meat in the opposite direction. In the picture below, the muscle fibers ran left to right, so we cut the meat the other way.

How to grill

To grill London Broil, discard the marinade and place the meat on an oiled grate. Cook for 14 - 20 minutes using the temperature guidelines and cutting techniques described above.

Freezer guide

It is totally and completely possible to freeze top round steak or flank steak in the Best London Broil Marinade. Simply prepare the recipe up to the point where you would put it in the refrigerator to marinate. It's best to use a resealable plastic bag for freezing.

Seal the bag, removing as much excess air as possible. Label and place in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Remove the bag to the refrigerator and allow it to defrost overnight when you are ready to enjoy it.

The London Broil will begin marinating as it begins to freeze...and will marinate some more as it defrosts.

Serving ideas

London Broil is weeknight dinner friendly and can be prettied up for special occasions like Valentine's Day, New Year's or an Anniversary.

Our favorite topping ideas for the best London Broil: Easy Blue Cheese Sauce - this 4 ingredient sauce tastes like it came from a steakhouse!

Creamy Horseradish Sauce by a Family Feast, this buttery steak sauce by The Novice Chef or some of these steak topping ideas by A Spicy Perspective all sound fantastic!

Add a few simple sides, like green beans and a salad and dinner is done!

Other marinades

The marinades used in these recipes are also great with London Broil:

• Garlic and Rosemary Red Wine Marinade for Shish Kabobs
• Red Wine Marinade for Pork Tenderloin

Please rate this recipe and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you are cooking up!

📋 Recipe