London Broil Recipe - Tender & Juicy! (2024)

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Katerina

4.78 from 22 votes

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This tender, juicy Marinated London Broil Steak is simply amazing. Herbs, spices, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar combine to make the most delicious London Broil recipe you’ve ever tasted.

London Broil Recipe - Tender & Juicy! (2)

    Juicy London Broil Recipe

    There’s nothing quite like a juicy steak dinner, and this marinated London broil is especially delicious! It’s a festive, hearty and satisfying meal option that comes together easily. The marinade is perfectly balanced with tangy, savory, garlicky ingredients that’ll make your mouth water. I like to serve the thin, tender slices of this steak over mashed potatoes or salad for a satisfying dinner or quick lunch. Depending on how large your steak is, and how much you need for each person, this recipe can feed several people comfortably. It’s a great way to make steak for up to six people without having to cook in batches or fire up a grill.

    What is London Broil?

    These days, London Broil seems to be applied to any large, thick steak that’s on the lean side. You’ll often find top sirloin steaks labeled London Broil, for example, but for this recipe, we’ll stick to tradition and use a flank steak. To make London Broil, you marinate flank steak in a flavorful marinade, then broil it under high heat until it’s cooked to a medium-rare or medium; cooking it any more than that will make the lean flank steak tough, dry, and unappealing. Then, you let the broiled flank steak rest. Finally, a good London Broil is cut very thinly against the grain. This helps the naturally tough cut of meat to taste tender and juicy, rather than stringy and difficult to eat.

    Why You’ll Love This Steak Recipe

    • Mouthwatering marinade. This London broil marinade is perfectly savory with a bit of tang, thanks to ingredients like Worcestershire sauce and vinegar.
    • Only needs an hour to marinate. Another thing to love about the marinade is that it requires just an hour, which is perfect for weeknights when you didn’t have time to throw it together in the morning.
    • Tender, juicy steak. London broil has a reputation for being a bit tough but if you follow this recipe closely, you’ll end up with tender, juicy slices of steak every time.
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    Ingredients For London Broil

    • Flank Steak: To serve six people, I recommend one 2-pound flank steak.
    • Olive Oil: The base of the marinade is ¼ cup of good olive oil.
    • Soy Sauce: You’ll need ¼ cup of soy sauce, preferably low sodium.
    • Worcestershire Sauce: Two tablespoons of this sauce add savory umami flavor.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar: This adds a nice tang to the London broil marinade and also helps tenderize the steak. If you need to substitute, try using regular vinegar or white wine.
    • Sugar: I like to use brown sugar in my marinade; you could also use honey or maple syrup.
    • Garlic: Mince or press 3 to 4 cloves of garlic.
    • Seasonings: Smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, coriander, salt, and pepper all add flavor to this London broil marinade.
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    London Broil Recipe - Tender & Juicy! (5)

    How to Cook London Broil

    It’s so easy to make this steak! First, you’ll marinate it, and then it goes into an ovenproof skillet. A quick sear on the stove, followed by a blast of heat under the broiler, and it’s done!

    1. Make Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together your olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, paprika, oregano, thyme, coriander, salt and pepper. If you’re using regular soy sauce instead of low-sodium soy sauce, use less salt; you can always add more later.
    2. Marinate Steak: Place the whole flank steak in a gallon-sized ziploc bag. Pour the marinade into the bag with the steak. Seal the bag and massage the marinade all around the steak. Set aside for 1 hour to marinate, OR refrigerate for up to 8 hours.
    3. Prepare Steak, Pan & Broiler: Take the steak out of the fridge 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook it. Preheat your oven to BROIL (choose “high” if you have high and low broiler settings). Set a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat on your stovetop and let the skillet get hot. You’ll know it’s hot enough when a drop of water sizzles on contact with the skillet.
    4. Cook Steak on Stovetop: Remove your steak from the bag of marinade, and shake off any excess. Transfer the steak to the hot skillet; make sure it sizzles. Cook for 2 minutes and then flip and continue to cook for 1 minute, or until just browned on the bottom.
    5. Broil Steak: Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 5 minutes; flip the meat over and broil for 4 to 5 more minutes, or until the internal temperature registers at 125-130˚F. DO NOT cook it longer than that or the steak will be tough and chewy. Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness.
    6. Rest, Slice & Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and transfer the steak to a cutting board. Let it rest for 8-10 minutes. Slice thinly and garnish with parsley before serving.
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    Tips for Success

    Cooking London broil might seem a bit tricky since flank steak can be tough, but you can count on a delicious result if you cook it carefully and follow the right steps. Here are some tips to help you make this dish the best it can be.

    • Score the Meat: For maximum tenderness, some cooks recommend scoring the meat in a crisscross pattern to help the marinade soak in and to break up tough connective tissue.
    • Cook It Hot: It’s important to have the pan hot enough to sear the steak, or else it won’t stay juicy. The heat sears the outside of the meat, keeping the juices inside.
    • Cut It Thin: Cutting the cooled steak into nice thin slices against the grain is the final step to making sure it’s tender and juicy. Thicker slices, or worse, slices cut with the grain, will be tough. A sharp knife is really important here.

    What to Serve with London Broil

    This delicious steak goes well with just about everything, from mac and cheese to salad to soup. But if you’d like to have a few specific suggestions, I’m happy to recommend some of my favorite sides!

    • A Cozy Mash: From plain mashed potatoes with butter to this scrumptious Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower with Garlic and Chives, a tasty mash is just right with London Broil.
    • A Fresh Salad: I particularly like this Radish Cucumber Tomato Salad with steak; the flavors are bold, earthy and refreshing. Perfection!
    • Homemade Bread: I’m a big fan of homemade bread! There are all kinds to make, but sometimes a good Whole Wheat Focaccia just hits all the right notes. I love its homespun flavor and hearty texture.
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    How to Store and Reheat Steak Leftovers

    • To Store: Wrap the steak tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a food storage bag and press out as much air as possible before sealing. London broil will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
    • To Freeze: Tightly wrap with plastic wrap and aluminum foil over the steak, or pack the slices in an airtight container, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.
    • To Reheat: It’s best to place your steak on the counter at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes before reheating it. Then, I recommend placing the steak in a covered skillet over low heat and cooking until heated through.

    ENJOY!

    London Broil Recipe - Tender & Juicy! (8)

    Marinated London Broil

    Katerina | Diethood

    This tender, juicy Marinated London Broil Steak is simply amazing. Herbs, spices, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar combine to make the most delicious London Broil recipe you've ever tasted.

    4.78 from 22 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

    Servings : 8

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

    Prep Time 20 minutes mins

    Cook Time 15 minutes mins

    To Marinate 1 hour hr

    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    For the Steak

    For the Marinade

    Instructions

    • Place steak in a gallon sized ziploc bag and set aside.

    • In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, paprika, oregano, thyme, coriander, salt, and pepper. IF you’re not using low sodium soy sauce, add less salt; you can always add more later.

    • Pour the marinade over the steak inside the ziploc bag; seal the bag and massage the marinade all around the steak. Set aside for 1 hour to marinate, OR refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

    • Take the steak out of the fridge 20 minutes before you’re ready to cook.

    • Preheat oven to BROIL. If you have a HIGH or LOW Broiler setting, set it on HIGH.

    • Set a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat and heat it up until hot.

    • Remove steak from marinade, shake off any excess, and transfer steak to the hot skillet; make sure it sizzles. Cook for 2 minutes; flip and continue to cook for 1 minute, or until just browned.

    • Transfer skillet to the oven and broil for 5 minutes; flip the meat over and cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, or until internal temperature registers at 125˚F to 130˚F. DO NOT cook it longer than that because the steak will be tough and chewy. Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness.

    • Remove skillet from oven and transfer steak to a cutting board; let stand for 8 to 10 minutes before cutting.

    • Slice thinly and garnish with parsley.

    • Serve.

    Notes

    • Seasoning: If using regular soy sauce, reduce the salt in the marinade and adjust later.
    • Score for Tenderness: Score meat in a crisscross pattern for better marinade absorption and tenderness.
    • Sear for Juiciness: Ensure a hot pan for a proper sear, trapping the juices within the steak.
    • Slice Against The Grain: After it rests, thinly slice the steak against the grain for optimal tenderness using a sharp knife.
    • Pre-Cooking Tip: Remove the steak from the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4 ounces | Calories: 238 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 25 g | Fat: 13 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 68 mg | Sodium: 514 mg | Potassium: 457 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 132 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 40 mg | Iron: 2 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Dinner

    Cuisine: English

    Keyword: how to make london broil, london broil, london broil marinade, london broil recipe

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    Categories:

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    London Broil Recipe - Tender & Juicy! (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you cook London broil so it's not tough? ›

    Whatever you do, don't overcook your meat, says Thomason—this is the most important tip, she says. "If you like your steak more well done, this is not the cut for you. Once London broil cooks to medium or beyond, the lack of fat in this hard-working muscle will cause your steak to become tough and dry," she says.

    What is the best way to tenderize London broil? ›

    Our first secret weapon is baking soda, which gets mixed in with a few other simple marinade ingredients. It may seem unorthodox, but it plays a crucial role in tenderizing the steak by relaxing its protein network, which keeps it nice and juicy while it cooks.

    Will London broil get more tender the longer it cooks? ›

    If you take a less-than-tender cut of meat like London broil and slow cook it for several hours (4 hours on high 6-7 hours on low), you will be rewarded with a very tender, flavorful meat for dinner!

    Which cooking method is preferred for London broil? ›

    London broil is a delicious cut of beef that is perfect for grilling or broiling. It is a leaner cut of beef that comes from the flank, and it is best cooked using high heat and quick cooking techniques.

    Should I sear my London broil before baking? ›

    Remove the meat from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. In a skillet over high heat, sear the steak for about 2 minutes. Flip and sear the other side of the steak for about 2 minutes. Place the skillet in the oven and cook for about 6 minutes.

    Should you poke holes in London broil? ›

    Since London broil has so much muscle fiber and connective tissue, it also has very little fat marbling resulting in a tougher cut of meat. Without the holes, the marinade won't be able to reach the inside of the meat which means the meat won't be tender. For the marinade itself, there are endless options.

    How do you tenderize a London broil without a tenderizer? ›

    Pounding

    Using a meat mallet (or kitchen mallet) to pound steaks helps soften and tenderize the meat. Simply place the meat in between pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound it prior to cooking. If you don't have a meat mallet, you can also use a heavy kitchen tool such as a skillet, saucepan or rolling pin.

    How do you make meat soft and tender? ›

    Add Some Fruit. In addition to acid-based foods, plant enzymes in fruits like pineapple and kiwi can tenderize meat. Like with lemon juice or vinegar, you don't want to leave these foods on beef for too long—it will make the meat soft. You can blend fruit to create a marinade.

    What happens if you marinate London broil too long? ›

    Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

    What is better than London broil? ›

    While a top round steak or a sirloin steak make a good replacement for London broil, a beef brisket is probably the most similar to Tri-tip in terms of tender chew and beefy flavor when cooked correctly.

    Why is London broil so dry? ›

    If you cook it at a too-high temperature, you'll end up with dry, hard, and chewy meat. It's just one of the reasons why I love this London broil crock pot recipe!

    How long to cook 2 inch thick London broil? ›

    London Broil Grill Time Chart
    CutThicknessMedium (135- 150°)
    London Broil Steak1 to 1.5 inches15-20 minutes
    London Broil Steak1.5 to 2 inches17-20 minutes
    Jan 21, 2020

    How long does it take to grill a 2 lb London broil? ›

    Grill steak, covered, 12 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 16 to 19 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) turning occasionally. Do not overcook.

    Should you sear a London broil? ›

    If you're not careful, the butter will burn. But if you rub softened butter into well-seasoned steaks, and sear the steaks on a cast iron pan heated on medium high heat, just until you get a good sear and no longer, the flavor really is amazing. Do you have a favorite way to prepare London Broil?

    Is London broil supposed to be chewy? ›

    Although a London broil is a tough cut, it can be delicious. It can be prepared well to make a delicious steak with a beefy flavour and tender chew. The fact that it is marinated beforehand means it will absorb the flavours of the marinade ingredients.

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