London Broil Marinade

A london broil marinade that results in a flavorful juicy steak so you can spend just 10 minutes in the kitchen!

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What is London Broil?

London broil isn’t a specific cut of meat — it refers more to the cooking method! While it may be labeled as such, it’s typically a top round roast, flank steak, or skirt steak. Any of these cuts will work with my London broil marinade recipe.

Marinade for London Broil Ingredients

• Soy sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil
• Worcestershire sauce
• Lemon juice — from a fresh lemon or just the juice
• Brown sugar
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes — you can add more for a little more heat
• A London broil steak — of course!

How to Marinate London Broil

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

STEP ONE: Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire and soy sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar, and spices in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Seal the bag and shake until everything is well mixed together. 

STEP TWO: Place the beef in the bag with the London broil marinade and seal tightly. Rub the ingredients into the meat on all sides to really work in the flavor. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.

STEP THREE: When you’re ready to cook, remove marinated London broil from the fridge. Let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes while you preheat the oven broiler. 

STEP FOUR: Place the beef in a cast iron pan and pour the London broil marinade into a saucepan on the stove. Simmer the marinade for London broil over low heat until thickened.

STEP FIVE: Meanwhile, broil the beef in the cast iron pan for 5-6 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes for medium rare. Let rest for 10 minutes, then slice and serve with the thickened London broil marinade.

What to Serve with Marinated London Broil

London broil is a great steak packed with protein and serves well with most vegetables and starches. I love serving it with green beans and bacon, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, or some garlic cheese bread for a weeknight dinner.

If I’m having guests over, a bacon mac and cheese or green bean casserole serve up nice with it.

Variations for London Broil Marinade

• Easy balsamic substitute: To make this London broil marinade recipe without balsamic, use an equal amount of rice vinegar instead. Or, combine 1 teaspoon of sugar with 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.
• Vary your spices. While this marinade for London broil is great as is, feel free to get creative with spices! Replace Italian seasoning with your choice of dried basil, oregano, or rosemary. You can also try cumin for some added heat or onion powder for more savory flavor.
• Use as a dipping sauce. After you soak the meat in London broil marinade, don’t forget to reduce the liquid! Simmer until thickened or whisk in a quick cornstarch slurry. Just be sure to heat it enough to kill any bacteria from the raw meat.

More Marinaded Recipes

• 3 Ingredient Steak Marinade
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Honey Soy Marinade
• Air Fryer Tri Tip
• Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

How Long Can London Broil Marinate In Fridge?

You’ll get the most flavor from this London broil marinade recipe if you soak the beef for at least 2-3 hours. I’ve found that the sweet spot tends to be 6-9 hours, but overnight is better! 

You can marinate the steak for up to 24 hours before the lemon juice starts to break down the protein fibers, leaving you with an unpleasant texture.

What is the Best Way to Tenderize a London Broil?

You can tenderize a london broil with a brine or marinade — like this recipe! Acidic ingredients like citrus juice and vinegar help to break down tough cuts of protein, as does salt. However, too much salt will lead to dry beef. 

For those wondering how to marinate London broil, it’s really quite simple — combine a blend of sauces, spices, and some kind of acid, then massage the ingredients into the meat and pop it in the fridge!

How Long to Grill a London Broil

If grilling, I find London broil takes about 12 minutes to reach medium rare on high direct heat, flipping halfway through grilling.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature — medium rare is considered optimal for most beef, while well done is sure to result in dry, tough meat. Once it reaches your desired temp, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. 

Here’s a helpful guide to know when London broil is done:

• Rare: 125-130°F (cool red center)
• Medium Rare: 135°F (warm red center)
• Medium: 145°F (warm pink center)

More Steak Recipes

• Dutch Oven Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Round steak
• Ninja Foodi Beef Stew
• Beef Wellington without Mushrooms
• Air Fryer Filet Mignon
• Steak Fajitas
• Air Fryer Cube Steak

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