This easy teriyaki steak marinade has flavor in every bite of meat making it tender and juicy! This simple recipe can also be used for other types of meat and seafood as well!

Steak marinading in a glass bowl.

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Easy Teriyaki Marinade

Whether it’s a sauce, a glaze, a dip, or a marinade, our family enjoys it in all kinds of ways! Slow cooker teriyaki chicken is one of my favorites to do on a lazy weekend, and these teriyaki meatballs I put out as appetizers when I host any gathering. Whether I’m marinating or just coating, it’s all about those sweet and tangy flavors!

Having a variety of different easy steak marinades at your disposal means you can switch up the flavor of an entire meal just based on which one you decide to use! Will it be spicy, sweet, or zesty like this carne asada marinade recipe?

On many nights, this easy steak marinade is on rotation but on days when I feel like going a bit sweeter, I turn to the best easy teriyaki steak marinade that my kids love! It’s got the same flavor profile as my teriyaki sauce recipe but is thinner and has more of a liquid base to really get into the meat. So, if you love yourself some teriyaki, you’re going to LOVE this recipe!

Ingredients for Teriyaki Steak Marinade Recipe

This versatile steak marinade recipe can be used on any cut of meat and will flavor everything from steak bites to grilled steak kabobs, but it is also a great marinade for grilled flank steak, whether enjoyed whole or cut in strips for a stir fry or sliced and served over rice and steamed vegetables.

Steak marinade ingredients.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Sirloin steak: A lean and tender type of beef that is considered juicy compared to other cuts of meat. Either slice or leave it whole in the marinade depending on how you are using it.
  • Soy sauce: Low-sodium soy sauce is best to use with the least amount of salt. You can also use coconut aminos too.
  • Sesame oil: Gives that authentic Asian taste. It is a sweet and tangy sauce.
  • Honey: A natural sweetness that adds just enough sugary sweetness to the meat.
  • Worcestershire sauce: This sauce is loaded with sweet, savory, tangy, and salty. It balances out all the flavors and gives the sauce a beautiful brown coloring.
  • Garlic: Everyone loves garlic! Minced garlic adds that garlicky flavor.
  • Ginger: There are several health benefits when adding ginger to the sauce but it also has a delicious salty taste and hint of spice to it.

How to Make Teriyaki Marinade for Steaks

The best part is that this teriyaki steak marinade recipe isn’t just for steaks! It comes together so quickly and adds so much flavor that it’s definitely worth trying on chicken, shrimp, and pork too!

  1. Cut: Trim any fat and cube steak if desired. Place the meat in a glass bowl or zip-top bag. Set aside.
  2. Whisk: Combine the soy sauce, water, oil, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk until combined.
  3. Marinate: Pour sauce over the steak. Seal the bowl or bag and place the in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Best when marinated for 4-6 hours, or overnight.
  4. Cook: Grill or cook steak as desired. Let rest for 5 minutes, before serving. Slice against the grain. Serve while warm.
Steak marinade in a glass bowl with a spoon in it.
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“This teriyaki sauce was delicious and so easy to make! Going to put it on everything!”

Sam

Tips for Making and Using this Marinade

Make the perfect marinade by using this teriyaki marinade sauce! Pick you meat, cut or slice your meat for the way you want to cook it, and even use substitutions or variations for this sauce. This is a great sauce to make the changes that you need!

  • Meat: I prefer sirloin steaks, but flat iron steak, flank, or rib-eye steak work well too.
  • Substitutions: You can substitute the sesame oil for olive oil or canola oil if that’s what you have. You can also use honey instead of sugar or brown sugar. Can opt for coconut aminos instead of soy sauce if you’re looking for a gluten-free option.
  • Variations: Cut the steak into cubes. Once it’s done marinating, thread it onto skewers with chopped bell peppers, pineapples, or your other favorite additions. I mean, who doesn’t love eating food off of a stick?
  • Time: Allow steak to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes. The longer the better, so if you can hold off until the next day, marinating overnight is ideal.
Overhead photo of the teriyaki steak marinade sauce.

Recipe FAQs

What does a steak marinade do?

Marinades break down the fibers in your steak allowing all of the flavors of the marinade to permeate right through. This tenderizes the beef and creates a beautiful, juicy piece of meat with massive amounts of flavor in every bite. When using a marinade containing some kind of sugar, it gives the meat a better chance at getting that nice crispy seared char on the outside. This is because the sugars have caramelized making it downright drool-worthy!

What is the difference between teriyaki sauce and teriyaki marinade?

Both teriyaki sauce and teriyaki marinade use many of the same ingredients to achieve the same flavors. The major difference is that the marinade will be used to flavor the meat while it is raw, and the sauce will be used as a glaze, a dip, or a sauce for meat that’s already been cooked!

One other noticeable difference is the texture. Teriyaki sauce uses cornstarch which thickens it up to a lovely sweet and sticky sauce, whereas the marinade will remain liquid to be absorbed by the meat.

More Ways to Season Steak

teriyaki steak marinade in clear bowl

Teriyaki Steak Marinade

5 from 28 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4
This easy teriyaki steak marinade has flavor in every bite of meat making it tender and juicy! This simple recipe can also be used for other types of meat and seafood as well!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ pounds sirloin steak , or meat of choice
  • ½ cup low sodium soy sauce , or coconut aminos
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2-3 Tablespoons honey
  • 2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger , or 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

For garnish: green onions or parsley

Instructions

  • Trim any fat and cube steak if desired. Place the meat in a glass bowl or zip top bag. Set aside.
  • Combine the soy sauce, water, oil, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk until combined.
  • Pour sauce over the steak. Seal bowl or bag and place the in the refrigerator and allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Best when marinated for 4-6 hours, or overnight.
  • Cook steak as desired (notes below for cooking on grill). Let rest for 5 minutes, before serving. Slice against the grain. Serve while warm.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Meat: I prefer sirloin steaks, but flat iron steak, flank or rib eye steak work well too. 
Substitutions: If you don’t have sesame oil, you can substitute for olive or canola oil. You may also substitute sugar or brown sugar for the honey, if preferred. 
Variations: This recipe makes great skewers. Cut steak into cubes and after it has marinated, thread onto skewers with vegetables (such as bell peppers) and pineapple. 
Cookin on grill: Preheat grill to medium high heat. Clean the grill grates with a wire brush and them lightly oil the grates. Place the steak onto the grill and cook until golden brown, 4-5 minutes. Turn the steaks over and grill another 4-5 minutes for medium-rare (145° F), 5 to 7 minutes for medium (140° F) or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well done (160° F).

Nutrition

Calories: 151kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 618mg, Potassium: 114mg, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin C: 1.7mg, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.