Our Most Popular Steak Tip Marinade
This recipe for brown sugar bourbon steak tips from the Yankee archives is a reader favorite. Here’s how to make this popular steak tip marinade.
By Aimee Tucker|Jun 07 2022|
Steak tips, resting.
Credit: Aimee TuckerGoing back more than 80 years, the Yankee recipe archive includes hundreds of recipes showcasing the best in seasonal New England cooking, but some recipes have risen above the rest to achieve “fan favorite” status. A great example is this steak tip marinade recipe, Brown Sugar Bourbon Steak Tips. Here’s how to make this flavorful grilling dish.
Credit: Aimee Tucker
Brown Sugar Bourbon Steak Tips:
Our Most Popular Steak Tip Marinade
First, cut the sirloin steak tips or flank steak (both work well) into 2-to-3-inch chunks. (Any smaller, and you should put them on a skewer.)
Credit: Aimee Tucker
Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together the steak tip marinade. Key ingredients include bourbon, brown sugar (light or dark), Worcestershire, and soy sauce.
Credit: Aimee Tucker
Once the steak tip marinade is whisked, pour it into a large zip-top bag. Add the steak and a few thick slices of yellow onion. For best flavor, let meat marinate for 2 hours. (For this post we decided to test how the steak tip marinade tasted after different lengths of time, the original 2 hours was still our top pick!)
Credit: Aimee Tucker
When ready to cook, drain and season meat with salt and pepper. Then, set up your grill for direct high heat. (For Yankee grilling advice, see Setting Up the Grill | Charcoal Grilling Tips.) Sear on one side until nicely browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn meat with tongs and grill until it reaches desired doneness (4 to 6 minutes more for medium rare, or until meat reaches an internal temperature of just above 140°).
Credit: Aimee Tucker
Still using tongs, remove the steak tips from the grill and allow to rest. A general “how long steak should rest” rule that’s worked in our house is to let it rest for as long as it took to cook it. Letting the meat rest before cutting or piercing it with a fork ensures it stays juicy on the inside once it’s time to eat.
Credit: Aimee Tucker
Finally, cook the marinated onions in a grill pan or grill them on grates away from direct heat, carefully turning once, for 8 to 10 minutes total cooking time. You can also take this opportunity to grill some additional veggies on skewers. We decided to make a few with peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Once the meat has rested, plate and serve! Some rice, grilled potato planks, or a green side salad would make a fine accompaniment.
Credit: Aimee Tucker
All that’s left to do is dig in!
Do you have a favorite steak tip marinade? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Bourbon Steak Tips
Thank you for a great recipe, will use it over and over again. So good !!
Been wanting to get a good Steak Tip Recipe, can’t what to try it.
I crave tender grilled Steak Tips from Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
I’ve tried to create but, I can’t find the right cut of meat. PLEASE help me. Thank you!
You can use flank steak is good for making steak sandwiches
The meat you’re looking for is called Flap meat and can be difficult to find… Atthe time of this answer I have 16lbs of it right next to me which I bought at Costco in Danvers Ma. I grew up in Lynn, Ma. And moved to myrtle beach, SC in 2001 and cannot find this meat anywhere. But in New England. I bring some back everytime I visit home. The cost was about $100 for 17lbs. After trimming I netted about 16 lbs.
I hope this helps.
We are from NH and also live in Myrtle Beach. Have you been able to find a source for steak tips in this area?
BJ’s Wholesale Club carries flap meat. I can buy it in Florida.
Mike in NH – I use this recipe for steak tips that I get at Market Basket.
Mill Street Meat Market in Wolfeboro, NH is the place to go for Steak Tips and more.Their House Marinated Steak Tips are consistently excellent. So tender and full of flavor. We bring them on every visit to our out of state relatives who can’t get enough of them when they visit and I serve them here.
Any suggestion for a version made without alcohol?
Aybe use coke instead, but knight be a ,ktt,e too sweet, I dunno. If you like pineapple throw a few slices in the marinade, it will help tenderize it too, and the pineapple taste pretty much dissapears when cooked. But again, these are different tastes .than the a,cool, so experiment.
The recipe in Betty crocker cook book for teriyaki sauce is very good to marinate steak tips we love it I use it all the time. it’s good on chicken too.
I didn’t have any bourbon so I used Cognac instead. The marinade was great.
Horrible. Hot alcohol flavor was unbearable.
Does anyone remember a marinated steak sandwich from Romie’s (Danvers, Ma)? I’d love the recipe! Thanks
Try the New Bridge Cafe’s steak tips. Memorable!
Do you have their recipe?. I’ve eaten there many times and they are the best.
I’ve heard it’s equal parts Italian Dressing, ketchup and Coke.
it’s equal parts Italian Dressing, , Coke, Heinz Chili Sauce, and Cranberry Juice.
I usually use coke in my steak tips. That’s yummy also
my recipe for teriyaki 1/4 cup veg oil 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons catsup 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cloves garlic crushed I mix this in a small jar and shake, pour in a ziplock bag with meat the let stand for at least 2 hours in the refridge. I buy steak tips in Market basket.
Anyone have a recipe for Doms steak tips
Does anyone possibly have the marinade they use at The 99 restaurant for the steak tips? Living in SC now and no 99 !
You could probably find recipe online or si i,ar one anyways.
Nice and good
Would I be able to make this marinade and then vacuum seal the steak & the marinade and freeze?
in the 80’s I always went to Brandano’s in Malden, By far the best steak tips I have ever had. Does anyone know the recipe.
I live in Tampa; you can find Flap Meat at Latin markets (I go to Bravo and get it for $8.99/pound). Good marinade is Allegro. My teriyaki is store bought like Kikkoman, add garlic, pineapple juice, black pepper, and scallions; add chopped habanero if you want it spicy. Jimmy’s at the Burlington Mall was the best.