Our Most Popular Steak Tip Marinade

Going 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.

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.)

Next, in a medium bowl, whisk together the steak tip marinade. Key ingredients include bourbon, brown sugar (light or dark), Worcestershire, and soy sauce.

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!)

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°).

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.

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.

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