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These easy Italian steaks are marinated and cooked perfectly on the grill. Juicy and flavorful, these steaks are the perfect summer dinner or even great for salad.
This post was originally published in August 2020 and has been updated for content.
Cooking on the grill is a must in our house during the Summer and who doesn't love a tasty steak, fresh off the grill. The marinade for these Italian steaks just uses a few simple ingredients to help make them tender and delicious. Plus, you can use it with your favorite cut of steak.
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🥩 Ingredient notes
- Steak - There are a few different types of steaks that are best for grilling. My go to cuts are usually strip, sirloin or ribeye. Strip steak or sirloin steaks are leaner cuts of meat that tend to be less expensive. Ribeye steaks are usually bone in and have more fat marbled throughout, making them more tender and flavorful. They also carry different price points, so it's best to choose which cut is best for you.
- Steak Marinade - This simple marinade for these Italian steaks is made up of olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, fresh oregano, crushed red pepper and salt. Marinating steaks before grilling not only helps to infuse flavor into the meat but also helps to tenderize it. I recommend marinating these italian style steaks for a minimum of 1 hour before grilling, but no longer than 8 hours.
📋 Substitutions and Variations
- Oregano - If fresh oregano is not available, one teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning may be used instead.
- Crushed Red Pepper - Depending on your preference, the amount of pepper can be adjusted to your liking.
- Cheese - Melt an Italian cheese, such as fontina or asiago on top for extra flavor!
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, place the steaks in a shallow container or zip top bag and then cover them with the marinade ingredients. Cover or zip up the bag and allow the meat to marinate in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour, but no more than 8 hours.
Grill marinated steaks on a preheated grill over medium high heat for approximately 4-7 minutes on each side until the desired doneness is achieved.
Lastly, allow the grilled Italian steaks to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
🌡️ Cooking temperatures
Every grill is different and so it's best to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your meat. Listed below are the temperatures for degrees of doneness for grilling steaks.
- Rare (cool red center) - 125°
- Medium rare (warm red center) - 135°
- Medium (warm pink center) - 145°
- Medium well (slightly pink center) - 150°
- Well (little or no pink) - 160°
⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to preheat your grill to make sure it is nice and hot to get a proper sear on the outside of the steaks. I like to preheat my grill on high and then bring it down to medium high to cook the meat.
- After grilling, its best to let the Italian steaks rest for 5-10 minutes off of the heat before slicing and serving it. Resting the meat gives it time for the juices to absorb back into the meat so it doesn't run out and make the steak dry.
💭 Frequently asked questions
To prevent your steaks from drying out on the grill, first marinate them. Second, use a meat thermometer to insure the steaks are not cooked too long. The third way is to use a cut of meat with more fat marbled through it, such as a ribeye or T-bone.
You can grill steaks from frozen, however they will take longer to cook. They will also not be able to absorb a marinade when frozen so simply just season them with salt and pepper.
Closing the lid on the grill helps to cook the meat faster. If you are cooking a thicker steak, I recommend closing the grill for a few minutes to speed up the cooking process. If the steak is on the thinner side, leave it open, especially if you are wanting medium or medium rare doneness. Thinner steaks won't take that much time to cook and you don't want to overdo it.
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
- Indoors - Use a cast iron skillet or grill pan to make these Italian steaks indoors. Preheat the skillet or pan over medium high heat on the stovetop and then add steaks. Cooking times will be similar to grilling, but it's best to keep a close eye on them and use a meat thermometer to make sure your desired doneness is achieved.
🥡 Storage instructions
These grilled Italian steaks will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The best way to reheat steaks is in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a little bit of olive oil and cook the steak over medium heat, flipping every minute or so, until the steak reaches the desired temperature. This should take about 2-4 minutes, depending on your desired degree of doneness.
♨️ More grilling recipes
If you loved this italian steaks recipe, try these other grilled recipes that I know you will love too!
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
Recipe
Easy Italian Steaks on the Grill
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds sirloin, ribeye, strip or T-bone steak
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 stems fresh oregano, leaves only
- ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Place steaks in a shallow container or zip top bag. Add the remaining ingredients evenly over the steaks and cover or close the bag. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for a minimum of 1 hour, but no more than 8 hours.
- Remove steaks from the fridge and preheat the grill to high heat.
- Once the grill is preheated, turn the temperature to medium-high heat and place the steaks on the grill. Cook for 4-7 minutes on each side, depending on desired doneness. (see notes for cooking temperatures)
- Once steaks are finished cooking, remove from the grill and let rest on a clean plate for 5-10 minutes. After the steaks are finished resting, slice and serve or serve whole.
Notes
- Make sure to preheat the grill so it's hot and a proper sear is achieve on the steaks.
- Let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes off of the heat before slicing and serving it to keep them juicy.
- Use a kitchen thermometer to make sure the steaks are done properly.
Cooking Temperatures for Steak
- Rare (cool red center) - 125°
- Medium rare (warm red center) - 135°
- Medium (warm pink center) - 145°
- Medium well (slightly pink center) - 150°
- Well (little or no pink) - 160°
Substitutions and Variations
- Oregano - If fresh oregano is not available, one teaspoon of dried oregano may be used instead.
- Red pepper flakes - This can be optional or adjusted based on how much spice you like.
Alternative Cooking Methods
- Indoors - Use a cast iron skillet or a grill pan. Preheat the skillet or pan over medium high heat on the stovetop and then add steaks. Cooking times will be similar to grilling, but it's best to keep a close eye on them and use a meat thermometer to make sure your desired doneness is achieved.
JoeW
Hi, Amanda,
What kind of steak is shown sliced in Picture #3 above?
I love the way it "flakes", if that term can be used for beef.
Thanks,
Joe
Amanda
Hi Joe! That is a sirloin steak in the picture above.
JoeW
Thanks much.
J
Kathryn
Received this recipe today, January 15th. Can't wait to try it, but it is -8 degrees outside. When the world thaws I will try it. Lol
Amanda
It's a good one and it will be worth the wait! If you have a grill pan, you can do this indoors too.