Grilled Teriyaki Steak Recipe – 30 Minute Marinade

I like to have some fast but impressive grilled steak recipe up my sleeve, you know….for those unplanned BBQ moments. Well, this grilled teriyaki steak instantly made it to my list. A 30-minute teriyaki marinade infuses the steak beautifully, and the grill does the rest in minutes. The result? Every bite is tender, juicy goodness with a spot-on combination of sweet, savory, and playful tang.

We had some last-minute friends over last weekend and I wanted to whip up something fast but delicious. And it had to be a new recipe, because what self-respecting pitmaster keeps clinging to the same old recipes?

I’m happy to say the 30-minute teriyaki marinade was a flavor shortcut to awesome. The guests loved it, but more importantly, my wife Ginny gave me the “Mmm, that’s really good, hon” seal of approval!

🛒 Ingredients

The teriyaki marinade needs just 5 ingredients, and none of them are pretentious. Chances are, you already have them!

• Steaks (we used ribeye)

For The Teriyaki Marinade

• Soy sauce
• Sugar
• Garlic
• Ground ginger
• Apple cider vinegar

🥣 Prepare the Marinade

👉Step 1: Add all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix.

👉Step 1: Pour the teriyaki marinade into a Ziploc bag, add 2-3 ribeyes (or steak of your choice) and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This is enough for a tender cut like ribeye. You might want to marinate longer if using a tougher cut.

🔥 Grilling Instructions

Grilling this recipe is very straightforward. The biggest risk is to overcook it so I highly recommend you use a meat thermometer to monitor doneness.

👉Step 1: Set up the grill for direct heat and dial in the temperature to 375 – 400°F.  I use 375 if my cut of steak is thicker, and 400 if it is thinner.

📌Note: I have been very impressed with the performance of the GrillGrates, and try to use them when possible.  The fins of the GrillGrate sear the meat extremely well, and leave a nice marking as well.

👉Step 2: Grill each side for about 6-7 minutes. This cooked the ribeye to medium for a ¾” thick cut of meat. You will need more time for a thicker slice of meat so keep an eye on the internal temperature as that is the most important factor and choose your doneness level from below.

• Medium Rare: 130°F-135°F
• Medium: 140°F-145°F
• Medium Well: 150°F-155°F
• Well Done: 160°F-165°F. 

👉Step 3: Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

🥩 What Cuts Of Steak Go Well With Teriyaki Marinade?

I used ribeye because that’s what I had, and since this is a pretty tender cut, marinating for 30 minutes was enough. It was more about the flavor infusion and less about tenderizing.

However, other cuts of steak are also great to marinate and grill Teriyaki-style.

• Flank steak
• Hanger steak
• Skirt steak
• Sirloin steak

These are all a bit tougher than ribeye so I recommend marinating them for 1-2 hours. Use your best judgment – the tenderness of beef steaks also depends on the quality of the meat so work with what you have.

👨‍🍳 More Ways To Use The Teriyaki Marinade

Think out of the box here for this awesome marinade! I have used it on meat for kebabs and vegetables. The tangy flavor is perfect for whole mushrooms, onions, and peppers.

If you don’t have time to grill, but you still want to use this recipe, simply slice the marinated steak and pan fry the slices over medium-high heat. Cook for 2 minutes on each side.

♨️ More Steak Marinades For Grilling

Marinades are such a great way to infuse your steaks with awesome flavors and tenderize those tougher cuts. We’re on a neverending quest to trying new marinade recipes so feel free to join us!

⭐This skirt steak marinade is a savory one and we never had a complaint. Skirt steak is a slightly tougher cut so you can marinate it anywhere between 1-24 hours.

⭐When you’re not in a rush, you have to try this Tex Mex flank steak marinade. Corona beer is the base and it mingles beautifully with the Tex Mex seasoning.

⭐And when you are in a rush go for these delicious grilled marinated steak tips. Just one our of marinating and a fast grill for the juiciest morsels you’ve ever tasted!