Everyone has a secret for cooking the perfect steak—whether it’s a pat of butter at the end, a special spice blend, or the ability to pick the ideal cut. For me, it’s about cooking so the beef remains the hero: a simple, complementary exterior seasoning that enhances rather than hides the flavor. These All-American Steaks use just two everyday ingredients—Italian salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce—to create a quick, effective marinade. It takes about 30 minutes to do its work and then the steaks are ready for a hot grill.
These steaks are foolproof. With this simple marinade combination, you can feel confident that the money you spend on good beef will be rewarded with delicious results when cooked on the grill.
Table of Contents
All-American Steaks
The marinade is built from pantry staples: Italian salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce. Combine these two and you have a zesty, savory coating that quickly penetrates the surface of the meat to enhance beef flavor without overwhelming it. This simple mix works with virtually any steak cut.
Any steak will work with this marinade. I used New York strip steaks, but ribeyes, sirloins, or flat irons are equally appropriate. I let the steaks sit in the marinade for 30 minutes before grilling to allow the flavors to develop.
How to Grill Steaks?
For the best sear and even cooking, start with a very hot grill. I like to preheat the grill until it’s roaring hot, then slightly reduce the heat once the steaks go on. Aim for about 400°F when you place the steaks, then lower to roughly 350°F to continue cooking.
At our house we prefer medium-rare. For steaks about 1 1/4 inches thick, expect approximately 8–10 minutes per side for medium-rare, though grill temperatures and steak thickness will affect timing. Thicker cuts will need more time, while thinner cuts will cook faster. If you prefer more well-done meat, increase the cooking time and check with a thermometer to reach your desired doneness.
Once cooked, rest the steaks for about 10 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the steak tender and juicy. These steaks are bold and flavorful on their own; they pair beautifully with sides like creamed spinach or grilled shrimp and sausage skewers. Often no steak sauce is needed when the meat is properly seasoned and cooked.
Steak Recipes
Explore different techniques and marinades to vary the outcome:
- How to make steak in a cast-iron skillet
- Beer marinade for steaks
- Grilling a perfect steak
- Steakhouse-style ribeye at home
All-American Steaks
Ingredients
- 4 steaks
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Combine the Italian salad dressing and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.
- Place steaks in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over them. Seal or cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the grill until very hot. Place steaks on the grill at about 400°F, then reduce the heat to about 350°F to continue cooking.
- For steaks approximately 1 to 1¼ inches thick, cook roughly 7–10 minutes per side for medium to medium-rare, adjusting time for thickness and desired doneness. Use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
- Remove steaks from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Video
A video demonstration is available for this recipe.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 steak | Calories: 618 kcal | Carbohydrates: 9 g | Protein: 46 g | Fat: 44 g | Saturated Fat: 16 g | Cholesterol: 138 mg | Sodium: 784 mg | Potassium: 723 mg | Sugar: 7 g | Vitamin A: 55 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 33 mg | Iron: 4 mg
Shared on Weekend Potluck.