Easy Italian Steaks on the Grill

Name: Easy Italian Steaks on the Grill
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 90 min
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

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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.

grilled steak sliced on a cutting board with fresh oregano and a knife.

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.

I love serving this juicy Italian steaks with white cheddar mac and cheese, summer panzanella or grilled broccolini!

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🥩 Ingredient notes
📋 Substitutions and Variations
🔪 Step by step instructions
🌡️ Cooking temperatures
⭐ Expert tips
💭 Frequently asked questions
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
🥡 Storage instructions
♨️ More grilling recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

🥩 Ingredient notes

raw steak, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic on a sheet pan.

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 may be used instead.
Red pepper flakes - This can be optional or adjusted based on how much spice you like. I suggest anywhere from ¼ to ½ teaspoon for a nice spice that is not too overwhelming.

🔪 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.

raw sirloin steaks marinating in oil, vinegar and seasoning in a white baking dish.

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.

marinated and seasoned italian steak cooking on the grill.

Lastly, allow the grilled Italian steaks to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

steak cut in slices on a cutting board with fresh oregano stems.

If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the 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°

infographic with cooking temperatures for steak with a steak graphic.

⭐ 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

How do you grill steaks without drying them out?

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.

Can you grill steaks from frozen?

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.

Should you grill steaks with the lid open or closed?

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!

Don't Forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

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