Marinated Flat Iron Steak

Pat steak dry with a paper towel. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim away any large, visible pieces of fat. Optional but recommended, use a meat mallet and smack the steak a few times to tenderize it. It doesn’t need much but pounding helps break down tough muscle fibers, making the final bite softer and easier to chew. Place the steak in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag or a shallow baking dish.

Shake or whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 large cloves of minced garlic, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons steak seasoning and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika until well combined. Pour the marinade over the steak and seal the Ziplock bag. Smoosh everything around so you really coat the steak in marinade.

Marinate in the fridge for 4 hours, up to 24 hours. If you remember, try to flip or rotate the bag once or twice throughout the marinating process.

Take the steak out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before cooking. Preheat your outdoor grill or indoor cast-iron grill pan to high. Use a brush or an oiled paper towel to oil the grill grates. Remove the steak from the marinade, letting the excess drip off, and place it on a hot grill. Close grill and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the steak and grill for another 5 minutes. Grilling for exactly 10 minutes should yield a medium-rare steak (see note for additional cooking times).

Place steak on a large cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Use a serrated knife to cut thin slices cross-wise on the bias. Drizzle any juices over the sliced steak. Serve with roasted or mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, green salad and/or garlic bread!