Add some flavor to your steak dinner with this easy recipe that guarantees tasty and juicy steak every single time. Marinated in cola, the steak is reverse seared for one delicious, but effortless, bite.
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There really is nothing comparable with a perfectly cooked steak, and this cola marinated steak recipe ticks all the right boxes!
Cooked using the reverse seared method, it's easy to cook to exactly your tastes, from medium rare to well done, and best of all it's so so easy!
The cola marinade tenderizes the steaks and adds a slightly sweet flavor, and the sugars caramelize beautifully in the pan to create a delicious crust.
Be sure to try my Red Wine Marinated Steak and Coffee Marinated Steak too!
Why you will love this recipe!
- So easy: Cooking the perfect steak has never been easier than with this method. There's nothing complicated and it's made with just a few simple ingredients.
- Perfect for occasions: This simple steak recipe is great for a quick and tasty weeknight meal, but it's impressive enough to serve for a special occasion too.
- Quick: You need to marinate the steak for at least a couple of hours, but the actual cook time is around 20 minutes, and most of that is hands off.
Ingredients
- Steak: This recipe uses sirloin steaks. They are marinated for at least two hours, then cooked low and slow in the oven before searing in a hot pan to lock in those flavors.
- Coca-Cola: Or any non-banded coke! The acid in the soda helps to break down the fibers so that you have a nice tender steak. It adds a little sweetness, but not overly so.
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper and paprika.
- Worcestershire sauce: This adds a nice umami flavor and helps to balance out the sweetness.
- Garlic: Finely chopped.
- Oil: It's important to add. little oil to marinades. It helps the flavors to penetrate the meat, as well as evenly distributing the heat when you cook it. I use olive oil, but vegetable or canola will do the job.
- Butter and oil: For searing.
How to make cola marinated steak
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Marinate the steak in the coca-cola mix (photo 1).
- Bake the steaks in the oven on a low heat (photo 2).
- Pan fry on a high heat til browned (photo 3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Because this cola marinated steak recipe uses the reverse sear method, you want to use a fairly thick piece of steak to get the best results. I made this with sirloin, and I've also used ribeyes and rib caps.
If you have a thinner piece of steak, like flank or skirt, it's best just to sear it quickly in the pan and skip the oven. The marinade will still work great!
The key to cooking the best steak at home is to use an instant read thermometer. The steak is first cooked low and slow in the oven before quickly pan searing it, and it's so easy to work out exactly when you take it out of the oven.
Take the steak out of the oven when it hits these temperatures:
Medium Rare: 90-95F (32-35c)
Medium: 100-105F (38-41c)
Medium Well: 120-125F (49-52c)
Well Done: 155 (68c) and up
Ideally you want to leave the steak to marinate for at least two hours. This will help the flavors develop, but it will also allow time for the cola to start tenderizing the meat. If you are in a hurry, you could do it in about 30 minutes, and you'll still get that flavor. You can marinade meats for too long, especially when there is acid in it, I wouldn't leave these for more than 6 hours.
Serving Suggestions
This cola marinated steak is great to serve with all of your favorite veggie and potato sides, and it works great with my red onion gravy. Try it with:
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use a thick steak for the best results. Thinner steaks can quickly be cooked on the stovetop without needing to go in the oven first.
- Marinate the steak for between 2 and 6 hours for the best flavor. You can marinate it for less time if you are in a rush, but the flavors won't be as pronounced.
- Make sure that the steak is fully covered in the marinade. You may need slightly more or slightly less cola depending on the thickness of your steaks and what you are marinading it in.
- Let the steak come up to room temperature before placing it in the oven. Take it out of the fridge around 30 minutes before you want to cook it.
- Use an instant read thermometer to know exactly when to take it out of the oven.
- When you sear the steak, have the pan as hot as you can to get those perfect crispy bits. Start heating the pan just before you take the steak out of the oven so it's hot when you are ready to sear. The butter should be bubbling when you add in the steaks.
- Let the steak rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Remove it from the hot pan, place on a cutting board and loosely cover with foil so that it stays warm.
More Steak Recipes
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Cola Marinated Steak
Ingredients
- 1 bottle cola (500ml / 16.9oz)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 sirloin steaks (or other thick cut)
To cook
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Mix together the cola, salt, pepper, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and one tablespoon of oil in a ziplock bag or large shallow boil. Place in the steaks, cover and refrigerate.
- Let marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 6.
- Pre heat the oven to 275F / 135c.
- Place the steak on a lined baking sheet or in an oven proof skillet, and place in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. For medium rare, the steak should register at 90-95F / 32-35c. Once done, remove the steak from the oven.
- Add a tablespoon of oil to a skillet with the butter and place on a high heat.
- Once hot, place the steaks in the pan. Cook on one side for 2 minutes.
- Flip the steaks over and cook for another 2 minutes whilst basting the top side of the steak with the fat in the pan.
Notes
- Marinate the steak for between 2 and 6 hours for the best flavor. You can marinate it for less time if you are in a rush, but the flavors won't be as pronounced.
- Make sure that the steak is fully covered in the marinade. You may need slightly more or slightly less depending on the thickness of your steaks and what you are marinading it in.
- Let the steak come up to room temperature before placing it in the oven. Take it out of the fridge around 30 minutes before you want to cook it.
- When you sear the steak, have the pan as hot as you can to get those perfect crispy bits. Start heating the pan just before you take the steak out of the oven so it's hot when you are ready to sear. The butter should be bubbling when you add in the steaks.
- Let the steak rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Remove it from the hot pan, place on a cutting board and loosely cover with foil so that they stay warm.
- Nutritional values are based on one of two servings and are an estimate only.
R says
I have used a similar recipe to cook ribs on a grill. Using that recipe, I
made a sort-of bowl out of aluminum foil to hold the beef on top of the grill & added the marinade back in while it cooked. Once the beef was about halfway done, I removed the foil & basted it with straight Coke cola. Several minutes later, I basted the beef with barbeque sauce to finalize the cook. The sugar in the Coke chars a little from the grill and crystalizes on the meat giving beef the most amazing flavor.