How to Cook London Broil Steak on the Grill

To be classified as London broil, a dish requires two things: a good marinade and steak sliced into thin strips. Because it’s somewhat open to interpretation, London broil can be a fun dish to play around with when you’re in the mood for steak. There are no rules on how you can cook it or even what kind of steak to use.

Cooking London broil steak on the grill is one of the most popular methods.

Type of Steak to Use for London Broil

London broil is traditionally made with long, flat steak cuts, like flank steak, flat iron steak, or top round steak. The best part about London broil is that you don’t need to buy expensive steak to do the trick. Instead, most people opt for affordable cuts—one reason top round is a popular option—that are usually cheaper than others because they’re not as tender.

A good London broil is all about the marinade, which tenderizes it before it cooks. Therefore, you can start with an inexpensive cut of steak and still get tender, tasty, and juicy results. 

Should I Use an Electric or Gas Grill?

The type of grill you use for London broil depends on your personal preferences. Here are a few points to consider that might help you decide:

• Flavor: Both types of grills offer excellent flavor, but gas grills are better known for adding a little char to the outside of meat, similar to what charcoal grills do. Meanwhile, electric grills tend to produce results similar to pan-frying but without as much of a tell-tale gas grill flavor.
• Searing: Gas grills tend to sear meat better than electric grills simply because they can provide a continuous source of heat to the steak, while electric grills usually cycle their heat intensity to maintain a consistent temperature. 
• Energy usage: Gas grills need a continuous source of gas to operate, while electric grills use electricity to keep cooking. Overall, you’ll need about 30 minutes to grill London broil, so be sure you have enough gas in your tank if using a gas grill.
• Space: Electric grills come in several sizes, including super portable small units that are great for indoor or outdoor cooking. If your home is tight on space, an electric grill could be the way to go. However, if you plan to cook London broil for multiple people, you might want to size up to a gas grill.

Tips for Grilled London Broil

Our grilled London broil recipe below details each step you need to grill a tasty London broil, but before we get started, here are a few tips that can help:

• Keep it dry: Remove as much marinade as you can from the steak before grilling it by patting it dry with a paper towel. This allows the steak to sear on each side.
• Always cut against the grain: Against the grain means the opposite direction of the lines that run through the meat. Slice the steak this way before serving to break up tough fibers to tenderize the meat. 
• Heat the grill fully: Be sure to preheat your grill completely before cooking the steak. This gives it the best opportunity to sear.

London Broil Marinade Ideas

A marinade for London broil needs fat, spice, and acid to do its job. It’s common to use balsamic vinegar for the acid and olive oil for the fat, which we did in our recipe below. However, there are numerous combinations of ingredients you can use, depending on what flavor profile you want to achieve.

For example, a red wine marinade can elevate London broil with just the right amount of bold sweetness. Or, consider a lime marinade for steak, which introduces light and airy citrus notes to grilled London broil. You can also have fun with a teriyaki pineapple marinade or go full-flavored with a Jack Daniels marinade.

Grilled London Broil Recipe

To create London broil, you’ll need to start with a tasty marinade that helps tenderize the meat. This easy recipe walks you through each step of the process. 

Ingredients

• 2 lbs top round, flat iron, or flank steak
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chopped thyme
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Stir all ingredients together besides the steak to create the marinade. Transfer the steak to a plastic food storage bag. Then, pour the marinade into the bag. The marinade should cover the steak completely when you lay the bag flat. Allow the steak to marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours, but preferably eight hours or overnight. 
2. Remove steak from the marinade, pat dry, and place on a clean cutting board at room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the grill to high heat (450-500 degrees).
4. Brush the steak with a light layer of oil on each side. Transfer the steak to the grill, cooking for about 3-4 minutes. Flip the steak to the other side to cook for another 3-4 minutes.
5. Check the internal temperature. A thermometer should read 130 degrees for medium rare. If more cooking time is needed, move the steak to a low-heat area of the grill to cook for another 5-10 minutes.
6. Rest the London broil on a clean plate for 5-10 minutes. Slice against the grain into thin strips to serve.

In Summary

Grilling London broil is relatively straightforward, assuming you’ve worked with steak marinade and a grill before. Even if you haven’t, our easy-to-follow recipe should have you grilling delicious London broil in no time.

For added convenience, consider shopping for steaks online to use in your London broil dish. Chicago Steak Company offers USDA Prime wet-aged flat iron steaks, aged in our state-of-the-art aging facilities for exemplary flavor, texture, and quality—ideal for creating your own London broil on the grill.

Grilled London Broil

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Course Main Course

Ingredients

  

• 2 lbs top round, flat iron, or flank steak
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chopped thyme
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

 

• Stir all ingredients together besides the steak to create the marinade. Transfer the steak to a plastic food storage bag. Then, pour the marinade into the bag. The marinade should cover the steak completely when you lay the bag flat. Allow the steak to marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours, but preferably eight hours or overnight. 
• Remove steak from the marinade, pat dry, and place on a clean cutting board at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill to high heat (450-500 degrees).
• Brush the steak with a light layer of oil on each side. Transfer the steak to the grill, cooking for about 3-4 minutes. Flip the steak to the other side to cook for another 3-4 minutes.
• Check the internal temperature. A thermometer should read 130 degrees for medium rare. If more cooking time is needed, move the steak to a low-heat area of the grill to cook for another 5-10 minutes.
• Rest the London broil on a clean plate for 5-10 minutes. Slice against the grain into thin strips to serve.

Notes

*Photo by Eduardo Krajan via Pexels