Is your London broil always tough and tasteless? Mine used to be.
The fix was almost nothing. No marinade, no planning the night before. Salt it, put it on a rack, and walk away for an hour. That is the whole trick, and it gives you a tender, flavorful steak every time.
I buy London broil constantly because it is always on sale at my grocery store. It is quick enough for a weeknight and looks good enough for company. Sometimes I cook two, and the kids work through the second one in quesadillas all week.
This Bon Appétit trick has forever changed how I cook this weekday staple.
London Broil Ingredients
- London Broil
- Salt and Pepper
How To Cook London Broil
- Let's learn how to make London Broil! Lay your London Broil over a sheet pan on a cookie cooling rack and generously season with salt and pepper.
- How to tenderize London Broil: Let it rest on the counter for an hour. The salt draws moisture out of the meat and then dissolves into it, making it tender. This also helps break down the lean muscle proteins. This is similar to dry-brining, like we do with turkeys. It also brings it to room temperature, which you should always do when cooking a steak.
- After an hour, grill it over medium-high heat for about 12-15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 125° for medium-rare. You can use your outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan. I swear by this easy-to-use meat thermometer and even take it on vacation. I think this is the best way to cook London Broil.
- To get those super-cool cross-hatch marks, rotate the meat 45° after about 4-5 minutes, then do the same on the other side. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes, and slice thinly using a sharp knife.
- Now that you know how to cook a London broil without marinating, you can easily prepare this delicious dish in your own kitchen. Whether you prefer it medium-rare or well-done, this method ensures a tender, flavorful London broil every time.
London Broil Internal Temperature
Pull the steak about 5 degrees before your target, because it keeps cooking while it rests.
| Doneness | Internal Temperature |
| Rare | 120 to 125 degrees |
| Medium rare | 130 to 135 degrees |
| Medium | 135 to 145 degrees |
| Medium well | 145 to 155 degrees |
| Well done | 155 degrees and up |
I pull mine off at 125, and it comes up to about 130 while it rests. Use a thermometer rather than guessing, because this is a lean cut and there is not much margin between right and ruined.
Serve with Teeny Tiny Roasted Potatoes or Roasted Root Vegetables.
What Cut of Meat Is London Broil?
London Broil cut is the term used by butchers for large, lean, and tough cuts of meat. It is not a specific cut of meat. Examples of meat used for this recipe include top round roast, flank steak, and top sirloin.
Originally, flank steak was the meat of choice for making London Broil. I often use top round steak for London broil. It can be a tough cut of meat if you don't cook it properly.
London Broil refers to a cooking technique that uses high heat over a short period, which is how most steaks are prepared. Is London broil tender? Well, that all depends on how you cook it and whether or not you overcook it.
How To Cook London Broil on the Grill
If you prefer, you can also grill London Broil, adding a depth of flavor and smokiness to the meat.
The first step is to marinate the meat for at least thirty minutes before grilling it. Any simple marinade will do. I prefer to use a marinade with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic powder.
London Broil Marinade:
3 garlic cloves
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or substitute red wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
salt and peppers
Mix this all together in a small bowl
Pour the marinade into a Ziploc bag and add the London Broil steak
After removing the meat from the marinade, lightly season it with salt and pepper before grilling. Make sure the grill is heated to 450°F. Grill the meat for 5-8 minutes on each side. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Remove the meat from the grill. Let it rest on the cutting board for 10-15 minutes. After resting, slice the London Broil against the grain for extra-juicy meat.
Want a hands-off beef dinner? Try my copycat Texas Roadhouse beef tips in the slow cooker.
How to Cook a London Broil in the Oven
As with grilling, marinating the London Broil before cooking it in the oven helps, though it is not necessary. If you choose not to marinate, just season the meat with your favorite spices, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. This will enhance the flavors without marinating.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
After resting in the marinade for 30 minutes to an hour, remove the meat and transfer it to a baking dish or roasting pan.
Place the meat on the center rack. Cook the meat for 7 minutes for medium-rare, or 9 minutes for medium. Cooking time varies by steak thickness. The 7-9-minute cooking time is suitable for a 1-inch steak.
The internal temperature for medium-rare is 130 degrees F. Check a temperature chart if you prefer a different doneness.
To make the London broil tender, let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. This lets the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a moist, tender final product.
There are so many delicious side dishes for London Broil to create an amazing dinner for your family and friends.
You may also like these Steak Tips or Cowboy Butter Burgers if you are a beef lover!
Frequently Asked Questions
London Broil is a good cut of beef when cooked properly. If not, it can be very tough and tasteless, which makes many cooks avoid it.
The best way to tenderize a London Broil is to salt and pepper both sides, then lay it on a cooling rack set on a sheet pan. Let it sit there for about an hour before cooking.
Top round comes from the upper thigh of the cow's hindquarters. London broil refers to cooking over high heat.
It is less expensive because it's from a tougher part of the animal. That's why it's important to tenderize or marinate it.
Tender London Broil
Ingredients
- 1 London Broil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Lay London Broil on a rack placed over a sheet pan.
- Generously salt and pepper steak and let sit on the counter for an hour.
- Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high.
- Cook for about 12-15 minutes total or until a thermometer registers 125° for medium rare.
- To get cross-hatch pattern, turn steak 45° after about 4 minutes. Repeat on the other side.
- Let London Broil rest under foil for at least 5 minutes while juices redistribute.
- Use a sharp knife to cut thin slices against the grain.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutritional information provided is an estimate. For specific dietary needs or concerns, we recommend consulting a nutrition calculator or a qualified expert.
Karen Kelly
Karen Kelly is a nationally syndicated food and travel writer, founder of Seasonal Cravings, and co-founder of The Roam Report. She develops approachable seasonal recipes and covers travel and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Yahoo, Taste of Home, Apple News, NBC, FOX, and other national and regional publications.
coatl28 says
Oh man, I'm drooling!! I try to eat as little meat as possible but I've got to admit that it makes me drool big time. I LOVE steak!! The pan trick is awesome!! Will try with my next steak, maybe for mother's day 😀 😀 😀
Karen Kelly says
Mother's Day steak sounds perfect!
JoAnn says
when you say repeat on other side, do you mean an additional 12 to 15 min? or do you mean turning 45degrees after 4 minutes. I think it is that one because 24 to 30 minutes total time would be too long.
Karen Kelly says
Hi there- no it's a total cooking time of 12- 15 minutes. When cooking you can rotate the steak 45 degrees to get the cool cross hatch marks but it's not necessary. Hope this clears it up for you. Thanks for your comment.
Carissa says
Sounds and looks delicious! Only problem is I don't have a grill or a grill pan. Is there a way of cooking it in the oven or in a regular cast iron pan? Doing all the other steps the same of course.
Karen Kelly says
Yes, I think a cast iron pan would work great but you won't have any grill marks.
Sandra says
Do you think meat tenderizer would work just as well instead of the salt and pepper to make the meat tender? Having high blood pressure, I don't use a generous amount of salt on anything.
Karen Kelly says
Honestly Sandra, I'm not sure. Usually, when you use a meat tenderizer, you put it on and cook the meat immediately. The salt is what works here to tenderize the meat so I'm thinking it probably wouldn't work. Sorry!
Cindy says
Thanks for this “recipe”/process for making London Broil. So simple; so tender; so delicious!
mickey potter says
How would you cook this in a toaster oven? And how long for med to med well,? Thanks
Mickey
Rhonda says
Simple and delicious! Perfect for a Chrismat dinner, was very tender and flavorful. (Finally remembered to post a commnet)
Stephen Basini says
Simple yet effective…
Sandy says
I've wanted to make a Lonon Broil for dinner guests, and this was delicous! Thanks for sharing such an easy recipe. Turned out lovely, and our guests loved it.
Ksenia says
My husband was so happy with this! It was the perfect way of preparing this underutilized cut of meat.
Heidi Bruaw says
Following your recipe, my London Broil came out perfectly tender, just the way I like it! Thank you for sharing the tip about having the meat at room temperature to start with. I'm not sure I've ever heard that before!
RawbyDesign says
Heidi Bruaw ... I have always left my meat out to defrost while I went to work. ( lots of time, with the tougher cuts of beef, Id mix up marinate sauce before putting it in the freezer) once I get home the beef of course is now at room temperature. Talk about delicious and tender beef! I'm almost 60 and no one has EVER gotten sick from this method of thawing out meat. This was method used goes generations back in my family. tried & remains true today too. I didn't know until recently that starting with room temperature meat is one of many used in what I call a "trick of the trade" ✌🏼
Mandy Applegate says
I'd never tried London broil before but made it for my family last night, it was an instant hit - thank you!
Erin says
I never knew there wasn't a specific cut for London Broil! Interesting. I made it for dinner last night and I think letting it sit a bit was key. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jamie says
Wow! This dish looks so yummy and very delicious! I love how it cooked to perfection! The texture and the juiciness of the meat are just so satisfying and mesmerizing! Loved it!
Ann says
I have never made a London Broil before, but after reading your post, I think I need to make it! Sounds delicious! Thanks for the recipe share!
Ann says
I will be honest, I have never tried cooking a London Broil before. Your recipe looks and sounds super tasty, so I need to give it a try!
Amy Liu Dong says
Oh my gosh, this recipe looks so good. The meat looks so tender and juicy.
I really love it!
Cyd says
I did beat it on both sides, but other than that I did as you said. it was really good husband approved
Cynthia says
Do salt and pepper both sides or just one side to tenderize?
Karen Kelly says
Both, thanks!
Jane says
I had a top round london broil. not so thick. I was worried it would be tough because i didn't have time to marinate it. I salted both sides, andvused some garlic powder, broiled on top rack, for 4 minutes each side. I aimed for 120-122..by the time it was out if oven it was around 125. Perfect!
TiffyJ says
hey, karen kelly, you got any tips for making london broil fast? like, really really fast. gotta feed a circus here lol.
BeccaS says
Not Karen, but thin slicing it before cooking can speed up the process. Also, a pressure cooker could be your friend here.
grillmstr88 says
love throwing a london broil on the grill. nothing beats that char. you mention a marinade, but i swear by just salt, pepper, and a good sear.
John Doe says
every time i try recipes from the internet it turns out terrible. what makes this london broil different, karen?
foodee123 says
This is exactly what I was looking for! A detailed guide to cooking London Broil. Can't wait to try this out. Thanks, Karen Kelly!
SammieW says
Let us know how it turns out! I'm planning to try it next weekend.
foodee123 says
Will do, SammieW! Excited to see how it goes.
LazyCookLarry says
can i just microwave the london broil? or throw it in a toaster? oven takes too long and grills a hassle lol.