Looking for a quick and simple pork marinade? Then you will love my homemade pork steak marinade, it is packed full of flavors, delivers on taste, and is made with a handful of pantry staples ingredients. This marinade works for oven-baked, pan-fried, slow-cooked, grilled, and air-fried pork meat, and you are guaranteed juicy and tender meat at all times. Let me show you how to make it in simple steps.
Best pork marinade Recipe
Move over bbq pork marinade, the best pork marinade is here! bold statement but hey, if it is great, it is great! This simple marinade will knock your socks off and you don’t have to wait endlessly to marinate, even when you are short of time, this still works. Yes, 30 minutes is the required minimum marination time for this recipe and you will not be disappointed. That said, when time is not of the essence then 2 hours or overnight marinade would yield an optimum flavor.
The great thing about this little magic in a jar is that it is not only great for a pork steak but can be used for other cuts of pork meat. From pork chops (boned or boneless) to pork tenderloins. This recipe just doesn’t work as marinade alone but it also makes a good glaze for the meat.
Related recipes: pork seasoning rub and whole chicken marinade.
Why you will love this marinade
- Culinarily, pork is considered white meat because of its color. Often times it requires that you brine it for at least 30 minutes before you season and cook to be able to get tender and juicy meat. Well, you can skip that with today’s recipe. Thanks to the soy sauce used in the marinade ingredients, it acts as a tenderizer for the pork steak and also enhances its flavor too.
- It is quick, easy, and delicious
- It is freezer friendly! You can marinate the pork in a Ziploc freezer bag and store it in the freezer until needed.
- If you have an air fryer then the frozen pre-seasoned pork meat can be cooked from frozen
- This pork marinade is versatile and can be used on all cuts of pork meat.
What you will need to make it
Light Soy sauce substitute with all-purpose soy sauce as it is not as salty as the dark soy sauce)
Honey
Dried parsley
Olive oil
Oregano
Fennel seed
Paprika: apart from the boost of flavor it adds to the meat, I also love that it adds a touch of color to the meat.
Fresh garlic
Black pepper and a pinch of salt: you can omit the salt if you desire
Tools needed
Mason jar or recycled jam jar or sauce jar to store the marinade
Garlic press or a sharp knife to chop the garlic
Bowl or freezer bag to mix and store the meat
How to make the best pork steak marinade
To a jar add soy sauce, honey, olive oil, dried parsley, paprika, fennel seeds, minced garlic, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Place the lid on the jar and close tightly then give it a good shake to combine.
Transfer the pork steaks to a large mixing bowl then pour the marinade over it, give it a good mix so that all the steak is well coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (cling film) and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 24 hours
Bring the pork out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking so it comes to room temperature, this will help it cook evenly.
How to cook marinated pork steak
You can bake, grill, air fry or pan fry the pork meat as desired. Enjoy! Unlike beef that can be cooked and safe to eat rare, it is best that pork meat is cooked well until the internal temperature registers 145F/63C when tested with an instant meat thermometer.
Tips
- Make the marinade ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight jar
- Spice things up: if you want some heat in your pork meat then add hot sauce, chili flakes or cayenne pepper as desired.
- Substitute the honey for brown sugar
Watch how to make it
FAQ
Can I use this marinade for pork chops?
Yes, you can, this marinade can be used for any cut of pork from the tenderloin, bone-in to boneless pork chop, pork loins, and more.
How long to marinate pork steak
The purpose of marination is for the protein to soak up all the delicious flavors from the marinade. For best result, marinate the pork for at least 30 minutes depending on the cut and thickness, but not longer than 24 hours. If marinating for longer than 30 minutes, make sure it is stored properly in the fridge.
More pork recipes
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Pork Steak Marinade Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup light Soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried parsley
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed crushed
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ Tablespoon Fresh garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of salt optional
Instructions
- To a jar add soy sauce, honey, olive oil, dried parsley, paprika, fennel seeds, minced garlic, black pepper and a pinch of salt. Place the lid on the jar and close tightly then give it a good shake to combine.
- Transfer four pork steaks to a large mixing bowl then pour the marinade over it, give it a good mix so that all the steak is well coated. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap (cling film) and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 24 hours
- Bring the pork out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking so it comes to room temperature, this will help it cook evenly.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
Lorraine says
My Nieces and Nephews love this marinade which I have now shared with them. Thank you.
Lorraine says
family love this marinade and have now shared all with them.
Ajoke says
Yay! thanks, Lorraine. I am glad you all loved it.
Carrie Degan says
Ooops, forgot to rate!!
Ajoke says
Aw, that is so kind of you, Carrie. Thank you so much for coming back to rate the recipe.
Carrie Degan says
I made this tonite, for myself and....... my daughter was coming over for dinner. I cant do fennel so used some basil in place of. Followed the recipe. But I only had one large pork steak. Worked out perfectly. I did not change the quantity of the marinade. ( was great to have the extra sauce)
Was able to marinade for about 2 hours. Dumped the marinade and steak into a small pan and in the oven at 400 f for 20 min, covered and rested for 5min.
So tender and juicy....we both loved it!!
Served with a spinach salad and caramelized parmesan sweet potato!!!
Thank you ....a definite fave ...yum!!!
Clarissa Cassar says
Loved by all the family immediately!
astamari says
Good basic pork marinade that can be made spicier (e.g. use a little Sriracha or Sichuan chili oil) or folded into a larger sauce for the meat or other entree depending upon your preferred flavor profile for the night.
Christine says
How long and what temp
Linda says
Made this last night was delicious. Will be making it often!
Ajoke says
Thank you for the feedback, Linda.
Larry says
I used the marinate on my pork steaks and they were delicious. I served them with a side of creamy polenta topped with wild mushrooms sauted in white wine and butter. The steaks really complemented my side. I was going to grill the pork steaks outside, but I had to bake them on a rack in the oven due to rain. They turned out very tender and had a very interesting flavor. I think the fennel and honey was spot on. I omitted the oregano because I'm not a fan of that spice. My son loved them also and wants to use this recipe with pork steaks on his smoker. Thanks Ajoke for the recipe.