Want to learn how to cook tender London broil? Have trouble cooking your London Broil? Is it always tough and tasteless? If so, you will love this Tender London Broil. Giving the meat a little bit of love beforehand goes a long way and guarantees a tender, flavorful steak every time. {whole30, paleo, whole 30, keto, gluten free}
I buy London Broil a lot because it's always on sale BOGO at my local grocery store. It is great for a quick weeknight meal or pretty enough for a special occasion. Sometimes I will make two and the kids use the steak for quesadillas throughout the week. Just store the extra London Broil in an airtight container for a few days in the refrigerator. I prefer to not cut it all ahead of time. Slice it when you need it so it doesn't dry out.
This trick from Bon Appetit has forever changed how I cook this weekday staple.
Giving your Tender London Broil a little bit of love beforehand can really make a difference in how it turns out. It's worth the extra step, I promise! This is how you cook London Broil so it's not tough.
Related: Is the Whole30 Diet for You? A Health Coach's Guide
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: Give it an hour to tenderize on the counter. The salt draws out the moisture of the meat and then dissolves into the meat making it tender. This also helps break down the lean muscle proteins. This is similar to dry-brining, like we do with turkeys. Not to mention this brings it to room temperature, which you should always do when cooking a steak.
- After an hour, grill it at medium-high heat for about 12-15 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest middle 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 with me. 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 thing on the other side. Let 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 cooking method will ensure a tender and flavorful London broil every time.
Serve with Teeny Tiny Roasted Potatoes or Roasted Root Vegetables.
What Cut of Meat is Best Used for London Broil Recipe?
London Broil cut is the term used by butchers on large, lean, and tough cuts of meat. It is not a specific cut of meat. A few examples of meat used for this recipe are 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 it is not cooked properly.
London Broil refers to the cooking technique of using high heat over a short period of time, 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 taking the meat out of the marinade, lightly season it with salt and pepper before putting it on the grill. Make sure the grill is heated to 450 degrees 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, you can slice the London Broil against the grain for extra juicy meat.
How to Cook a London Broil in Oven
Like grilling, it helps to start by marinating the London Broil before cooking it in the oven but that 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 help enhance the flavors without the need for marinating.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
After resting in the marinade for 30 minutes to an hour, remove the meat and put it into a baking dish or a roasting pan.
Place the meat on the center rack of the oven. Cook the meat for 7 minutes for medium-rare, or 9 minutes for medium. The cooking time varies according to the thickness of the steak. The 7-9 minute cooking time is suited for a 1-inch steak.
The internal temperature of the meat for a medium-rare cook is 130 degrees F. Check a temperature chart if you prefer other levels of doneness on your meat.
To make the London broil tender, it's important to let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a moist and tender final product.
There are so many delicious side dishes for London Broil to create an amazing dinner for your family and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
London Broil is a good cut of beef when it is cooked correctly. 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 and lay it on a cooling rack placed on a sheet pan. Let it sit there for about an hour before cooking.
Top round is cut from the upper thigh of the hindquarters of the cow. London broil actually refers to the method of cooking over high heat.
It is less expensive because its from a tougher part of the animal. That's why it's important to tenderize or marinate it.
What to Serve With Tender London Broil
- Oven Roasted Corn on the Cob
- Oven Roasted Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
- Seasoned Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Mini Potatoes
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.
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 😀 😀 😀
Melina Malone 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.
Melina Malone 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.
Melina Malone 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.
Melina Malone 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!
Amy Liu Dong says
Wow! This London Broil looks so delicious and the meat looks so tender.
I can't wait to make this for my family for tonight's dinner.
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!
Amy Liu Dong says
The meat looks so tender and delicious. Seeing this makes my mouthwatering!
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?
Melina Malone 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, Melina Malone, you got any tips for making london broil fast? like, really really fast. gotta feed a circus here lol.
BeccaS says
Not Melina, 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, Melina?
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, Melina Malone!
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.