These Brown Sugar Steak Tips are sweet, tangy, and savory, with no fancy ingredients or fuss. The marinade does most of the work, tenderizing the meat, then caramelizing beautifully when cooked!
Flavor Foundations
This simple marinade is packed with pantry staples that transform basic steak tips into a super satisfying meal. A full list of ingredients with measurements is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Dark Brown Sugar – The dark brown sugar gives the steak a sticky-sweet finish that will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Ketchup – This condiment adds tangy tomato flavor and a touch more sweetness.
- Red Wine Vinegar – Vinegar balances out the sweet ingredients with its bright acidity.
- Vegetable Oil – Oil helps the marinade coat every piece of steak evenly.
- Water – Use water to thin out the marinade just enough so it can easily soak into the meat.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This sauce adds umami to the marinade. Pick it up at the store or make your own Worcestershire in just a few minutes.
- Garlic Powder – This spice is easy to evenly disperse in the sauce, so no bite goes garlic-less.
- Onion Powder – A little bit of onion powder adds a subtle sweetness.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt helps to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Ground Black Pepper – Pepper adds a gentle heat to the marinade.
- Steak Tips – These bite-sized cuts are tender and perfect for soaking up the marinade. Look for them already prepped at most grocery stores.
For Serving:
- Vegetable Oil – A bit of this neutral oil helps get that gorgeous sear on the steak.
- Buttered Egg Noodles – These are the perfect base for the seared steak.
- Flat Parsley – This herb is optional, but it adds a pop of color and a fresh finish to the dish.
Ready, Set, Cook!
This dish is such a breeze to make. It’s one of those easy wins for busy weeknights or casual get-togethers.
- Mix the marinade. Combine the brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, oil, water, Worcestershire, garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish.
- Add the steak. Toss the steak tips into the marinade. Make sure every piece is well-coated and pop it in the fridge for anywhere from one hour to a full workday.
- Sear the steak. In batches, add the marinated steak tips to a hot, oiled skillet. Once you’ve added all of the steak, throw away the used marinade. Periodically give the steak tips a good toss until they’re browned all over and cooked to your preferred doneness.
- Serve it up. Spoon the beef over buttery egg noodles, sprinkle with parsley if you’d like, and serve.
5S Philosophy 👩🏻🍳
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- Salt – Kosher salt adds just the right touch of seasoning to enhance all the other flavors and tie everything together. Plus, it’s a must for any good marinade!
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- Seasoning – Garlic powder, pepper, and onion powder do a lot of behind-the-scenes work, building layers of warm, savory flavor.
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- Sauces – Worcestershire and ketchup tag-team to add that signature tangy-sweet-savory flavor.
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- Swaps – No red wine vinegar? Try apple cider vinegar or balsamic instead. And if you can’t find steak tips at your store, sirloin or flank cut into chunks will work. Want to swap out the pasta? Mashed potatoes, rice, or even a crispy roasted veggie are all great bases.
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- Senses – The smell of the marinade alone will have people asking, “What’s for dinner?”. But once those steak tips hit the pan, the sizzle and sear will have everyone coming to the kitchen. The golden crust is a show-stopper, and the rich, sweet-savory beef is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Perfect Pairings
These steak tips already bring tons of flavor and texture to the table, but you can amp it up with side dishes, too. Try roasted asparagus with apricot sauce to brighten it up or spicy green beans for some heat.
You can also serve it alongside a simple salad. Or go big with garlic bread for soaking up any extra sauce.
Storage and Freezing
If you’re lucky enough to have some leftovers, these steak tips store well for future dinners or work lunches.
How to Store
Store cooked steak tips in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently in a skillet or the oven to keep them tender.
Can I Freeze Brown Sugar Steak Tips?
Freeze uncooked steak tips in the marinade in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw them in the fridge overnight and cook according to the recipe directions. Cooked steak tips can also be frozen, though they’re best freshly made.
Ask Away: Recipe Insights
Steak tips are usually made from sirloin or bavette but you can also use flank, tri-tip, or even ribeye cut into chunks.
Yes! Just thread them onto skewers or toss them in a grill basket. Keep the grill hot and then cook them quickly for the juiciest results.
Yes – just use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and serve with a gluten-free side like rice or potatoes instead of noodles.
More Beef Recipes
If you’re looking for more beefy goodness that’s sure to wow a crowd, check out our other popular beef recipes!
Brown Sugar Steak Tips
Ingredients
Steak Tips:
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 pounds steak tips , cut into bite-sized pieces (generally these are already cut in the package)
For Serving:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 12 ounces buttered egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons flat parsley , for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large airtight plastic bag or a shallow marinating dish, whisk together the 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup water, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper. Add the 2 pounds steak tips, tossing to coat. Marinate for 1-8 hours.
- Remove the steak tips from the marinade and discard excess marinade.
- Heat the 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, working in 2-3 batches (depending on the size of your skillet), cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing until all sides are brown for medium rare bites. For more well done, cook an additional 2 minutes for each degree of doneness.
- Serve over 12 ounces buttered egg noodles and garnish with chopped 2 tablespoons flat parsley, if desired.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Nutrition
