Cowboy Marinade

Elevate your grilling game with this bold and flavor-packed Cowboy Marinade, a surefire way to infuse your favorite cuts of meat with smoky, tangy, and sweet goodness. Featuring a delicious blend of olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, and a hint of honey, this marinade is balanced with a tangy splash of apple cider vinegar and fresh lemon juice. Smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, and minced garlic add a bold, smoky depth, while optional crushed red pepper flakes bring a subtle kick of heat. Perfect for steak, chicken, pork, or even tofu, this quick 10-minute marinade is your go-to secret for tender, juicy results bursting with flavor after just a few hours of marinating (or overnight for a more intense taste). Whether you're grilling, broiling, or pan-searing, this Cowboy Marinade will leave your taste buds craving more, making it ideal for summer barbecues, weeknight dinners, or hearty backyard feasts.

Nutriscore Rating: 34/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup olive oil
• 0.5 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until the brown sugar is dissolved.

Step 2

Stir in the honey, smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, minced garlic, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Mix well to combine the spices evenly.

Step 3

Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and give the marinade a final mix to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.

Step 4

Taste the marinade and adjust seasoning if needed—for example, adding a little more soy sauce for saltiness or honey for sweetness.

Step 5

Place your choice of meat (steak, chicken, pork, or even tofu) in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow container.

Step 6

Pour the marinade over the meat, ensuring it is completely coated. Seal the bag or cover the container tightly with plastic wrap.

Step 7

Refrigerate and allow the meat to marinate for at least 2 hours, but ideally 6-8 hours for maximum flavor. For stronger flavor, you can marinate overnight.

Step 8

When ready to cook, remove the meat from the marinade and discard the leftover liquid. Grill, broil, or pan-sear the meat to your desired doneness.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(509.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2334.9

Total Fat 225.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 34.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 21.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 5069.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 67.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.8g	0%
Total Sugars 48.5g
Protein 13.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 154.7mg	0%
Iron 8.2mg	0%
Potassium 975.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 86.2%

Protein: 2.3%

Carbs: 11.5%