• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pure and Simple Nourishment
  • About
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • My Food Philosophy
    • Press and Publications
    • Contact
  • Free Resources
  • Recipes
    • Holidays
      • Fall
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Breakfast
    • Main Course
    • Dessert
    • Sauces and Dips
    • Side Dish
    • Drinks
    • Vegetables
    • Snack
    • Meat and Fish
    • Recipe Wrap-Ups
    • SCD
    • GAPS
    • Whole30
    • AIP
    • Vegan
    • Paleo
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
    • Low FODMAP
    • Refined-Sugar-Free
  • Health
    • Health Information
    • Book Club
  • Nutrition
  • Favorites
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Skincare
  • Work With Me
    • Services
    • Skin Care Quiz
    • Contact
  • Skin Care
  • Weekly Workouts
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Mother's Day
  • Recipes
  • Health Information
  • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
  • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Mother's Day
    • Recipes
    • Health Information
    • Meet Dr. Erin Carter
    • Services
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Sauces and Dips

    The Best Low Carb & Keto Steak Marinade (so easy!)

    Modified: Apr 14, 2025 • Published: Jun 21, 2021 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • Leave a Comment

    124 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is the best keto steak marinade recipe. It's made with avocado oil, coconut aminos, lime juice, balsamic vinegar and spices and you will love how easy and simple it is to make. This low carb marinade is great for any cut of steak including flank steak, skirt steak and more.

    A plate of cut, cooked steak with cooked broccoli beside it.

    I love steak of all kinds including bavette steak, Denver steak and tenderloin, and today I am sharing my favourite steak marinade recipe with you. I can't wait for you to try it!

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this recipe: 
    • Key ingredients and substitutions:
    • How to make:
    • Steak temperature guide:
    • Top Tips:
    • Variations and add ins:
    • How to store:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Other recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this recipe: 

    • This low carb steak marinade is full of flavour and will make your steaks so juicy and tender! You'll never want to prepare your steaks any other way again.
    • It's really quick and easy to make with simple ingredients that you can find in any grocery store. It only requires a few minutes of prep time. 
    • It's a low carb, healthy marinade that can be used for any type of steak or your favorite cut of beef including flank steak, skirt steak, flat iron steak, steak bites, sirloin steak and more. 
    • You could use this keto beef marinade for other meats including pork and chicken too. 
    • Besides being keto, this marinade is also healthy, sugar free, gluten free, paleo and Whole30 compliant. It's a great option no matter what your dietary restrictions. 
    • It's cheaper to make your own steak marinade rather than using store-bought marinades so this easy marinade recipe is a great way to help save money on groceries. 

    If you love using marinades you will also love my Mexican chicken marinade.

    Key ingredients and substitutions:

    You should be able to find all of these simple marinade ingredients at grocery stores. For the exact measurements refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    • Avocado oil: One of my favourite cooking oils it has a nice neutral flavour that is great for making marinades. You could also easily swap this for olive oil too.
    • Lime juice: Fresh lime juice helps to help give the meat an amazing flavour and the acid from the juice helps tenderize the meat.
    • Coconut aminos: This special ingredient is such a great alternative to soy sauce which is also gluten free and lower in salt. This could also be swapped for soy sauce or gluten free tamari depending on your dietary needs and restrictions.
    • Balsamic vinegar: This adds some amazing flavour and also helps tenderize the meat to help make the most tender steak. Balsamic vinegar is a little sweet so it's a great sugar substitute in marinades if you are looking to make a low carb marinade. 
    • Herbes de Provence spice blend: One of my favorite spice blends. It adds the perfect amount of flavour.
    • Salt and ground black pepper: These simple seasonings help add even more flavour to this delicious marinade.

    How to make:

    Step one:

    First, place all the keto marinade ingredient into a small bowl or large glass measuring up and stir everything well to combine. 

    A glass measuring cup filled with the ingredients to make a steak marinade.

    Step two:

    Next, place the steaks in the marinade (either in a glass dish or ziplock bag) and marinade in the fridge for 2-24 hours before cooking. When you are ready to cook the steaks, take them out of the fridge and let them warm for 20-30 minutes before cooking to get them closer to room temperature. 

    Four steaks marinading in a glass baking dish.

    Step three:

    Cook the steaks however you prefer (grill, bake or fry).

    Steak temperature guide:

    Depending on how rare or well done you like your steak, here is a guide to help you determine what internal temperature to cook your steak to for your preferred level of doneness:

    • Rare steak: cook to 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Medium Rare: cook to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Medium: cook to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Medium Well: cook to 155 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Well Done: cook to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    Top Tips:

    • This marinade recipe is good for 4-6 steaks. If you are serving a crowd or want to have extra marinade to use later feel free to double or triple the recipe.
    • You can marinade your steaks anywhere from 2-24 hours before grilling, baking or frying them.
    • You can easily make this marinade ahead of time and store it in the fridge. This is the perfect way to meal prep! Just don't add the steaks to the marinade until 2-24 hours before you want to cook them.
    • For best results take the marinaded steaks out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to cook them, this will help them warm up a bit and cook more evenly.
    • You can cook your steak any way that you prefer whether that be on your barbecue or outdoor grill, baked in the oven, cooked in an air fryer, or fried in a pan on the stove top.

    Variations and add ins:

    • To give this great marinade a different flavour add some minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning or any other spices or seasonings you prefer.
    • Instead of avocado oil you can use extra virgin olive oil to make this marinade.
    • Feel free to substitute the balsamic vinegar with another type of vinegar such as red wine vinegar.
    • You could add fresh herbs to this marinade recipe. Some great options include basil, oregano, or parsley.

    How to store:

    After the steaks have been in the marinade, do not re-use it. If you want to have extra marinade for later, double or triple the recipe initially and store extras in the fridge in an airtight container or jar.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Which steak is best for keto?

    Any type or cut of steak is great for keto. Beef steaks are a naturally low carb meat that is perfect for a keto diet.

    What steaks should be marinated?

    Marinades are best for tougher cuts of meat, so they are especially good for cheaper steak cuts like flank steak, skirt stake, and hanger steaks but you can marinade all cuts of steak. You'll see the biggest difference in texture and flavour working with smaller steaks or steaks that have been cut into bite-sized pieces.

    How many carbs are in this marinade?

    There is a total of 5 grams of carbs per serving of this marinade with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of sugar. However, that carb count assumes that you consume ALL the marinade when you eat the steak which in reality doesn't happen. Much of the marinade will get cooked off, and some gets discarded when you transfer the steaks to the grill so in reality the carb count would actually be much lower.

    Will balsamic vinegar tenderize meat? 

    Yes, balsamic vinegar is great for marinades because not only does the acid in it help tenderize the meat, but it adds a delicious, sweet flavour while still being sugar free. 

    Other recipes you will love:

    • Easy Green Beans with Almonds
    • Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
    • Cauliflower Fried Rice
    • Mango Habanero Salsa

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star rating before you go!

    Recipe

    easy keto steak marinde recipe

    Keto Steak Marinade

    This keto steak marinade is the best way to cook tender, flavorful steaks. It can be used for any type of steak and is so easy to make.
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Meat, sauces
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 182kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup avocado oil
    • 1/4 cup coconut aminos
    • 1/4 cup lime juice
    • 3 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon herbes de provence spice blend
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • In a glass measuring cup or bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients and stir well.
    • Place the steaks in the marinade (either in a glass dish or ziploc bag) and marinade in the fridge for 2-24 hours before cooking.
    • Cook the steaks however you prefer.

    Notes

    1. This marinade recipe is good for 4-6 steaks. If you are cooking more meat feel free to double or triple the recipe. 
    2. Take your marinated steaks out of the fridge ~30 minutes before cooking or grilling to allow them to warm slightly. 
    3. The nutritional values are just an estimate. In reality the carb count of this marinade will be much lower as much of the marinade will not be consumed as it will be lost in the cooking process. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

     

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Dr. Erin Carter wearing a floral dress in her kitchen.

    Hi everyone!

    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

    More about me

    Mother's Day Recipes

    • A pan filled with cooked dairy free scalloped potatoes garnished with fresh thyme.
      Dairy-Free Scalloped Potatoes (gluten-free, vegan & paleo)
    • A lemon lavender cookie on a baking sheet with a bite out of it and surrounded by lemon slices.
      The Best Lemon Lavender Cookies (gluten-free option)
    • A stack of five cassava flour chocolate chip cookies.
      Cassava Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (egg-free, gluten-free)
    • A jar of raspberry chia pudding topped with fresh raspberries and white chia seeds.
      5 Ingredient Raspberry Chia Pudding
    • A bowl of coconut whipped cream.
      Easy Coconut Whipped Cream (vegan, dairy-free)
    • A glass dish filled with a bacon and vegetable egg casserole.
      The Best Bacon and Vegetable Egg Casserole

    Health Info

    • A collage of many different sunscreen bottles with the title The Best Safe Sunscreens Over them.
      11 Non-Toxic Sunscreens (tried and tested)
    • Four women in their underwear with the title The Best Non Toxic Period Underwear over them.
      10 Non-Toxic Period Underwear Brands - PFAS Free
    • Pots and pans stacked on top of each other in black and white with the title "is ceramic cookware safe?" above them.
      Is Ceramic Cookware Safe? Which Brands Are & Which Brands Aren't
    • A collage of body washes with the title "Non-Toxic Body Washes" over them.
      The 9 Best Non-Toxic Body Washes of 2025 (Tried & Tested)

    Popular Recipes

    • A paleo apple pie bar with a bite out of it and pieces of cooked apples beside it.
      The Best Healthy Apple Pie Bars (gluten-free, vegan & paleo)
    • A gluten free burger in a bun with lettuce, tomato and ketchup.
      The Best Gluten-Free Burgers Recipe (so juicy!)
    • A loaf of gluten free chocolate chip banana bread cut into pieces.
      The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (dairy free & paleo)
    • A paleo chocolate chip zucchini muffin with a bite out of it.
      Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins (dairy-free & paleo)
    • A bowl of Whole30 asian coleslaw with dressing being poured on it.
      The Best Healthy Asian Coleslaw Salad
    • A jar of berry cheesecake overnight oats topped with fresh berries with a spoon in it.
      The Best Berry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

    Footer

    featured on:

    Sign up for emails and updates!

    Sign me up!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Contact
    • Services
    • ↑ back to top

    Some of the links on this website are affiliate links whereby we make a small percentage if you purchase the product through that link. It does not cost you anything extra and helps us keep this website running. As an Amazon associate we earn a small percentage from qualifying Amazon purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Pure & Simple Nourishment - Powered by Feast+

    124 shares
    124 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required