Cantrell Sauce (Steak Marinade and Grilling Sauce)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Category: Sauces
Keywords: < 30 Mins, Easy
Description:
Inspired by my dad’s original recipe and refined over the course of 30 years, this Cantrell Sauce has become a household favorite. Perfectly versatile, it works wonders as both a marinade and a grilling sauce, making it ideal for steaks, chicken, pork chops, and hamburgers. My kids even love it as a topping for baked potatoes. The unique flavor profile is a combination of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet, and it tends to make people pour generous amounts over their food. You might want to consider doubling the recipe—it’s that good! If you have any leftovers, the marinated steak slices make an incredible sandwich the following day.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Butter | 4 tbsp |
| Olive oil | 2 tbsp |
| Garlic (minced) | 4 cloves |
| Soy sauce | 4 tbsp |
| Worcestershire sauce | 1 tbsp |
| Lemon (juiced) | 1 lemon |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 263.3 kcal |
| Total Fat | 23.2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 14.6 g |
| Cholesterol | 61.1 mg |
| Sodium | 2509.9 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 15.4 g |
| Fiber | 2.9 g |
| Sugars | 4.1 g |
| Protein | 4.9 g |
Instructions:
- Start by melting the butter (or a combination of butter and olive oil) in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Once melted, add the minced garlic to the skillet, allowing it to simmer for a few minutes until fragrant.
- Turn off the heat, and then pour in the soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the skillet, stirring to combine all the ingredients.
- Let your meat marinate in the sauce while your grill is heating up. For a stronger flavor, you can marinate it longer, even overnight if you wish.
- When the grill is ready, place your meat on it and begin grilling, turning the meat and basting it with the sauce about every four minutes until it’s cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Once the meat is grilled, return the leftover marinade to the saucepan and bring it to a boil for about 60 seconds to make it safe for dipping. If the sauce has thickened too much, you can add a little water, broth, or wine to bring it back to the right consistency.
- Reserve the boiled sauce for dipping and serve alongside your perfectly grilled meat.
Tips:
- This sauce is perfect for grilling any type of meat, but it also adds great flavor to grilled vegetables.
- If you like a bit more tang, feel free to add extra lemon juice to the marinade.
- For an even richer flavor, try using a mixture of butter and olive oil to melt together before adding the garlic.
