Sirloin Tip Steak

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my sirloin tip steak recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Sirloin Tip Steaks – This cut, sometimes called a round tip steak or knuckle steak, is lean, tough, and quite affordable. It’s basically a sirloin tip roast sliced into steaks, although it can be cut even further into sirloin tips. Unlike most steak recipes, where a thicker cut is ideal, I recommend thinner beef sirloin tip steaks for this recipe.
• Marinade – This is key for melt-in-your-mouth tender steaks! I just repurposed my balsamic steak marinade as a sirloin tip steak marinade here (even though they are totally different cuts). You’ll need just 5 ingredients to make it: Coconut aminos (or soy sauce), olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, plus sea salt and black pepper. You can use a different marinade if you like, but I always ensure that it includes an acidic ingredient (like vinegar or lemon juice) and salt, as these are key for tenderness.
• Olive Oil – For searing. Avocado oil works, too.
• Compound Butter – Although optional, I pretty much always include it because it levels up any steak!

How To Cook Sirloin Tip Steak

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Prep the steaks. Pat them dry with a paper towel, then pound them with a meat mallet to tenderize them.
2. Make the marinade. In a small bowl, make the steak marinade here. (Simply whisk the ingredients together!)
3. Marinate. Add the steaks to a large zip lock bag, pour the marinade over them, and move around to coat well. Marinate in the fridge overnight.
4. Cook. In a large cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sirloin tip steak and sear to your desired doneness. See my time and temp chart below!
5. Rest and serve. Transfer the steaks to a plate and let them rest before slicing. I always serve them with garlic butter while they’re still warm, so it melts on top.

Cook Time Chart

For perfect medium rare doneness, I cook my sirloin tip steak for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, until they reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees F.

However, I tested this recipe many times to make this time chart for any doneness you like. It’s based on 1/2 inch thick pieces, because that’s what I always find available. You can use this timing as a guide, but the times are pretty close together, so I highly recommend using a meat thermometer like this to measure the internal temp.

Serving Ideas

Now that you’ve mastered this unusual cut of beef, let’s whip up some sides! Here are some of my favorites to go with this sirloin tip steak recipe:

• Potatoes – My family loves roasted potato cubes or air fryer baked potatoes, but feel free to change it up with steak fries, roasted sweet potatoes, or even mashed cauliflower for a lighter option.
• Veggies – I go with this option most often! My faves are crispy roasted brussels sprouts or roasted broccoli and cauliflower, but you can’t go wrong with some creamed spinach like a steakhouse does. When I want a super quick veggie side, I make air fryer cauliflower.
• Toppings – If you’re not making compound butter, jazz up your sirloin tip steak with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, or blue cheese sauce for steak.