Grilled Teriyaki Beef Sticks

Mouthwatering Teriyaki Beef Sticks for Grilling

When the sun is shining and it’s warm outside, all I want is to be outdoors enjoying time with friends and family. It’s this time of year that simple, laid-back meals become my go-to. And these juicy and sweet teriyaki skewers are at the top of my list. Here’s why you’ll love making them when you fire up the grill…

• Quick and easy. After marinating the steak in a simple homemade gluten-free sauce, the skewers cook up in less than 10 minutes on the grill.
• Marinate ahead of time. This is a fantastic dinner to prep ahead of time for your next cookout or BBQ because you can let the meat soak as long as you like, and even prep the skewers before grilling.
• Crowd-pleaser. This dish puts an Asian spin on classic grilled steak with a sweet and savory flavor that even picky eaters enjoy.
• Simple to make gluten free. The key thing is getting your hands on gluten free soy sauce. You use it in the marinade and to make homemade teriyaki sauce, if you can’t find a ready-made gluten free version in the grocery store. It’s a meal you can make for the whole family!

Recipe Ingredients.

The key to making these delicious skewers is the homemade teriyaki marinade. Here’s an overview of what you need for the recipe. You’ll find the full amounts and step-by-step instructions in the recipe card towards the bottom of the post.

• Light brown sugar.
• Soy sauce. Make sure you use gluten free soy sauce or tamari, if needed. Learn more about that in my article Is Soy Sauce Gluten Free?
• Rice wine vinegar. Adds acidic brightness to the sauce. While most are, this is another one to confirm is gluten free.
• Vegetable oil. Or another neutral oil like avocado
• Garlic. I recommend freshly criushing your garlic cloves.
• Ginger. Fresh is preferred here.
• Top round beef steak. You can ask your butcher to shave the meat nice and thin.
• Garnish. I like to serve my teriyaki beef with scallions for a pop of green, red chili pepper for some heat, and sesame seeds for crunch and flavor.
• Extra Teriyaki Sauce. For drizzling over the grilled skewers. You can make this easy Gluten Free Teriyaki Sauce while you have the marinade ingredients out, or use your favorite store-bought brand, ensuring it is gluten free if needed. Alternatively, you can change things up by dipping them in Peanut Sauce or Bang Bang Sauce.

How to Make Teriyaki Beef Sticks

Once you have the ingredients out and ready, here’s how to put together your easy steak skewers. The detailed instructions are further down in the recipe card.

• Make the marinade: Stir the brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, minced garlic and ginger, salt, and pepper together until smooth.
• Marinate the beef: Add the thinly sliced steak to the bowl with the sauce and combine everything well. Refrigerate for at least two hours. While it’s marinating, if you are making homemade Teriyaki Sauce, now is the time to do that.

• Assemble the skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 20 minutes in water before making the steak skewers. Then thread the slices of meat onto the soaked skewers.

• Grill the steak: Grill the skewers on a preheated grill over medium-high heat until the steak is cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• Serve: Arrange the grilled skewers on a serving platter and garnish with sliced scallions, red pepper, and sesame seeds, plus an extra drizzle of Teriyaki Sauce.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making your grilled beef sticks:

• Let it soak. For best results, marinate the meat for at least two hours. You can go as long as overnight for maximum flavor.
• Don’t save it. Always discard any leftover marinade, as it’s been contaminated with raw meat. For glazing, use fresh sauce.
• Always be careful. Use long-handled tongs to flip the skewers on the grill to avoid burns.
• Try another cut. You can use a different cut of steak, but make sure it’s sliced nice and thin for the right texture and a quick cooking time.
• Simplify slicing. If your beef is not pre-sliced, pop it into the freezer for 30 minutes to make slicing easier.

How to Store Leftovers

• Refrigerator. Store leftover grilled steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
• Freezer. Freeze leftover steak (removed from the skewers) in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to three months. Let the steak defrost in the fridge overnight.
• Reheat. Reheat the beef in a hot skillet until warmed through or in the microwave. You can add more teriyaki sauce if the steak becomes dry at all.

What to Serve with Teriyaki Beef Sticks

I like to round out this meal with a few sides that pair well with teriyaki steak skewers.

• Rice: You can certainly just make some basic white rice or brown rice, but you can also add a little flavor with Cilantro Lime Rice. And cauliflower rice is always an option.
• Veggies: Since I’m already grilling, Grilled Zucchini tastes like peak summer. Or some Maple Sesame Roasted Broccoli is always tasty.
• Coleslaw: It’s a cookout staple, so you can go with this classic Easy Coleslaw Recipe, or stick to that sweet and savory flavor profile with Pineapple Coleslaw.
• Salads: Sesame Zoodles are a veggie-packed twist on the classic noodle dish, or serve a simple Mango Berry Fruit Salad on the side.