Basic Broiled Top Round Steak

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/31/24
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 27 mins
Total: 32 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

A top round steak is lean, flavorful, and budget-friendly. It is an excellent candidate for marinades, and it's at its best when cooked to medium-rare, which is about 145 F. This is a great steak to grill but if it's not grill weather then you can get a similar effect by broiling it. Broiling exposes meat to high heat from all directions and our oven likely has a special setting just for broiling.

Basic broiled top round steak with asparagus on a white platter

The Spruce Eats

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Broil this flavorful seasoned top round steak and slice it thinly for serving. This steak makes a great meal with baked potatoes and a tossed salad or steamed vegetables.

Feel free to season the steak with some Montreal steak seasoning or another seasoning blend for beef. Or just add a sprinkling of garlic powder along with the salt and pepper. See the expert tips below the recipe for a simple marinade. You can also try rib steaks with garlic marinade or this recipe for pan-broiled steak with bourbon sauce.

Tips for Making Top Round Steak Recipe

  • Cook to your preference - For medium-rare (145 F), broil a 1 1/2-inch top-round steak for about 26 to 28 minutes. For medium (160 F), broil for about 28 to 30 minutes.
  • No racks, no problem - Racks are used to broil so that the food can heat evenly on all sides. If you don't have a broiler pan with a rack, you can achieve almost the same effect by flipping the steak halfway through cooking.
  • Simple Marinade for Steak: In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup of soy sauce, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 3 cloves of garlic, minced, 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard. Put the steak in a food storage bag or bowl with the marinade ingredients and refrigerate for two to three hours.
  • Oven temperatures - Keep in mind that oven temperatures can vary widely and if your oven runs hot, you may need to keep your oven slightly open while broiling.
  • Use a thermometer - Check the steak with an instant-read thermometer to ensure the meat is done to your liking.
What You'll Need to Make This Top Round Steak Recipe
cast iron skillets
A Heavy Cast Iron Skillet
Best Instant Read Thermometers
An Accurate Meat Thermometer
Carving knives
A Sharp Carving Knife
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

  • 1 (2- to 3-pound) top round steak, about 1 1/2 inches thick

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. 

    Preheat the broiler for about 10 minutes and position the rack in the top portion of the oven so the steak will be approximately five inches from the heat source.

    Ingredients for broiled top round steak gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. 

    Top round steak next to a bowl of olive oil, salt, and pepper

    The Spruce Eats

  3. Rub the mixture all over 1 (2- to 3-pound) top round steak (about 1 1/2 inches thick) and place the steak on the oiled rack of a broiler pan.

    Olive oil, salt, and pepper rubbed on sirloin steak in a cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats

  4. Place pan about five inches from the heat source and broil for 10 to 12 minutes.

    Top round sirloin broiling in a cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats

  5. Turn and broil 10 to 15 minutes longer or until desired doneness.*

    Finished top round sirloin steak broiled in a cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats

  6. Place steak on a cutting board. Slice the steak thinly and serve with baked potato and a salad, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

    Broiled top round steak on a cutting board cooked medium and cut into thin slices

    The Spruce Eats
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
483 Calories
23g Fat
0g Carbs
70g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 483
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 204mg 68%
Sodium 512mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 70g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 6mg 32%
Potassium 573mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)