Cook IHOP's Steak Tips Recipe at Home: Sizzle Your Way to Culinary Bliss

Interestingly enough, it could be said that IHOP’s steak tips recipe is a bit underrated. Although that would only prove the high-quality dishes of the brand, this hidden gem just might be your next favorite thing.

But what exactly makes IHOP’s steak tips so unique? It’s the marinade. While it’s true that it’s nothing new, the combination of carefully-selected ingredients is truly something else. Coca-Cola, ketchup, vinegar, and much more come together to make your sirloin tips the most juicy and tender meat ever. Let’s take a look.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Our IHOP's Steak Tips Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

1. The steak

• Sirloin steak — 2 pounds
• Salt — 1 tbsp.
• Black pepper — 1 tbsp.
• Butter — 2 tbsp.
• Onion — 1 pc., chopped
• Olive oil — 1 tbsp.
• Sugar — 1 tbsp.

2. The marinade

• Coca-Cola — ½ cup
• Ketchup — 1 cup
• Worcestershire sauce — ½ cup
• Red wine vinegar — ½ cup
• Sugar — ½ cup
• Olive oil — ½ cup
• A-1 sauce — ½ cup

Instructions

1. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large pan. Bring to a boil.

2. Let the sauce mixture simmer for five minutes. Remove from the heat.

3. Cut the steak into small pieces and transfer them to a ziplock bag.

4. Pour the now-cooled marinade over it.

5. Marinade the steak for between 12-24 hours.

6. Once that is done, heat the oil and melt the butter in a pan.

7. Add the onions, salt and pepper, and sugar. Cook for half an hour.

8. In the meantime, drain the excess liquid from the steak and transfer it into a pan.

9. Cooking the steak for approximately three minutes per side would result in a medium-rare steak. Cook according to your preference.

10. Serve with the caramelized onion, along with side dishes of your preference.

Substitutions

• A-1 sauce — While you need a steak sauce for IHOP’s steak tips recipe, it doesn’t necessarily have to be A-1 Sauce. If it’s available, HP sauce would do the job neatly, and if not, you can opt for different condiments like BBQ sauce, oyster sauce, or teriyaki sauce.

• Vinegar — We have opted to use red wine vinegar in our copycat IHOP’s steak recipe, but apple cider vinegar is a great alternative. White wine vinegar will do the job as well, though not quite as fine as the other options.

• Ketchup — The acidity in ketchup helps keep the meat moisturized while providing a distinct tomato taste. You can replace it with tomato paste, but it will lose the acidity. Try to combine tomato sauce with a splash of vinegar, and you should be all set.

• Worcestershire sauce — This one is a crucial ingredient, although you can use fish sauce instead. If that’s not your cup of tea, go with a combination of soy sauce and a pinch of sugar.

Variations

• Add mushrooms — While mushrooms make a great pair with caramelized onions, they also make the dish even more filling. Cremini mushrooms go great with sirloin steak tips, so you might want to try those out. Sauté the mushrooms in butter and you should be good to go!

• Add bourbon — Although IHOP’s steak tips recipe is originally alcohol-free, that shouldn’t stop you. For a cool twist on the famous IHOP marinade, add some bourbon to provide some extra juice and tenderness to your meat.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Large saucepan

• 2 frying pans

• Ziplock bag

Storage

• Transfer the leftover steak tips to an airtight container. Stored in your fridge, the steak tips will last for up to four days.

• You could also freeze it in an airtight container or in a ziplock bag. Once stored in your freezer, the steak tips will last for up to three months.

Pro Tips

• The steak — No matter how good the recipe, if you overcook the steak, you’re out of luck. To avoid this, you might want to use a meat thermometer. 130 degrees would be a good place to stop for a medium-rare steak.

• The marinade — This great recipe relies on the marinade a lot, so be cautious when it comes to the ingredients. Try not to exceed the given amounts.