Coca-Cola Marinated Beef Tips

Beef is what's for dinner a lot around here. We just like it--a good steak, some beef tips, or a pot roast. All good things. And even better when I can take a break from the cooking and let Dave grill it to perfection outside. We usually come together and choose a tasty marinade then I let him doing the heavy lifting while preparing some simple sides. It works out pretty well, actually. And this marinade is sweet, but not overly so, with just a hint of spice and a lot of flavor. Perfect for beef, chicken or poultry, this is one simple way to add a tone of tastiness to an otherwise ho-hum piece of grilled meat. Plus, we don't usually drink "full octane" Coke (Coke Zero is usually around our fridge), so this was a great way to use up some leftovers from a party. Win-win!

Another perfect marinade from Marinades and Rubs: 40 Tantalizing Recipes to Stimulate Your Palette and Add Sparkle to Your Meals!, which has become our go-to resource for drowning our cuts of meat before cooking (it's where I got this pork kebab marinade). I had a ton of beef tips, so I doubled the recipe. The key to this marinade is to use the full sugar (full octane) Coke, not diet. You need the sugars to absorb into the meat so they can get nice and caramelized while the meat cooks. If you're short on time, you can pull this marinade together in less than 5 minutes, let it mingle in the fridge until your ready to cook and done--excellent flavors with minimal effort.

Coca-Cola Marinated Beef Tips

3 pounds beef tips
24 ounces Coca-Cola (not diet)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons mustard
4 teaspoons ketchup
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper, to taste

Pierce or score meat and place in a large non-metallic, resealable container or a zip top bag.

In a large measuring cup, combine Coke, oil, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ketchup, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk gently to combine.

Pour over meat and securely seal container. Refrigerate for 2-6 hours until ready to cook.

Heat grill to about 450 degrees F. Add tips to middle of grill and sear about 3-4 minutes on each side. Reduce heat to medium, between 350-400 degrees, turning off middle burner. Cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.

Remove from grill, tent with aluminum foil and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.

Makes about 6 servings.

Happy Baking,
The Cookie Princess

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