How To Grill Sirloin Steak

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Sirloin steak comes from a non-exercised area of a cow, up near the back portion of the animal. This cut is nice and tender when cooked, but most fans really love it for its bold, beefy flavor. The grill seems to pull out those natural flavors the best, combining them with the tell-tale smoky taste of a barbecue.

Skip going to the steakhouse for a fresh, grilled sirloin steak, and learn how to make it on your own grill using our guide.

Choosing Quality Sirloin Steak

Confused about the different types of sirloin steaks you find at the supermarket or butcher, such as USDA Choice, USDA Prime, and dry-aged? These terms don’t need to be confusing.

Essentially, the USDA markings indicate which steaks meet the USDA’s standards. USDA Prime is the label for steaks with the best marbling and tenderness, as it’s usually from younger cattle.

An indication of either dry or wet aging is always good to have, as both processes give the steak time to age or reach its optimal flavor and tenderness. Chicago Steak Company offers USDA Prime wet-aged sirloin steaks aged 4-6 weeks to give you the very best quality.

Tips for the Best Grilled Sirloin Steak

Before walking through the steps of how to grill sirloin steak, read these tips to help you prepare.

Clean and Oil the Grill

Never try to grill a sirloin steak on a dirty grill. Not only can your steaks end up sticking to the grates, but they’ll also pick up the flavors of the meal you cooked last. Use a grill brush and mild soap mixture to scrub the grill clean after each use, making it easier to prepare the next time.

Many grills can also benefit from brushing a small amount of oil on the grates before preheating them to prevent sticking during the grilling process.

Prepare High-Heat and Low-Heat Grill Sides

If possible, heat one side of your grill to high and the other to low. This can be a little trickier with charcoal grills, but try to have at least a small area prepared without an intense flame. This two-zone cooking method lets you continue cooking the inside of your sirloin steaks after the outsides have seared to ensure that you get a cooked center without scorching the outside.

Be Sure to Check Its Temperature

Never forget to temp your steak before removing it from the grill. Although it might appear done on the outside, the inside could still be raw. If your steak needs a little more time to reach the right temperature inside, as indicated by your thermometer, move it to a low-heat side of the grill for a couple of minutes and close the lid for extra cooking time.

Charcoal Vs. Gas Grill

Ah, the age-old question of whether to use a charcoal grill versus a gas grill to cook sirloin steak. The truth is, either one is a good choice. It’s best to choose whichever one you feel more comfortable with. But if you’re stuck between the two, here are a few considerations.

Charcoal Grill

Charcoal grills are ideal for adding rich, smoky flavors to the natural beefiness of sirloin steak. But keep in mind that charcoal grills do take more time to set up, as you’ll need a good 15-20 minutes for the coals to ash over to begin cooking.

It can also be a little more challenging to set up a two-zone cooking surface, but it’s not impossible. To do this, pile the coals toward one end of the grill. The other end will still get hot, but on a much lower scale, allowing you to continue cooking the sirloin steak until it’s done without coming into contact with direct heat.

Gas Grill

Gas grills offer more consistent heat, and many of them have two-zone cooking built in — just turn a dial or two and you’re ready to grill. You won’t get quite the same smokiness of a charcoal grill, but gas grills can still bring a crispy exterior and added flavor to your steak. Plus, they’re much more straightforward to clean up after the fact.

Preparing The Grill

Get your grill ready to grill sirloin steak. Whether you use a charcoal or gas grill, consider brushing a small amount of oil on the grates before adding steak to prevent sticking.

Gas Grill

Prepare the grill by preheating it to high, or about 500 degrees. If your grill has two heating zones, make one zone high heat and the other low heat, or about 275 degrees. You’ll use the low-heat side to make sure the inside of the steak comes to the right temperature for your desired doneness level. It should take your gas grill 5-10 minutes to heat completely.

Charcoal Grill

Light your charcoal grill using your favorite method. Some grillers prefer to use a chimney starter to light the coals, but you can also mound coals on the bottom middle of the grill to light them. Wait until they turn white to carefully scatter them on the bottom of the grill in a single layer.

Cooking Time

On average, a sirloin steak is about 1 ½ inches thick at its thickest part. Therefore, it typically needs a little more time than thinner steaks, like flank or flat iron. For a medium-rare cook, set aside about 12-15 minutes to cook on the grill from start to finish.

Higher levels of doneness need a bit more time. Add another 1-2 minutes for each level of doneness. For instance, medium can take closer to 14-17 minutes, while medium-well might take 16-19 minutes.

Final Temperature

You can grill sirloin steak to your optimal doneness level. Use the chart below to find the temperature at which to remove the steaks from the grill and the final temperature your steak should reach based on each level of doneness.

Doneness	Temperature to Remove from Heat	Final Temperature
Medium-rare	125-130℉	130-135℉
Medium	135-140℉	140-145℉
Medium-well	145-150℉	150-155℉
Well-done	155-160℉	160-165℉

sirloin steak temperature doneness guide

Medium Rare Sirloin Steak

Medium-rare is the ideal doneness level for steak, including sirloin steak. To cook sirloin steak on the grill to this temperature, continue cooking until your meat thermometer reaches 125-130℉. Then, let the steak rest on a clean plate tented with foil until it reaches 130-135℉. This usually happens in about five minutes.

Grilling Sirloin Steak Instructions

Ready to start grilling sirloin steak? Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Prepare for Grilling

Preparation makes for better sirloin steak. To start, remove the steak from the refrigerator and transfer to a clean plate. Salt generously on both sides. Then, leave at room temperature for 45 minutes before you’re ready to cook.

Meanwhile, brush the grill grates with a small amount of olive oil, and preheat the grill to high heat for 10-15 minutes before cooking. Right before adding the steaks to the grill, finish seasoning them. Sprinkle more salt, if desired, and black pepper, plus your other favorite seasonings.

Step 2: Grill Sirloin Steak

Once the grill is ready, transfer the steaks to the high-heat area of the grill. Let them sear for 3-4 minutes on one side before flipping with tongs to the other side. Sear for another 3-4 minutes on that side.

Step 3: Check the Temperature

Now, check the temperature of the steak with a digital meat thermometer by inserting the probe into the thickest part of the steak. A medium-rare steak should read 125-130℉ before removing it from the grill. Use the temperature chart above to determine when to remove your sirloin steak based on your ideal level of doneness. If the steaks need a little more time, move them to a low-heat area of the grill for another minute or so until they reach the right temperature range.

Step 4: Let it Rest

When cooked to your liking, remove the steaks from the grill and place them on a foil-tented plate to rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Grilled Sirloin Steak – Nutritional Facts

Per Serving (6 oz Cooked Top Sirloin Steak, Based on a 2,000-Calorie Daily Diet)

Nutrient	Amount (% DV)
Calories	430
Total Fat	24g (31%)
Saturated Fat	9g (45%)
Cholesterol	120mg (40%)
Sodium	150mg (7%)
Total Carbohydrate	0g (0%)
Sugars	0g
Protein	46g (92%)
Iron	4.2mg (23%)
Potassium	580mg (12%)

Grilling Sirloin Steak

No ratings yet Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 45 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Course Main Course Servings 2 people

Ingredients 1x2x3x

2 top sirloin steaks
salt and pepper, to taste
olive oil

Instructions

Transfer sirloin steak to a plate at room temperature. Salt generously on both sides, leaving at room temperature for 45 minutes. About 10 minutes before you're ready to grill, brush olive oil on your grill grates. Then, preheat the grill to 450-500 degrees. If able, keep another section of the grill on low heat
Season sirloin steaks with pepper and a sprinkle of salt, if desired, and place them on the grill, letting the side touching the grates sear for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Flip with tongs and do the same to the other side
Check the temperature of the thickest part of the steaks. If they need more time to reach your desired doneness level, move the steaks to a low-heat area of the grill and cover, cooking for another 1-3 minutes until they come to temp
Transfer steaks to a clean plate tented with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Other Ways to Cook Sirloin Steak

Once you first taste sirloin steak on the grill, you may not want to try any other cooking method for this yummy cut of beef. But if you do, here are a few other ways to cook sirloin steak:

Oven-baked
Reverse seared
Sous vide
Pan-seared
Slow cooked
Skewered

Try our premium top sirloin steaks on your grill. They’re full of flavor and offer optimal tenderness in every bite.

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Author: Derek Jacobson

With over a decade spent writing about steak, grilling, and the fine art of flame-kissed perfection, Derek is on a lifelong quest to master the ribeye—because good things come to those who sear. When not typing up tips or testing marinades, you'll find them chasing the elusive perfect crust on their favorite cut: the mighty ribeye. View all posts by Derek Jacobson

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