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This Tuna Steaks on the Grill Recipe is so easy to make and packed full of flavour thanks to the delicious homemade marinade. They cook in under 8 minutes and can be done on an indoor or outdoor grill.

There was definitely a point in my life, way back in my younger years (and I’m talkin’ like really, reeeeally young), where I (or more so my parents) considered me to be a picky eater. I know. Say what? You already know that, although I may have reservations when it comes to eating things like eyeballs and intestines, there ain’t no picky eaters in this house.

I like to blame a lot of the reason for that switch – from so called “picky eater” to not – on my love for travel. As both myself and my love for travel grew bigger, so did my palate and desire to try new things when it came to food. It’s like all those picky eater ways that were once a part of me became non-existent. And now I’m all up on here, several years later, posting recipes about Grilled Ahi Tuna. Oh, how life evolves us.

sliced rare tuna steak on a plate with green onions, sesame seeds, lime, cucumber and chopsticks

Fast forward to now-a-days and especially the last like 5-7 years, and I’m a huge Tuna fan. I can even go as far as to say that it’s absolutely one of my all time favourite fishes. It’s delicate and lean, melt-in-your-mouth delicious and so good when cooked properly (orrrrr left raw, sashimi style, aka one of my favourite ways to eat it!) Tuna Steaks are hearty enough to be their own meal served up with all your favourite side dishes. But they also make a great addition to things like salads and bowls. Get creative and put one in between bread to make a killer sandwich, make a grilled tuna poké bowl or add it to things like nachos or tacos.

All I know is that once you try these delicious Grilled Marinated Tuna Steaks and see just how easy they are to make, they’re going to immediately be filed under your “recipes I make often” folder (we all have one of those… right?).

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THIS EASY TUNA STEAKS ON THE GRILL RECIPE

ingredients for tuna steaks on the grill recipe - tuna steaks, tuna marinade, green onions, sesame seeds — *Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below*.

Simple yet flavourful is the name of the game when it comes to this recipe for Grilled Tuna Steaks. Let’s get into the exact ingredients you’ll need to make them in a little bit more detail down below:

Tuna Steaks: Well, duh! Tuna steaks are the star of the show here and have got to be one of my all time favourite fishes. They’re lean, delicate, healthy and taste delicious when cooked right. I used yellowfin tuna (ahi). But I’m sure this recipe would also work for other varieties such as albacore or big eye. Try and find tuna steaks that are wild, fresh and similar in size for even cooking. Ideally, the Tuna Steaks should be about 1.5-2 inches thick.
Tuna Marinade: This simple to make 8 ingredient marinade sends this Tuna Steaks on the Grill Recipe over the top. It’s easy to make and comes together in just 5 minutes. The marinade is a combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, green onions, sriracha, lime juice and pepper. Find the full recipe and instructions for how to make it HERE.
Green Onions: Add the perfect freshness, colour and crunch to the final dish. Since green onions make the perfect garnish for a variety of tasty dishes such as these Grilled Tuna Steaks, I wouldn’t recommend replacing them with something else or different kind of onion.
Sesame Seeds: Adds crunch, texture and colour to the final dish.

side view of sliced rare tuna steak topped with green onions and sesame seeds, lime in the background

HOW TO MAKE THIS TUNA STEAKS ON THE GRILL RECIPE (KEY TIPS)

piece of rare tuna with sesame seeds in a pair of chopsticks over a plate with the rest of it, limes and cucumber

You can find full instructions for how to make this healthy recipe for Grilled Tuna Steaks in the recipe card down below. But here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

Try and get Tuna Steaks that are all similar in size and thickness. This promotes even cooking in the same amount of time. For best results, use Tuna Steaks that are at least 1.5-inches thick.
Pat the Tuna Steaks dry before beginning. This absorbs the excess surface moisture and allows the Tuna to cook more evenly.
Don’t let the tuna sit in the marinade for too long. While I’m normally a firm believer in the golden rule of marinating that the longer something sits in one, the better and more flavourful it will be, that isn’t necessarily the case with tuna. Since it’s such a delicate fish, the acid in the marinade will start breaking it down and ruin the texture of the fish if it sits in it for too long. Marinating the Tuna Steaks anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours will give you the best results. EXTRA TIP: Allow the Tuna Steaks to come to room temperature before grilling. To do so, simply take them out of the fridge about 20 or so minutes before you want to grill them. This promotes even cooking all the way around and ensures that the exterior doesn’t cook before the interior.
When ready to grill your Tuna Steaks, be sure to brush off the large pieces of green onions and garlic from the marinade. They will burn during the grilling process if you leave them on.
Use high heat and make sure your grill is hot, hot, hot before adding the Tuna Steaks for best results. They only need about 2-4 minutes to grill per side to achieve the perfect rare to medium rare centers. EXTRA TIP: Flip the Tuna Steaks once halfway through grilling to ensure even cooking/searing on both sides.
All grills are different so keep an eye on your Tuna Steaks to ensure they don’t burn. The time it takes your Tuna Steaks to cook will depend on a few factors. The type of grill you’re using, whether you’re indoor or outdoor and of course, the size and thickness of your tuna steaks. However, generally speaking, they don’t take too long to cook at all. Therefore, overcooking them is quite easy if you’re not paying close attention. EXTRA TIP: Because of the drastic change in colour as the Tuna Steaks cook on the grill, you’ll be able to tell how done they are just by looking up the side.
Allow the Tuna Steaks to rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows them to redistribute their juices and firm up a bit making the cutting process much easier. EXTRA TIP: Slice the Tuna Steaks against the grain for more tender, easier to chew slices.

sliced rare tuna steak topped with sesame seeds and green onions on a plate with cucumber and lime, hand with chopsticks getting a piece

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO YOU FLIP TUNA ON THE GRILL?

Yes, it’s important to flip tuna once halfway through grilling to ensure even cooking on both sides. Tuna is cool in that it drastically changes from bright/deep red to a light pink/almost beige kind of colour as it cooks making it easy to tell how done it is just by looking up the sides.

HOW TO GRILL TUNA STEAKS WELL DONE?

If you prefer your Tuna Steaks to be grilled well done then simply add an additional couple of minutes per side to the cooking time. However, be warned that Tuna Steaks dry out easily and the best way to serve and eat them is rare to medium rare. Let’s just say that you likely won’t be forgiven if you’re serving up well done Tuna Steaks at your next dinner party.

HOW DO YOU GRILL TUNA WITHOUT DRYING IT OUT?

Grilling Tuna is easy, however, drying it out is just as easy! To avoid this, make sure your grill is super hot before beginning. Only grill the Tuna Steaks for 2-4 minutes per side. For your reference, the Tuna Steaks in the photos were only grilled for 2 minutes per side. A perfectly cooked Tuna Steak will be raw and bright pink (aka rare) in the middle. Trust me.

HOW DO YOU KEEP TUNA FROM STICKING TO THE GRILL?

To keep Tuna from sticking to the grill, ensure the grates are nicely oiled and very hot. Oil on the actual Tuna, or in this case, the marinade, will also help keep it from sticking to the grill. Use a fish spatula or the tines of a large fork to help you flip it if it does end up sticking a bit.

sliced rare tuna steak on a plate with green onions, sesame seeds, lime and chopsticks

TUNA STEAKS ON THE GRILL RECIPE

Yield: 2 Servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Time to Marinate: 30 minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes

Ingredients

2 Ahi Tuna Steaks, 1.5-2 inches thick
1 recipe Tuna Steak Marinade
1 Green Onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp Sesame Seeds

Instructions

Pat the Tuna Steaks dry with paper towel then place them in a ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over top, seal the bag then use your hands and fingers to swoosh it around and coat the steaks. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for at least 30 minute but up to 2 hours (no longer).
Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill to medium high heat and generously grease the grates. Remove the Tuna Steaks from the marinade, brushing off any large chunks of onion or garlic. Place them on the hot grill and cook for 2-4 minutes per side or until you reach your desired doneness. For best results, Tuna Steaks should be seared on the outside and rare/pink in the middle. Remove from the grill and allow to rest on a cutting board for a couple of minutes before slicing against the grain.
Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately with soy sauce, sriracha or spicy mayo for dipping.

Notes

If time allows and to promote even cooking, let the Tuna Steaks come to room temperature before grilling by simply taking them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you want to do so.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 590Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 2604mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 67g

Nutrition is only an estimate and calculated using Nutritionix.