Easy, flavorful Steak Tacos are a tasty Mexican dish that are perfect for summer time! DIY taco night will be the party everyone remembers!
Tacos are a favorite, easy, family-friendly Mexican Food, and there are so many different versions of the dish. This grilled steak version feels so much more extravagant than typical Ground Beef Tacos or Ground Chicken Tacos, but it only takes a little extra time to prepare.
Sabrina’s Steak Tacos Recipe
Taco Tuesday just got a whole lot tastier with my flavorful Steak Tacos. The only way to make juicy, flavorful steak even better is by serving it up in a warm tortilla with delicious taco toppings. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just looking for a satisfying, no-fuss dinner, these tacos are a reliable go-to that never disappoints.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2 pounds flank steak
- 24 small corn tortillas
- 1 white onion , chopped finely
- 1/4 cup cilantro , chopped
- 1 cup fresh pico de gallo
Instructions
- Add the oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, black pepper and chili powder to a bowl and whisk well.
- Add steak to the marinade, cover and marinate for 1 hour.
- Grill on medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side for medium doneness, let sit for 10 minutes then chop into ½ inch cubes.
- Serve in two layered warmed corn tortillas with onions, cilantro and pico de gallo.
Nutrition
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Note from Sabrina
You can grill the steak for a few minutes longer for well-done meat or shorter for rare steak. Use a meat thermometer to check for your preferred temperature. The meat will reach a safe temperature as it rests. u003cstrongu003eRareu003c/strongu003e: 125-130 Degrees, u003cstrongu003eMedium Rareu003c/strongu003e: 140-150 degrees, u003cstrongu003eWell-Doneu003c/strongu003e: 160-165 degree
Table of contents
About this Recipe
What makes this recipe stand out is how it delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort. The flank steak gets a simple marinade that tenderizes the meat and enhances the beefy flavor. After an hour, the meat is grilled until medium-rare perfection. The grilled steak pieces are served in warm corn tortillas and topped with chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and Pico de Gallo.
Ingredients
- Steak: This recipe uses 2 pounds of flank steak, but you can use other cuts of steak including skirt steak or sirloin steak. Flank steak has a strong beefy flavor and it cooks fast for the quickest steak tacos full of flavor.
- Oil: Add ¼ cup vegetable oil to your marinade ingredients. The fat in the oil helps tenderize the meat and keeps the steak seasonings on the meat for flavorful steak tacos. You can also brush the grill grates with a tablespoon oil so the meat doesn’t stick.
- Steak Seasonings: The spice blend for the steak seasonings is made with chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and black pepper. These spices are common in classic Mexican recipes.
- Garlic: The minced garlic adds a burst of flavor to the marinade, and goes perfectly with the beefy flavor of the steak. You can substitute a tablespoon of garlic powder.
- Pico De Gallo: Pico de Gallo is a fresh Mexican salsa using diced tomatoes, peppers, and lime juice. You can buy pre-made Pico de Gallo or make the recipe fresh while cooking the meat.
- Onions and Cilantro: Diced white onion and fresh chopped cilantro are classic toppings for all your favorite tacos. Instead of white onion you can use yellow onion or red onion.
- Corn Tortillas: You use two soft tortillas per taco to hold the chunky steak pieces and all your favorite taco toppings without breaking. Use quality corn tortillas and warm in a hot skillet or on the grill. You can also use taco-sized Flour Tortillas.
Can this be made ahead of time?
The steak is juiciest and best when you grill it fresh. However the quick seasoning blend can double as an overnight marinade. The steak can be marinated for up to 48 hours, but the peak texture and flavor will be in the first 24 hours. Bring the steak to room temperature before grilling it and discard any excess marinade.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cold tortillas are more fragile and break easily so it’s best to warm the corn tortillas. Use a hot cast iron skillet with a little oil to brown the tortillas and add a bit of flavor. You can also throw them on the grill for some extra smoky flavor.
- Inexpensive cuts of steak including flank steak tend to be a little tougher. So if you want extra tender steak pieces, marinate the meat overnight. I used a baking pan wrapped in plastic wrap to marinate the meat in the flavorful marinade. You could also use a large shallow bowl or gallon size Ziploc bag.
Serving Ideas
- Instead of assembling the tacos yourself, you can set up a DIY Taco Bar with assorted toppings, warm tortillas, and cooked meat. This lets people choose their own toppings. Sour cream, hot sauce, lime wedges, Refried Beans, avocados, and salsa would all make amazing toppings. Along with extra toppings, you can serve the tacos with your favorite Mexican side dishes. Chips and Salsa, Corn Salad, and Mexican Rice all make great sides for these delicious tacos.
- Use this meat to make Steak Taco Pizza, Steak Taco Salad, Steak Taco Bowls, Steak Burritos, Quesadillas, and even Frittata
How to Store
- Store: You can keep the leftover steak in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. It’s best to keep the tortillas and toppings separately so they stay fresh.
- Reheat: So the leftover steak doesn’t dry out, reheat it in a medium-large skillet with a splash of broth or oil and a lid over medium heat.
- Freeze: After it cools completely, store the leftover steak in a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Defrost it in the fridge before reheating the meat and serving it with fresh taco ingredients.
Alternative Cooking Techniques
Grill Method
For a tasty, smoky charred flavor, I like to use an outdoor grill. However, you can also use an indoor grill, cast iron skillet or grill pan.
Air Fryer Method
- Marinade: To prep the steak for the air fryer, start by combining all the marinade ingredients and adding the flank steak as usual. Let the meat marinate for at least 1 hour.
- Cooking time: Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F. Then place the marinated steak in the air fryer basket. Set the timer to 6 minutes, then flip the steak and air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- Slice: Carefully remove the steak from the air fryer, and let it sit for 10 minutes before slicing it into cubes.
- Serve: Serve the air-fried steak in warm flour tortillas with chopped onions, cilantro, and pico de Gallo.
Variations
- Meat: Flank steak is a very versatile cut of meat that’s great for fajitas, tacos, and sauteed dishes. Alternatively, you could make your tacos with skirt steak or sirloin steak. All of these cuts of steak work very well for this recipe.
- Seasonings: You can flavor the steak marinade with a variety of different herbs and spices based on your taste. Try adding onion powder, red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, allspice, or cloves.
- Hard shell tacos: If you prefer, you can swap out corn tortillas for hard shell tacos for a crunchy Steak Taco dinner.
- Favorite taco fillings: You can add a variety of different filling ingredients along with the steak, like jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, red onion, chimichurri sauce, guacamole, or salsa. Dress up the tacos with as many filling ingredients as you want, just be careful not to overstuff the tortillas too much, or they’ll fall apart before you can enjoy them.
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