Grilled Marinated Flank Steak Fajitas Recipe

Name: Grilled Marinated Flank Steak Fajitas Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce; 1/4 cup (60ml) lime juice; 4 medium cloves garlic; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon dried ground ancho chile (or 1 tablespoon chili powder); 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, divided; 1/3 cup (80ml) canola or other neutral oil; 2 1/2 pounds flank steak (about 1 whole flank steak); 1 large yellow onion, finely diced; 12 to 16 flour tortillas, warmed; 2 whole limes, cut into wedges; Salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole for serving

Why It Works

Though not traditional, soy sauce is a common fajita marinade ingredient. It's high in glutamates, which are natural flavor enhancers responsible for the sensation of umami.
A two-zone fire gives you more control when you're grilling. Sear over the direct side, then finish cooking over the indirect side.

I love flank steak. In my recipe for steak-house style grilled marinated flank steak, I wrote:

It's hard to think of a cut of meat that is more conducive to cooking for a crowd than flank steak. It's got a robust, beefy flavor and a pleasantly tender texture with a bit of good chew. It comes in large, regular shapes that make cooking, slicing, and serving easy, and it's just thin enough that it'll cook through in a matter of minutes, but just thick enough that you can still get a nice, medium-rare center.

In the article, you can also find my tips for shopping, grilling, and serving these versatile pieces of steak, along with flavoring suggestions like this Thai-style marinade.

While fajitas are more commonly made with skirt steak, flank steak makes a fantastic filling as well. It may seem out of place in a Mexican (or Mexican-American) recipe, but soy sauce is actually quite a common fajita marinade ingredient. I mix mine with oregano, ground ancho chile (or if I'm lazy, chile powder), cumin, garlic, sugar, oil, and lime juice. You can go all out and serve it restaurant-style with grilled peppers and onions, but that's just gilding the lily—well-cooked meat doesn't need much more than a squeeze of lime, some chopped onions and cilantro, and a bit of fresh salsa.

Squeezing lime over a grilled flank steak fajita taco. — Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

May 2011

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Active: 30 mins

Marinating Time: 60 mins

Total: 110 mins

Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Rate & Comment

1/4 cup (60ml) soy sauce
1/4 cup (60ml) lime juice
4 medium cloves garlic
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon dried ground ancho chile (or 1 tablespoon chile powder)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, divided
1/3 cup (80ml) canola or other neutral oil
2 1/2 pounds flank steak (about 1 whole flank steak)
12 to 16 flour tortillas, warmed
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
2 whole limes, cut into wedges
Salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole for serving

In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, sugar, ground chile, oregano, cumin, cayenne, and 2 tablespoons cilantro until sugar is dissolved. Slowly add oil while whisking constantly. Place flank steak inside a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag with marinade. Press out air, seal bag, and allow meat to marinate in the refrigerator, turning occasionally, for at least 1 and up to 12 hours.
Remove steak from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Light one chimney full of charcoal and wait until they're covered in grey ash. Spread evenly over 1/2 of grate, leaving other half empty. Put cooking grate in place, cover, and allow grill to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate, then place flank steak over hot side of grill. Cook until well charred, about 3 minutes. Flip steak and continue to cook until second side is well charred, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer steak to cooler side of grill, cover, and cook until thickest part of steak registers 125°F (52°C) on an instant-read thermometer for medium-rare, or 135°F (57°C) for medium, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil, and allow steak to rest for at least 5 minutes.
Slice steak thinly across the grain, then cut each slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Serve immediately with warm tortillas, diced onions, remaining chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and salsa as desired.

Notes

If you're using a gas grill, set half of the burners to high and leave the others off for two-zone grilling.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
727	Calories
23g	Fat
76g	Carbs
51g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	727
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g	30%
Saturated Fat 7g	36%
Cholesterol 112mg	37%
Sodium 922mg	40%
Total Carbohydrate 76g	28%
Dietary Fiber 6g	21%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 51g
Vitamin C 10mg	49%
Calcium 114mg	9%
Iron 8mg	42%
Potassium 796mg	17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

Notes

Read More

More Serious Eats Recipes