Flank Steak Tacos

These flank steak tacos are made with a simple marinade of citrus, garlic and spices then grilled to perfection! Pile the steak into a tortilla for a homemade taco that everyone loves.

It’s taco night again and I couldn’t be happier! We never get tired of Mexican recipes and other tacos we love include ranch chicken tacos, fish tacos and birria tacos.

Grilled Flank Steak Tacos

This flank steak taco recipe uses simple ingredients and techniques. Best of all, it really delivers in the flavor department! A quick marinade and then a few minutes on a hot grill is all it takes to prepare this mouth-watering meal. The meat is similar to homemade carne asada.

Grilled flank steak is great to serve your family for a quick weeknight dinner. It’s budget-friendly and cooks up fast which makes it perfect for simple meals. Plus, marinated flank steak for tacos is juicy and full of bold flavor!

Flank Steak Taco Marinade

The marinade is similar to my skirt steak marinade which I use when making skirt steak tacos. It starts with lime, olive oil, and minced garlic and then I throw in some chili powder or ground cumin for added flavor. You can marinate the meat for as little as 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. The longer you marinate it, the better the flavor will be!

Ingredients

• Flank steak: This is a budget-friendly cut of beef that is at its best when it is marinated and cooked quickly. This is why grilling is a great method for making these steak tacos!
• Marinade: Lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, chili powder or ground cumin, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. This bright citrus marinade gives the steak an amazing flavor while helping to break down the tough proteins before grilling. Tender beef is the goal!
• Corn tortillas: I used corn tortillas here, but flour tortillas will also work well. 
• Cilantro: If you’re one of those people who think cilantro tastes like soap, (it’s a real thing that affects somewhere between 4 – 14% of people!), then leave it out. 
• Cotija cheese: This is a Mexican cheese that is salty in flavor and crumbly in texture. If you can’t find any cotija, feta cheese makes a good substitute.
• Optional toppings: Sliced tomatoes, diced onions, avocado, lime wedges, pico de gallo, and cilantro lime crema.

How to Make Flank Steak Tacos

• Marinate flank steak for tacos. Grab a large bowl and add all of the marinade ingredients. Mix everything and pour the marinade into a zip-top bag. Add the steak and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Grill steak. While the outdoor grill is heating, remove the meat from the marinade, pat it dry with a paper towel, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat directly on grill grates, or using a grill pan, until the steak has reached the desired temperature. We like ours cooked to medium which takes about 6 minutes per side.
• Rest the steak. Let the grilled meat rest on a plate for 5 – 10 minutes. This time lets the juices settle back into the steak before cutting into it. Slice it across the grain.
• Serve. Prepare toppings while the beef is resting, then place the strips on top of warm tortillas. Pile on the toppings and finally, sprinkle with cilantro, cotija cheese, and a drizzle of fresh lime juice.

Recipe Tips

• Slice thinly against the grain. The grain refers to the direction the muscle fibers run. When you cut across the grain, you are shortening these fibers which help to make the meat more tender and easier to chew.
• Bring steak to room temperature. If you’re marinating the meat in the fridge, remove it 30 minutes before grilling.
• Let the meat rest. It might be tempting to skip this step but don’t! You want it to be juicy throughout.

Serving Suggestions

After grilling, the juicy meat is thinly sliced and piled onto corn tortillas. You could also try my homemade flour tortillas if you prefer.

As for toppings, I suggest tomatoes and diced onions, and you’d love my cilantro lime crema. It’s fun to set the toppings out in small bowls and let everyone create their own masterpieces!

If you have leftover meat from your flank steak tacos, store it in the refrigerator and enjoy the leftovers in a grilled cheese or stir fry it with fajita veggies.

Storage

Make sure you discard any remaining flank steak marinade. You can’t reuse it after the uncooked meat has been marinating in it.

• Store: Store leftover grilled meat in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
• To reheat the steak: Place it in a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of beef broth or water and heat for 1 minute. The broth will help to prevent the meat from drying out.

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