Learn to make grilled flank steak quickly and easily and enjoy the sizzle of the barbecue all summer long! A bit of salt and pepper is all you need but I’m including a ton of flavor variations too!
There are so many ways to enjoy this beef recipe! Make a steak salad, use it in steak tacos or make steak kabobs.
Table of Contents
- Enjoy Your Flank Steak Grilled!
- Why We Love Grilled Flank Steak
- Ingredients Needed
- How to Grill Flank Steak
- How Long to Grill Flank Steak
- Grilling Tips
- No Grill? No Problem!
- Flavor Variations
- Favorite Dipping Sauces to Use
- Ways to Serve Grilled Flank Steak
- FAQs
- More Grilled Favorites
- Grilled Flank Steak Recipe Printable Recipe
Enjoy Your Flank Steak Grilled!
Grilling flank steak is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a steak dinner throughout the summer. There is nothing better than good old-fashioned grilled meat, am I right?! The sizzle and smoke are the stuff summertime dreams are made of!
It is a budget-friendly cut of beef, so it’s a great choice for feeding a crowd at pool parties, barbecues, and on weekends with the family. It is so versatile that you could serve flank steak tacos as a meal one day and sliced pieces with a dipping sauce as an appetizer the next.
I’m giving you the basic grilling method with just a bit of salt and pepper for seasoning, but you can switch it up any time by adding flank steak marinade, easy steak marinade, or teriyaki steak marinade, to name a few.
Either way, this lean cut of meat will be juicy, tender, and deliciously charred by the time we’re done with it.
Why We Love Grilled Flank Steak
- It’s so easy. There is virtually no prep work with this recipe. Along with a simple salt and pepper seasoning, it’s just a matter of keeping an eye on it at the grill before enjoying the fruits of your barely-there labor.
- Flavorful. I find any type of grilled meat super flavorful just based on the char marks and smokiness alone. I like to use just a bit of salt and pepper to bring out the natural flavor of the meat but you’re welcome to use a dry rub or marinade like I do when grilling carne asada!
- Versatile. Pairs well with all kinds of side dishes. Potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables, salad, bread, you name it. You can also cut it into thin strips and add it to various recipes.
Ingredients Needed
- Flank steak: I use about a pound.
- Salt: Use kosher salt if you can. The size of the crystals is larger than regular table salt which means you are using less salt in the end. It’s also great at drawing out moisture from the meat, without oversalting, which is what we want!
- Pepper: The peppery half of the salt and pepper duo.
How to Grill Flank Steak
- Prep meat. When preparing your meat for the grill, you want to make sure to dry the surface of the meat. Pat with paper towels so that way whatever seasoning you add sticks to it, but also so that it has a nice sear on it. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place on grill. Cook the meat over a preheated grill set at medium-high heat. See below for notes on how long to cook your meat to the desired temperature. Flip halfway and allow it to rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes once it’s done.
How Long to Grill Flank Steak
This is a lean cut of beef so you don’t want to overcook it, that’s for sure!
I like mine medium-rare which is about 6 minutes per side. However, depending on how you like yours, the internal temperature on a meat thermometer should read:
- Medium Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Grilling Tips
- Clean and oil the grill. You don’t want remnants of whatever you were grilling last week on your grilled meat.
- Always place the meat on a hot grill. You want to hear that sizzle! If you place the meat on a grill that’s not hot enough, there’s a good chance it will stick to the grill and overcook your meat by the time you wait for it to heat up.
- Allow the meat to rest before slicing. This way the juices have a chance to settle back into the meat and won’t run out as soon as you slice into it. This helps to keep it nice and moist.
- Use a sharp knife to cut against the grain. Doing so shortens the muscle fibers making the meat even more tender and easy to chew.
No Grill? No Problem!
Grab a baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil. Broil meat in the oven, turning halfway until it’s cooked to desired internal temperature. Simple!
Flavor Variations
- Flank steak marinade
- Teriyaki marinade
- Easy steak marinade
- Steak fajita marinade
- Homemade Italian seasoning
- Steak dry rub
- Fajita seasoning
- Taco seasoning
Favorite Dipping Sauces to Use
If you’re not using a ton of seasoning or a marinade, there is always a way to add extra flavor and that’s to provide a variety of condiments for people to pick from!
- Dijon mustard or A1 sauce is sometimes all you need!
- Homemade BBQ sauce, made with ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoning.
- Chimichurri sauce, made with red wine vinegar, fresh garlic, and fresh herbs like oregano, and parsley.
- Teriyaki sauce, made with low sodium soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oil, honey, and a few additional ingredients.
Ways to Serve Grilled Flank Steak
As mentioned above, you can enjoy it sliced with a dipping sauce, which is the way my kids like to eat it!
You could also use a steak fajita marinade and whip up some sizzling steak fajitas. This is a great way to use up leftovers too!
Or you could serve it with some sides like these:
- Pasta: Easy parmesan mushroom gnocchi, spaghetti pesto, or easy homemade alfredo are all great choices.
- Rice: A quick and easy way is to learn how to cook rice in an Instant Pot, or you can use the stovetop method of course. If you want to add a little flair to your rice, I suggest trying cilantro lime rice or easy rice pilaf for a change!
- Potatoes: Greek potatoes, garlic mashed red potatoes, rosemary roasted potatoes are some of my favorites to serve with this dish.
FAQs
It is! It cooks quite quickly, so it’s great for getting dinner on the table fast. This is part of why grilled flank steak is one of my favorite recipes for busy weekdays!
You definitely can. I like to move anywhere from medium-high to high heat depending on the thickness of the cut. If using high heat, just keep an eye on it and check at the 5-minute mark. If you’re using a grill pan rather than directly on grill grates, then you are free to use a higher heat.
Being careful not to overcook it is essential, especially when you’re not using a marinade to help tenderize it. If you do use a marinade, using one with an acid such as lime juice, lemon juice, or balsamic vinegar helps to break down the fibers. Including olive oil or vegetable oil helps to keep it moist at the same time.
For more beef recipes try beef tenderloin, steak in the oven, sirloin steak or steak and potatoes!
More Grilled Favorites
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Grilled Flank Steak Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Season each side generously with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place steak on the grill and cook to desired internal temperature (about 6 minutes per side for medium rare (130°-140°F), depending on thickness of steak). See notes for cooking temperatures.
- Let rest for 10 minutes to allow the juices to absorb and keep the meat tender.
- Slice against the grain and drizzle with desired sauce to serve.
Notes
- Medium Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beef, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Grilling, Grilling, Low Carb, Nut-Free, Whole 30
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!