Taco night just got better with steak tacos! Easy to make with a flavorful marinade then pan seared or grilled to perfection and layered on tortillas with all your favorite toppings.
More Mexican recipes we love include skirt steak tacos, this carne asada tacos recipe or flank steak tacos!
Table of Contents
Easy Steak Tacos
Most taco Tuesdays we use taco meat, so when we choose steak instead, it’s always a treat. There’s nothing better than juicy and flavorful grilled top sirloin steak on a warm homemade tortilla although stovetop or oven baked steak works, too!
Steak tacos are one of my favorite variations of tacos although this chicken tinga, bang bang shrimp tacos or this fish taco recipe are all quickly vying for a spot, too! Piled high with toppings, the ultimate steak taco is the best combination of flavors and textures.
Steak Tacos and Marinade Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Steak taco marinade: Olive oil, soy sauce, fresh lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, ground cumin and salt and pepper.
- Steak: I used a well marbled sirloin steak, you can cut it into pieces or leave whole.
- For serving: 6-inch flour or corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, lime, cotija cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole
Substitutions and Variations
- An easy steak fajita marinade, flank steak marinade or skirt steak marinade are delicious as well.
- Try grilled flank steak or easy carne asada instead of sirloin.
- Sugar, honey or maple syrup all can be used.
- Instead of lime juice, try lemon juice.
- If you like some spice, add chili powder or cayenne pepper to the marinade.
- Additional spices that work well in the marinade include oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, ancho chili powder or smoked paprika.
How to Make Steak Tacos
- Marinate. Pour steak taco marinade ingredients into a large zip top bag or bowl and shake or stir until the mixture is combined. Then add the meat pieces and let marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 5 hours). The longer it marinates, the more flavor the steak will have.
- Heat. Once the meat has had time to marinate, heat skillet with the remaining olive oil to pan sear the steak pieces. Alternately, preheat the grill.
- Cook. Add the steak and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until the meat has browned.
- Serve. Serve in warm tortillas with favorite toppings of choice.
Tips for the Best Tender Beef
- Marinate overnight: For maximum flavor marinate the steak overnight!
- Internal temperature: The beef steak tacos should be cooked to 145°F. I like to remove mine at 135°F and then let the meat rest to lock in juices. This also ensures it is not overcooked.
- Slice against the grain: The best tender beef is cut against the grain. Before marinating, find the muscles fibers in the meat and cut across them not with them.
- Bring steak to room temperature. Whether you cook steak on stovetop or grill, bring it to room temperature 20-60 minutes before cooking it. This helps it to cook evenly.
Steak Taco Toppings
Below are some of my favorite toppings to add. There are so many other toppings that would taste delicious too, like grilled corn, salsa, chimichurri or fajita veggies.
- Onion: I prefer red onion to add a little bit of color, but sweet onions or pickled onions taste great, too.
- Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro adds the perfect flavor and color as would pico de gallo.
- Lime: An extra squeeze of lime juice adds the perfect amount of flavor.
- Cheese: You can use any type of Mexican cheese, but I love using cotija cheese for these tacos.
- Sour cream: A little dollop goes a long way. A creamy cilantro lime crema or cilantro lime dressing also tastes delicious.
- Avocado: I love adding fresh avocado, guacamole or a creamy avocado lime dressing. It adds the perfect balance.
FAQs
If you’d prefer to cook the steak on the grill, simply grill the meat over medium-high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes per side until brown. Then remove from the grill, let rest for a few minutes and then slice into strips.
You can use flour or corn tortillas for these tacos. The tortillas will make or break a good taco though, so make sure you’re buying them fresh. If I’m using flour tortillas, I love to buy the uncooked tortillas and warm them on the skillet before serving. If I’m buying corn tortillas, I like to wrap them in a damp paper towel and then microwave them for about 10 seconds before serving.
Store leftover steak in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 days.
Reheat steak in a skillet with a small amount of oil just until warmed through.
Love tacos? Try easy Navajo tacos recipe, carnitas tacos or wrap up shredded barbacoa meat into a taco shell!
More Favorite Taco Recipes
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Steak Taco Recipe
Ingredients
Steak taco marinade
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil , divided
- 2 Tablespoons light soy sauce , or coconut aminos
- 2 limes , juiced (about 2 Tablespoons)
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar , or honey
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 ½ pounds sirloin steak , cut into bite sized pieces
For serving: 6" flour or corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, lime, cotija cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole
Instructions
Steak taco marinade:
- Place 3 Tablespoons olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper in a large bowl or gallon-sized zip-top bag. Stir or shake until combined. Place meat inside the bag and let sit for at least 30 minutes (up to 5 hours). If you have more time, let it sit longer.
Prepare steak
- Place the remaining 1 Tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the steak and cook until the meat has browned (about 5-6 minutes), or has reach desired doneness. Alternatively you can grill the whole steak until it reaches desired doneness and then slice just before serving.
- Serve steak in warm tortillas with desired toppings.
Notes
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: Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Mexican, Stovetop
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 was a hit with everyone! Delicious!
Yay! So happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the tacos :)
Have not yet but sound easy and super good!
Hope you love them! :)
Wow…..This is an amazing tacos and it looks soo yummy & more delicious also….i can’t wait to try it..Thanks for sharing…!
We served this like traditional tacos with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, ect. A delicious change up from our regular tacos. I’ll be making these often!
These were the best steak tacos I have ever made! It was also a hit at home Just super good!
So yummy! You can never go wrong with steak tacos! :) So easy to make and super delicious.
Yum!! I can’t wait to give this a try. Can you tell me what lens you use on your camera for food photography?