Skip to content

Celebrate taco night with these juicy steak tacos! Coated in a a flavorful marinade, then served with warm tortillas and all your favorite toppings. A delicious dinner idea that will be on repeat! 

Steak tacos on white plate.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.


Grilled Steak Tacos

Most night we usually make our tacos with taco meat, so when we choose steak instead, it’s always a treat. It has such great flavor and really takes the tacos up a notch. My whole family can never get enough!

Steak tacos are one of my favorite variations of tacos although this chicken tinga, bang bang shrimp taco or this fish taco recipe are all quickly vying for a spot, too!

There’s nothing better than juicy and flavorful top sirloin steak on a warm tortilla. I still remember going to this taco truck in high school that had the best steak tacos and it was always such a treat. Now I can make them at home!

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.

If you want to make the ultimate steak taco, try making homemade tortillas. You can always use oven baked steak as well. YUM!

Steak taco marinade in a glass bowl.

Marinade

The steak taco marinade is a mixture of olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper (amounts included in printable recipe below). An easy steak fajita marinade or skirt steak marinade are delicious as well. I like to pour the 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.

How to make Steak Tacos

  • Heat. Once the meat has had time to marinate, heat the skillet with the remaining olive oil.
  • 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.

Grilling method: 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.

Taco toppings on cutting board.

Steak Taco Toppings

Don’t skimp out on the toppings! That’s the best part. Below are some of my favorites to add. I love pickled onions on my easy carne asada and they would be great here, too! There are so many other toppings that would taste delicious too, like grilled corn, diced tomatoes, fajita veggies or even a drizzle of some creamy cilantro lime dressing.

  • Onion: I prefer red onion to add a little bit of color, but sweet onions taste great.
  • Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro adds the perfect flavor and color.
  • Lime: An extra squeeze of lime juice adds the perfect amount of flavor.
  • Cheese: You can use any type of cheese, but I love using cotija cheese for these tacos.
  • Sour cream: A little dollop goes a long way. A creamy cilantro lime crema also tastes delicious.
  • Avocado: I love adding fresh avocado, guacamole or a creamy avocado lime dressing. It adds the perfect balance.
Steak tacos on a white plate.

Love steak tacos? Try this carne asada tacos recipe or flank steak tacos, next!

Other Favorite Taco Recipes

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!

steak tacos on white plate

Steak Taco Recipe

5 from 8 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Celebrate taco night with these juicy steak tacos! Coated in a a flavorful marinade, then served with warm tortillas and all your favorite toppings. A delicious dinner idea that will be on repeat! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Marinate: 30 minutes
Total Time: 52 minutes
Servings: 4

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

    Grilling: You could also cook the steak on the grill over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes per side (or until it reaches desired doneness). Then slice into strips after.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 634mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!



    Let’s connect

    Join our community of over 5 million!

    Featured on

    • Taste of Home
    • Martha Stewart
    • Country Living
    • BuzzFeed
    • Yahoo
    • Food Network
    • Today