Taco night just got better with steak tacos. Easy to make with a flavorful steak taco marinade then pan seared or grilled to perfection and layered on tortillas with toppings!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.
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 marinated, juicy and flavorful grilled top sirloin steak on a warm homemade tortilla although the skillet or oven baked steak works, too!
Steak tacos are one of my favorite variations of tacos and skirt steak tacos, carne asada tacos and flank steak tacos are all vying for a top spot. Piled high with toppings, the ultimate steak taco is the best combination of flavors and textures.
Steak Taco 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
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.
Substitutions and Variations
- An easy steak fajita marinade, flank steak marinade or skirt steak marinade are delicious as well.
- Sugar, honey or maple syrup all can be used.
- 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.
- Try grilled flank steak or easy carne asada instead of sirloin.
- To make grilled steak tacos, simply grill meat over medium-high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from grill and rest before slicing.
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 or chimichurri
- Onion: I prefer red onion, but sweet onions or pickled onions taste great, too.
- Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro adds 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: Or try this creamy cilantro lime crema.
- Avocado: I love adding fresh avocado slices or guacamole.
Love tacos? Try easy Navajo tacos recipe, carnitas tacos or wrap up shredded slow cooker barbacoa meat into a taco shell!
More Taco Recipes
Steak Tacos
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, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons lime juice, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black 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 and serve:
- 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.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Natasha
Super delicious and full of flavor! This steak tacos is definitely one of the best recipes that I have tried. Love it!
Leigh
I made the mistake of serving these steak tacos for Taco Tuesday and now I’m afraid my family is never going to settle for boring ground beef taco meat again, lol. Needless to say, we all thought they were amazing!
jess
These steak tacos were everything that I wanted them to be and more! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe
Cristina Alfeiri
This was a hit with everyone! Delicious!
I Heart Naptime
Yay! So happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the tacos :)
Liz Watson
Have not yet but sound easy and super good!
I Heart Naptime
Hope you love them! :)
Patricia Jones
Wow…..This is an amazing tacos and it looks soo yummy & more delicious also….i can’t wait to try it..Thanks for sharing…!
Kara
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!
Natasha
These were the best steak tacos I have ever made! It was also a hit at home Just super good!
Matt Taylor
So yummy! You can never go wrong with steak tacos! :) So easy to make and super delicious.
Kelsey Farley
Yum!! I can’t wait to give this a try. Can you tell me what lens you use on your camera for food photography?