Steak Fajitas

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With an easy homemade fajita seasoning, a simple citrusy marinade, and lots of colorful veggies, Steak Fajitas have never been easier or more delicious!

Steak fajitas in a white serving dish.


 

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for steak fajitas.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Fajita seasoning: This recipe uses my favorite homemade blend. For this recipe, I’ve portioned out exactly what you need to make this recipe if you don’t already have a jar on hand.
  • Steak: The recipe calls for flank steak, but you can use rump or skirt steak, too.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like 1 teaspoon).
A bowl of fajita seasoning.
  1. To a large zipper-top plastic bag, add steak, cilantro, lime juice, and fajita seasoning. Mash until steak is evenly coated. Marinate at least 30 minutes (room temperature) or up to 1 hour (refrigerated).
Steak being marinated in a Ziploc bag.
  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add steak and cook, without moving, until crispy and browned on one side, about 3 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, about 3 to 5 minutes longer. Using tongs, stand each piece on a cut side and cook, turning as necessary, until all cut sides are browned and until meat registers 130 to 135 degrees F (for medium rare) or 140 to 145 degrees (for medium), 3 to 8 minutes.
Steak searing in a black skillet.
  1. Transfer steak to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before cutting into strips (do not discard fat in skillet). Slice steak pieces thin against grain.
Steak being marinated in a Ziploc bag.
  1. Meanwhile, to the skillet with the fat over medium-high heat, add bell peppers and onions and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
Sliced vegetables in a black skillet.
  1. Push peppers and onions to one side and add sliced steak back to skillet for serving.
Steak and veggies in a black skillet.
  1. Serve with tortillas and your favorite toppings.
Steak fajitas in a white serving dish.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: Although you start with 2 pounds of raw steak, you’ll have closer to 1 or 1 ½ pounds of cooked steak after cooking. This recipe will make at least 4 servings (1 cup EACH steak and vegetables per serving).
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: Make the seasoning well in advance and marinade the steak up to 1 hour before you want to start cooking.
  • Favorite toppings for fajitas: Sour cream, hot sauce (such as Cholula and Tabasco), diced avocado or guacamole, minced fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.
Chicken and steak fajitas on two serving platters.
Platters of Steak and Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, tortillas, and toppings.

Recipe FAQs

What is the best pan for fajitas?

A cast-iron pan is a great choice because it can cook at high temperatures and give you restaurant-quality fajitas. Other great options: carbon steel pans or anodized aluminum pans. Stay away from non-stick; it can’t take the heat.

How do you warm tortillas?

Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add a few tortillas in a single layer it’s okay if they’re touching a little bit) and heat until softened on one side, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and heat on the other side for another minute or so. Wrap in a clean kitchen towel or foil (or a hand-embroidered tortilla towel, if you have one).

What is the best doneness temperature to cook steak?

I swear by my instant-read meat thermometer, and follow these temperature guidelines for any beef preparation:
Rare: 120 to 125 degrees F
Medium Rare: 130 to 135 degrees F
Medium: 140 to 145 degrees F
Medium Well: 150 degrees F
Well: 160 degrees F
While many chefs (and I) prefer a slightly lower temperature for juicer, more tender beef, the USDA has a more conservative minimum safe cooking temperature of 145 degrees F. Cook to your desired doneness level.

What is “carryover cooking”?

When you pull meat off the stove or grill, the internal temperature will rise a few degrees because of what we call “carryover cooking.” Letting the meat rest is crucial to achieving juicy, perfectly cooked meat. If you cut the steak too soon, all the juices will flow out onto the cutting board.

Mexican Rice

Learn the secret to making restaurant-style Mexican Rice at home. It’s always perfect: tender, delicious, never sticky. Whether you are making dinner for the family or feeding 100, this recipe works every time and it tastes exactly the way you want it to!

55 minutes
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Steak fajitas in a white serving dish.

Steak Fajitas

With an easy homemade fajita seasoning, a simple citrusy marinade, and lots of colorful veggies, Steak Fajitas have never been easier or more delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Calories 438
5 from 5 votes

Ingredients 

For the fajita seasoning (see note 1):

For the marinade:

  • 2 pounds flank steak trimmed and slice lengthwise (with grain) into 4 equal pieces (see note 2)
  • 1/4 cup minced cilantro
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice from 2 limes

For the fajitas:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 large bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, or green) cut into strips
  • 1 large red onion halved and thinly sliced
  • tortillas warmed, for serving
  • sour cream and hot sauce, cilantro, and lime wedges, for serving

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like 1 teaspoon).
  • To a large zipper-top plastic bag, add steak, cilantro, lime juice, and fajita seasoning. Mash until steak is evenly coated. Marinate at least 30 minutes (room temperature) or up to 1 hour (refrigerated).
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add steak and cook, without moving, until crispy and browned on one side, about 3 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, about 3 to 5 minutes longer.
  • Using tongs, stand each piece on a cut side and cook, turning as necessary, until all cut sides are browned and until meat registers 130 to 135 degrees F (for medium rare) or 140 to 145 degrees (for medium), 3 to 8 minutes.
  • Transfer steak to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes before cutting into strips (do not discard fat in skillet). Slice steak pieces thin against grain.
  • Meanwhile, to the skillet with the fat over medium-high heat, add bell peppers and onions and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Push peppers and onions to one side and add sliced steak back to skillet for serving. Serve with tortillas and your favorite toppings.

Notes

  1. Fajita seasoning: This recipe uses my favorite homemade blend. For this recipe, I’ve portioned out exactly what you need to make this recipe if you don’t already have a jar on hand.
  2. Steak: The recipe calls for flank steak, but you can use rump or skirt steak, too.
  3. Yield: Although you start with 2 pounds of raw steak, you’ll have closer to 1 or 1 ½ pounds of cooked steak after cooking. This recipe will make at least 4 servings (1 cup EACH steak and vegetables per serving).
  4. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  5. Make ahead: Make the seasoning well in advance and marinade the steak up to 1 hour before you want to start cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 8ouncesCalories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 51gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 145mgPotassium: 1131mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 4513IUVitamin C: 164mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 5mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. Delicious! Used my instant pot to sauté onions and meat. Added peppers, then 7 min, 15 min natural release. Sautéed again to thicken sauce. Delicious!5 stars

  2. This is the VERY BEST fajitas recipe. I made this the other night, cooked one half to perfect for dinner, cooked the other half a bit rare. Covered and refrigerated a few days then sautéed some onions and peppers, cut up some avocado, warmed up some roasted corn and tossed the sliced up steak in a cast iron skillet with a little olive oil and butter and a squirt or two of lime juice. Arranged it all on a bowl of cilantro lime rice and had the perfect beef bowl!5 stars