These easy marinated skirt steak tacos are perfect for grilling outdoors or do making inside on a griddle pan! Skirt steak is marinated in an easy mix of fresh lime juice, soy sauce, hot sauce, olive oil, and seasonings. This creates the perfect salty, flavorful mixture and the citrus helps to tenderize the meat. These are best in charred corn tortillas with simple toppings (the beef is so flavorful!)
There’s just something about throwing a big steak on the grill, knowing you’re going to get some flavorful char marks and clean up will be a breeze. Something about grilling outside when it’s warm (and hopefully sunny!) makes it feel like you’re not cooking at all. No grill? This can also be cooked indoors on a griddle top or large grill pan. Just keep in mind this is a long cut of meat.
You might also like these flavorful shredded chicken tacos or my copycat carnitas tacos! These go great with a simple side of steamed rice or top with homemade guacamole. Find all of my beef recipes here for more recipe inspiration!
My Favorite Part Of This Recipe
- Tender, juicy steak: thanks to a simple, flavorful marinade that whips up in just minutes.
- Fast cook time: skirt steak doesn’t take long at all depending on your preferred doneness, making this perfect for weeknights or feeding crowds.
- Great as leftovers: leftover steak can easily be reheated for tacos, pasta, nachos, or sandwiches.
- Family friendly: kids and adults will love this, the meat is flavorful but not too spicy. Spice level can be customized as desired.
- Minimal prep, max flavor: I use a gallon zip top bag to marinade me steak, it’s mess-free and can be tossed when I’m done. Besides for juicing the limes, the other marinade ingredients can quickly be added to the bag with little hassle.
What Is Skirt Steak
Beef skirt steak is a long, thin cut of beef known for quick cooking time. Similar to flank steak, skirt steak nicely absorbs marinades and sauces. This cut can be tough so I always recommend a marinade containing fresh citrus (to help tenderize) and high flavor ingredients like spice blends or hot sauce. Skirt steak does best with a high heat cooking method like grilling or searing.
Key Ingredients
A few simple ingredients make this recipe, see below for any notes or substitutions:
- Beef: skirt steak can be found in most grocery stores. Flank steak or hanger steak can be substituted.
- Olive oil: I prefer extra virgin olive oil, avocado or sesame oil will also work.
- Lime: I always recommend fresh lime juice, bottled can be used in a pinch. Fresh orange juice would also work.
- Hot sauce: any preferred hot sauce can be used, red or green, mild or extra hot. Use what you’d like.
- Seasonings: kosher salt, ground cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder are the seasonings I use, pre-made or homemade taco seasoning mix can be used also.
- Soy sauce: this adds a rich flavor and extra saltiness. Use coconut aminos or tamari instead.
- Tortillas & toppings: flour or corn tortillas are both great or use crispy taco shells. Toppings like onions, cilantro, fresh lime, and cabbage accentuate the chicken.
How to Make The Skirt Steak Tacos
Let’s talk a little about how to make the Easy Marinated Skirt Steak Tacos (Grill or Stove Top) (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Quick Overview:
- Prep marinade and add in steak. Marinade for a few hours.
- Grill or pan fry steak, rest, and slice.
- Assemble tacos.
- In a gallon zip-top bag or large shallow dish combine, olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, hot sauce, seasonings, and skirt steak. Combine evenly and let marinate for 2-3 hours in the fridge.
- After the steak has marinated, remove from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat a gas grill on high, once the temperature gets up to 500 degrees F, add your skirt steak to the grill. Close the lid and cook for 4-6 minutes, flip, and cook for another 4-5 minutes on the other side. The steak should have grill marks and a slight char.
- Once the skirt steak temps at about 125-130 degrees F, remove from the grill and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice the steak against the grain. Warm your corn tortillas and assemble tacos with desired toppings.
For the Stove Top:
- Heat a large griddle pan or flat top over high heat. Keep in mind this is a long cut of meat so you will need a large pan.
- Add your marinated skirt steak and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, keeping heat on high.
- Allow to rest and slice. Assemble tacos.
Tools I Recommend
- Gas Grill: this is the grill I use, it is perfect for casual grilling at home and holds enough for a large crowd or dinner for two.
- Large tongs: long tongs are a must when grilling so you dont burn yourself, I like a set of different sizes.
- Small sheet pans: I use these to set my ingredients on before and after grilling, it’s convenient to bring the tray out to the grill.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
These steak tacos are great on their own or pair with a few of these simple options:
- Steamed white rice or cilantro lime cauliflower rice
- Black beans or refried beans
- Queso or guacamole and chips
- Simple lettuce salad
- Easy cabbage slaw or salad
Beef Skirt Steak Taco Toppings
This beef is great on it’s own or with a few simple toppings, the following should give you some inspiration!
- Diced white or yellow onion
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Thinly sliced green cabbage
- Fresh lime juice (lots!)
- Crumbled queso fresco cheese or cotija cheese
- Guacamole or sliced avocado
- Fresh or pickled jalapeno
- Salsa Verde or Pico De Gallo
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
Recipe FAQs
Grill or sear skirt steak over high heat until medium-rare or medium. Let it rest, then slice it thinly against the grain to avoid chewiness. This cut does best with a high heat and quick cooking time.
Skirt steak cooks quickly, typically 3 to 6 minutes per side over high heat. Go for medium-rare to medium for the best texture.
Try simple fresh ingredients like diced white onion, cilantro, lime, and sliced avocado or guacamole. Pickled red onions, crumbled queso fresco, or salsa can also elevate the flavor.
Corn tortillas are traditional and are my personal favorite, but flour or low-carb tortillas also work. Warm them on the grill for a few seconds before serving, especially if using corn tortillas.
Yes, use a cast iron skillet or grill pan over high heat.
Easy Marinated Skirt Steak Tacos (Grill or Stove Top)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2 lbs. Beef skirt steak, look for outer skirt if available
- 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Soy sauce, or coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup Fresh lime juice, about 3-4 limes
- 2 tbsp Hot sauce, such as Tabasco, Cholula, Franks Red Hot, or Valentina
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp Chili powder
- Corn tortillas
- Toppings, such as, avocado, onion, guacamole, or cilantro
Instructions
- In a gallon zip-top bag or large shallow dish combine, olive oil, soy sauce, lime juice, hot sauce, seasonings, and skirt steak. Combine evenly and let marinate for 2-3 hours in the fridge.1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup Soy sauce, 1/4 cup Fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp Hot sauce, 2 tsp Kosher salt, 1 tsp Garlic powder, 1 tsp Onion powder, 1 tsp Ground cumin, 1/2 tsp Chili powder, 1 1/2 – 2 lbs. Beef skirt steak
- After the steak has marinated, remove from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat a gas grill on high, once the temperature gets up to 500 degrees F, add your skirt steak to the grill. Close the lid and cook for 4-6 minutes, flip, and cook for another 4-5 minutes on the other side. The steak should have grill marks and a slight char.
- Once the skirt steak temps at about 125-130 degrees F, remove from the grill and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Slice the steak against the grain. Warm your corn tortillas and assemble tacos with desired toppings.Corn tortillas, Toppings
Notes
- Heat a large griddle pan or flat top over high heat. Keep in mind this is a long cut of meat so you will need a large pan.
- Add your marinated skirt steak and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, keeping heat on high.
- Allow to rest and slice. Assemble tacos.
Nutrition
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