This Marinated Flank Steak Recipe with soy sauce, lime and orange juice, cilantro, garlic, chipotle, and seasonings makes an incredibly tender and flavorful steak. Cooked quickly under the broiler or on the grill, this steak tastes amazing on its own or served in tacos, fajitas, bowls, or salads.
What we love about Marinated Flank Steak
I was inspired to develop this recipe after a visit to a taco shop with my daughters, and we loved their carne asada tacos topped with guacamole. Flank steak is one of our favorite steak choices here, and this marinated flank steak is incredibly flavorful. I already had a marinated flank steak recipe that used soy sauce and lime, and decided to add some more ingredients to make the steak more southwest style. The marinade gives the flank steak so much flavor, and the acidity in the citrus really tenderizes the meat. The marinade helps to keep the steak moist as it cooks and the result is fantastic.
We love this steak on its own, or it’s a fantastic choice with tacos, fajitas, bowls, or salads. Looking for other southwest recipes? Try our Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade or our Cilantro Lime Chicken with Rice! For more beef recipes, try our Shredded Beef Sliders.
What you need to make this Flank Steak Marinade
You will need the following ingredients:
- Flank steak
- Soy Sauce
- Lime juice
- Orange juice
- Cilantro
- Garlic
- Diced chipotle peppers in adobo
- Coarse salt
- Coarsely ground black pepper
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Dried oregano
- Optional: tortillas and toppings for tacos or fajitas
Marinated Flank Steak Recipe Substitutions
I know what it’s like when you don’t have everything on hand and the last thing you want to do is run to the store and pick something up. Here are a few ideas to substitute items on the ingredients list if needed:
- A skirt steak or flat iron steak could substitute for flank steak.
- Premade taco seasoning could be used as a substitute for the dry seasonings listed in the marinade for faster preparation although the final taste may differ.
- The steak can also be grilled over medium-high heat for the same length of time instead of broiled.
Step-by-step Instructions
Step 1. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, minced garlic, diced chipotle peppers, 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
Step 2.Using a 2-gallon Ziploc bag or a casserole dish, place steak and marinade in the bag or dish completely covered and sealed. Marinade in the fridge for 1-4 hours, turning steak to the other side halfway through. (If only marinating for an hour, you can keep it at room temperature).
Step 3. 30 minutes before cooking, remove the steak from its marinade and place it on a cutting board. Pat dry with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper and let it sit at room temperature.
Step 4. Broil the steak about 5-6 inches from the heat for 7 minutes on each side. Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing. With a sharp knife, thinly slice the steak at a slight angle against the grain. Serve warm.
Tips
- If you make tacos with the flank steak, for the tortillas, we like the steak in fajita-sized flour tortillas or super-sized corn tortillas. Mission brand carries the larger corn tortillas, and various brands carry the fajita-sized flour tortillas. Fajita-sized flour tortillas are slightly smaller, about 6 inches instead of the typical 8 inches, and the larger corn tortillas are about 6 inches as well. Both the corn and flour 6-inch tortillas work well for the longer flank steak slices. Smaller or larger tortillas can be used, the 6-inch ones were just an ideal size.
- I love these 2 .5 gallon-sized sealable bags for marinating larger amounts of meat. You can get them at your local grocery store if you haven’t looked for them before. I love them with this recipe and for larger amounts of meat.
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Frequently Asked Questions
| How to store and reheat flank steak? |
| a. Cover and refrigerate once cooled. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. The USDA recommends that cooked beef be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days and in the freezer for 2-3 months. Cooked beef does not last as long in the freezer as raw beef. b. Keep the steak at room temperature while you preheat the oven. Place the steak on a cooling rack over a baking sheet so air circulates on both sides. Warm at 250 for 20-30 minutes. Reheating flank steak at a low temperature helps retain the juice in the steak. You can also sear steak in a little oil on a hot pan for 2-3 minutes per side. Microwaving until warm in the microwave is also a possibility, checking at 30-second intervals. You just don’t want too high of a heat for too long to avoid having the meat be dry. |
| What can I serve with Marinated Flank Steak? |
| If you decide to serve the steak as tacos or fajitas, common toppings include salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, guacamole, sour cream, cilantro sprigs, lime wedges, cabbage or lettuce, cooked onions and peppers, shredded cheese, cotija cheese, or avocado crema. Sides that are great with this steak include: rice, refried beans or black beans, tortilla chips and salsa or pico de gallo, salad with cilantro ranch dressing, corn salad, or avocado salad. |
Marinated Flank Steak Recipe
6
servings14
minutes1-4
hours1-4
hoursThis Marinated Flank Steak Recipe with soy sauce, lime and orange juice, cilantro, garlic, chipotle, and seasonings makes an incredibly tender and flavorful steak. Cooked quickly under the broiler or on the grill, this steak tastes amazing on it’s own or served as tacos, fajitas, or in bowls or salads.
Ingredients
1 ½- 2 pounds flank steak
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cup chopped cilantro (about ½ bunch of cilantro)
2 teaspoon minced garlic cloves
2 teaspoons diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 teaspoons coarse salt, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper, divided
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Optional: tortillas and toppings for tacos or fajitas
Directions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, minced garlic, diced chipotle peppers, 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Using a 2-gallon Ziploc bag or a casserole dish, place steak and marinade in the bag or dish completely covered and sealed. Marinade in the fridge for 1-4 hours, turning steak to the other side halfway through. (If only marinating for an hour, you can keep it at room temperature).
- 30 minutes before cooking, remove the steak from its marinade and place it on a cutting board. Pat dry with a paper towel and sprinkle both sides with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper and let it sit at room temperature.
- Preheat the broiler (most ovens are about 500 degrees Fahrenheit.)
- Place steak on a baking sheet, lined with foil for easy cleanup if desired.
- Broil the steak about 5-6 inches from the heat for 7 minutes on each side. Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
- With a sharp knife, thinly slice the steak at a slight angle against the grain. Serve warm.
Notes
- The steak can also be grilled on medium-high heat on the grill for the same amount of time on each side. If you want your steak rare or medium rare, cook for 4-6 minutes on each side or check with a meat thermometer, 125 degrees Fahrenheit is rare to medium rare.
- This marinade recipe makes enough for a 1-2.5 pound flank steak, so if you can only find a 1 pound steak, or an over 2 pound steak, the marinade will be enough.
- After about 2 hours using a citrus marinade, the lime juice can start to break down the meat, so 1-4 hours of marinating time is recommended when marinating with citrus. I typically marinate this steak for 3-4 hours, and it has great flavor.
That marinade sounds like flavor magic! Love how versatile this steak is for tacos, bowls, or just straight off the grill!
Thank you so much Madhu! It really is so flavorful. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and for the great feedback!
So tender and juicy! Awesome recipe. Thanks.
Thank you so much! We enjoy this steak on it’s own or it tacos and other things. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, so glad you like it!
I tried this recipe and came out just perfect! Thanks for sharing it 🙂
I love hearing this! So glad you tried the steak and enjoyed it! Thanks for the great feedback and review!
I love the added flavor of the citrus in this marinade. It’s perfect.
Thank you for the great feedback! The marinade really does have great flavor and I’m so glad to hear you like it!
Loved this marinade with the chipotle. Our fajitas were amazing. Thanks.
I’m so glad you loved the marinade. We love this steak with tacos/fajitas and the marinade really does tenderize and give flavor to the steak. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!