This is our favorite Steak Fajitas Marinade! It has a few secrets that make it extra flavorful and tender. Grilling is optional but produces even more deliciousness!

steak fajitas with peppers and onions in cast iron skillet

Flank Steak Fajitas with the BEST Fajita Marinade!

I love this time of year!!! Isn’t it the best feeling when the seasons are changing? The air is crisp and our favorite steak fajitas marinade is calling your name. You’re going to go crazy for these beef fajitas!!

If you’ve never made homemade steak fajitas, you’ve been missing out! These easy fajitas are super flavorful thanks to the delicious flank steak fajita marinade. The fajita meat marinade featured three kinds of citrus juice, plus tons of spices to really pack in the flavor. 

What is a Fajita?

Fajitas are a dish of Mexican origin consisting of strips of spiced beef or chicken, chopped vegetables, and grated cheese, wrapped in a soft tortilla and often served with sour cream.

steak fajitas with peppers and onions in cast iron skillet

What’s Needed for Steak Fajitas?

This flank steak fajita recipes has two main components: the beef fajita marinade and the peppers and onions that accompany the dish. Here’s what you’ll need to make the BEST fajita marinade: 

  • Orange juice
  • Lime juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Dried herbs and spices
  • Fresh cilantro 

And for the steak fajitas, you’ll need: 

  • Flank steak
  • Bell peppers 
  • Onion
  • Butter
  • Olive oil
  • Taco seasoning 

What’s the Best Steak for Fajitas? 

We use flank steak in this recipe, but top round steak is a very lean cut of beef, plus it packs plenty of fresh flavor. Other lean cuts of beef, like eye of round or top sirloin, will also work in this recipe.

overhead view of beef fajitas with peppers and onions in cast iron skillet

How to Make Steak Fajitas 

This is an incredibly easy beef fajitas recipe. Here are the basic steps for making the steak fajita marinade and the fajitas themselves: 

  1. Whisk together the fajita marinade, then add to a large Tupperware or zip-top bag. Add the steak to the marinade and marinate for at least 2 hours. 
  2. Once marinated, cook the flank steak however you’d like (we’ve given stovetop and grill instructions in the recipe card below). 
  3. Meanwhile, cook the peppers and onions on the stove in a cast iron skillet. 
  4. Serve with your favorite fajita toppings and dig in! 

Can I Use This Fajita Marinade to Make Chicken Fajitas?

If you’d rather make chicken fajitas, I recommend following our One-Skillet Chicken Fajitas recipe instead.  

Can I Prep Steak Fajitas in Advance? 

Yes! The flank steak can sit in the marinade for up to 24 hours, so you can begin the marinating process well in advance. Then, you just have to quickly grill the steak and sauté the onions and peppers day of. 

overhead view of steak fajitas with peppers and onions in cast iron skillet. tortillas, salsa, and guacamole are on the side.

Tips for the BEST Steak Fajitas 

There are a few secrets to fajitas that I’m sure you all want to know.

Tip #1: Don’t Skip the Fruit Juices!

If absolutely necessary, you can double one juice in order to skip the other, but I stand by the recipe, it really is the best when you use all three, orange, lime and pineapple.

Want a little hint about that? We buy the juices (orange and pineapple) and we freeze them in bags in the freezer. We mostly do it for the pineapple juice as we buy it in a can and this way we not only don’t waste any, but we also always have some on hand since it’s not a regular ingredient for us. Lime juice is something we keep on hand, so not as much worry there.

Tip #2: Marinate the Meat

Marinating meat is not a suggestion, it’s part of the recipe. I was going to marinate meat awhile back and someone said I was planning things way too early, but I bet you that our beef fajitas are far more flavorful than those not marinaded. It breaks into all of those muscle fibers, tenderizes and gives loads of flavor.

Tip #3: Season the Onions and Peppers

Add a dash of  homemade taco seasoning to your peppers and onions. Not a lot, we aren’t looking to pack in the spice on the vegetables. Instead, it adds a little something without tasting like seasoning at all. Cade even asked me, “What makes these peppers so much better than the others? They are so good!” I’m telling you, it’s the way to go. The butter doesn’t hurt either. 😉

Tip #4: Buy Fresh Tortillas 

Oh, and the tortillas, buy fresh. Oh please buy fresh. You’d be shocked how much better a fresh tortilla is for fajitas. It’s fantastic.

I could actually go on as you know what else is awesome? Fresh avocado with a crack of black pepper and a dash or red pepper flakes. It doesn’t add heat but it does at another depth and texture which is wonderful in fajitas. And top these steak fajitas with our Restaurant Style Salsa, and you’ll be in heaven!

close up of a flank steak fajita

More Delicious STEAK RECIPES:

Our Favorite Steak Fajitas Marinade

 

Steak Fajitas Marinade

4.29 from 110 votes
Servings: 4 -6
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Marinating Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins

Description

This is our favorite Steak Fajitas Marinade! It has a few secrets that make it extra flavorful and tender. Grilling is optional but recommended!

Ingredients 

For the fajita marinade:

  • 1/4 Cup Orange Juice
  • 1/4 Cup Lime Juice
  • 1/4 Cup Pineapple Juice
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil , (or Canola Oil)
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, , minced
  • 2 1/2 Teaspoons Cumin
  • 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
  • 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/3 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro

For the Fajitas:

  • 2 Pound Flank Steak
  • 3 Bell Peppers, , cored, seeded and sliced (I used a Yellow, Green and Orange pepper)
  • 1 Onion, , sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil, , plus more if needed
  • 1 Teaspoon Homemade Taco Seasoning

Instructions

For the marinade:

  • In a plastic storage bag or baking dish, whisk together all of the marinade, adding the cilantro at the end.
  • Set aside 1/4 cup of the marinade.

For the flank steak:

  • If you wish to cook the flank steak whole, add it to the marinade, cover or seal, and refrigerate for 2-24 hours. Otherwise, slice the meat against the grain very thin and add to the marinade.
  • If cooking the meat in slices: heat a grill to medium high heat and add the meat to the grill, carefully laying it across the grates so it does not fall through.
  • Cook for 2 minutes per side or just until grill marks appear and then remove to the serving dish with the peppers, drizzle with the reserved marinade.
  • If cooking the meat whole: as soon as you place the meat on the grill, turn it down to medium. Cook for 6-7 minutes per side or until desired temperature.
  • Remove to a cutting board and allow to rest with a piece of foil draped over the top for 5 minutes.
  • Slice thin and serve with peppers.

For the Peppers and onions:

  • In a cast iron skillet (we prefer this one from Lodge), over medium heat add the butter and oil.
  • Add the peppers and onions and the seasoning.
  • Once the veggies begin cooking, turn the heat to medium low and while stirring occasionally, allow to cook for about 20 minutes or until golden and tender.
  • Add the meat and serve immediately.

Equipment

Notes

  • To cook indoors: slice the meat thin and marinate. Right before the peppers and onions are ready for serving, remove them from the cast iron and turn the heat to medium high. Add the meat, cooking on one side for about a minute or two, then stir and repeat until the meat is desired temperature. We usually stick with about 4 minutes total so it's not well done. Turn the heat to low and add the peppers and onions back in, cook for another minute and serve.
Will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 516kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 51gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 1419mgPotassium: 1216mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 3581IUVitamin C: 132mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 6mg
Author: Sweet Basil
Course: 100 + BEST Easy Beef Recipes for Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican

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Our favorite steak fajitas marinade has a few secrets that make it extra flavorful and tender. Grilling is optional but produces even more deliciousness!