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A new family favorite is right around the corner with my Steak Fajita Marinade Recipe! This simple yet flavorful marinade not only enhances the taste of beef fajitas but also naturally tenderizes the steak so every bite is juicy and delicious.
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Beef Fajita Marinade
Dreaming of fajitas starts the moment I pick up a beautiful flank or skirt steak. Imagining it transformed into tender, marinated strips of beef makes me hungry just at the thought! Grilled with bell peppers and onions, it's my favorite way to cook these cuts of steak.
The magic begins with the marinade. Combining tangy lime juice, aromatic spices, herbs, garlic, and smooth olive oil, this easy steak fajita marinade tenderizes the steak and imbues every bite with flavor.
When the steak is marinated just right, it's fajita time! No fajita is complete without sauteed veggies, toasty corn or flour tortillas (see my guide on How to Warm Tortillas!), plenty of crema, and a heaping side of guacamole. With a marinade this good, you can't help but add more and more flavor!
Fajita Marinade Steak Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Essential in the marinade for tenderizing the steak and enhancing the spice flavors.
- Lime Juice: Brings a zesty, citrus note to the marinade, aiding in tenderizing the meat. Fresh lemon or orange juice are suitable substitutes.
- Minced Garlic: Adds a potent, fragrant layer to the steak marinade. A garlic press simplifies this, or you can opt for garlic powder, using ¼ teaspoon for each clove.
- Ground Cumin: Provides a distinctive warm, earthy note to the seasoning mix.
- Chili Powder: Lends a spicy kick and smoky undertone, introducing a bit of heat. Cayenne or chipotle powder can be used as substitutes.
- Paprika: Contributes a sweet, smoky edge to the marinade, enriching the flavor profile. Regular paprika is suggested, though sweet, smoked, or hot varieties can be used with flavor variations in mind.
- Dried Oregano: Adds an earthy touch to the marinade, harmonizing with the other spices.
- Salt and Pepper: Simple seasoning that enhances the overall flavor of the marinade. I recommend using kosher salt or sea salt flakes.
Any time I marinate meat, I always use these marinade bags. They make it so easy!
How to Marinade Fajita Steak
- In a small bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and whisk together well.
- Place the steak or meat of choice in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the meat, making sure it's well coated on all sides. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 48 hours.
- Remove the meat from the bag, then cook on a grill or large cast iron skillet, cut into thin slices against the grain, and serve!
Fajita Steak Marinade Tips
- The longer the meat marinates, the better. Feel free to marinate fajita steak for up to 48 hours so that the flavors can permeate the meat completely!
- No need to use a meat mallet! If the steak is properly marinated, the lime juice will take care of tenderizing for you. See my guide on How to Tenderize Steak for more info.
- You can add more seasonings as you see fit, such as cilantro, a splash of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce or additional citrus juices like orange juice.
- For an especially fruity twist, add pineapple juice! Just be careful; if it's fresh, you should only marinade the meat for a maximum of two hours to avoid the enzymes making the meat mushy.
Best Meat for Fajitas
The best thing about this steak marinade is that it's delicious on all sorts of meats! Here are my favorite recommendations:
- Chicken: Marinating chicken breasts is a great way to make them juicy and flavorful! Pound them thin or butterfly the chicken breasts, then marinate them for 30 minutes to 6 hours for perfect chicken fajitas.
- Beef: When making steak fajitas, flank steak and skirt steak are the ideal cuts. These cuts of beef are budget friendly, large, and nice and thin, perfect for marinating and grilling. However, sirloin steak will also work great!
- Pork: Pork fajitas are absolutely delicious! Choose thick-cut boneless pork chops or boneless pork ribs for easy slicing. If the meat is especially thick, poke holes in it with a knife to ensure it fully marinates.
- Shrimp: Lime juice and chili are perfect seasonings for shrimp, and who can say no to shrimp fajitas? Just be sure to de-vein and clean the shrimp before marinating them. Try my Air Fryer Shrimp for an easy way to cook shrimp fajitas!
Fajita Marinade Steak FAQ
You can absolutely use this marinade for chicken, or any meat of choice! Just be sure not to over-marinate softer meats like shrimp, chicken, or fish, as they can start becoming mushy. Limit the marinating time to overnight at most.
As this marinade isn't too acidic, beef can be left in the marinade for up to 48 hours. Any longer, and the lime juice can start running the risk of breaking down the meat and making it mushy.
Yes, you can freeze the meat in the marinade! This is a great way to prep meals ahead of time, as the meat will marinate perfectly while it thaws in the fridge. Whip up a few bags of marinated meat, store them in the freezer, and put them in the fridge the night before you want to serve them for easy, flavorful meat!
Mexican-Inspired Recipes
Marinades
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Steak Fajitas Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 4 Tablespoons Lime juice - about 2 limes
- 2 cloves Garlic - minced
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Chili powder
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- Salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients except for the steak, and whisk together well.¼ cup Olive oil,4 Tablespoons Lime juice,2 cloves Garlic,1 teaspoon Cumin,1 teaspoon Chili powder,2 teaspoons Paprika,½ teaspoon Dried oregano,Salt and pepper
- Place the steak or meat of choice in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Then pour the marinade over the meat, making sure it's well coated on all sides. Seal the bag or cover the dish, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but up to 48 hours.
Notes
- Marinate steak for up to 48 hours for enhanced flavor.
- No meat mallet necessary; lime juice tenderizes the meat.
- Customize with additional seasonings like cilantro or soy sauce.
- Add pineapple juice for a fruity twist, but limit marinating to two hours to avoid mushiness.
- Consult my Steak Fajitas Recipe for cooking instructions.
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