These easy Steak Fajitas are tender and flavorful, perfect to serve up sizzling with fresh tortillas and tons of toppings. We use the best fajita marinade for the steak, bell peppers, and onions to infuse everything with ultimate flavor. The grilled strips of steak and veggies are easy to assemble for the tastiest fajita recipe ever!

overhead view of a platter of grilled steak fajitas

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What’s in Marinated Steak Fajitas

Grilled steak is a great base for the best fajitas–just add bell peppers, onions, and all your favorite toppings. It’s an easy dinner for any night of the week!

  • Steak: Skirt steak is best for fajitas! Marinating it before grilling will make it super tender.
  • Fajita Seasoning: This blend combines brown sugar, paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, thyme, and some other herbs and spices for the perfect flavor.
  • Soy Sauce: This is the base of our steak marinade. I like to use a low-sodium variety but that’s up to you.
  • Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice adds acidity to the marinade, and a bright and zesty flavor.
  • Orange Juice: Fresh orange juice adds more acidity, which helps break down the tough fibers of the steak so that it becomes soft and tender. Feel free to swap it for pineapple juice.
  • Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds a rich bit of sweetness to the fajita marinade.
  • Garlic: Minced garlic adds savoriness.
  • Jalapenos: Diced jalapenos add some heat to the marinade, but it won’t lead to overly spicy meat and veggies. Be sure to remove the seeds, unless you want more spice.
  • Cumin: Ground cumin adds a little bit of earthiness that balances everything out.
  • Fajita Veggies: The best vegetables for steak fajitas are bell peppers and onions. You can use a mix of colors for your peppers. I recommend white or yellow onions. Cut everything into equally-sized strips.
  • Tortillas: Flour tortillas are best, but you can use corn and other types of tortillas as well.
  • Toppings: Add anything you love–guacamole, sour cream, queso, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, salsas, lime juice, etc.

Pro Tip: To warm tortillas, wrap small stacks in aluminum foil, and place in the oven for a few minutes. You can also warm them individually in a skillet on the stove top, but it’s easier with the oven.

What can I add to this grilled fajitas recipe besides peppers?

Marinated grilled steak, bell peppers, and onions make up the bulk of these easy fajitas. But you can add other vegetables and fillings if you like. Add in some other types of peppers to add more heat, like jalapenos or poblanos (use sparingly).

Add zucchini and others summer squashes, carrots, or cabbage to fill things out. Portobello mushrooms cut into strips also work as a hearty (and healthy) fajita filling–these would be a good substitute for vegetarians.

close up on a platter of marinated grilled steak and strips of fajita peppers and onions with a serving spoon
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What cut of steak is best for fajitas?

Skirt steak is the best and most common cut to use for fajitas. You can also use flank steak or hangar steak.

How long do you marinate steak for fajitas?

I recommend marinating the steak for 2-10 hours before grilling. A long marinating time will make it extra tender and flavorful, but going past the 10 hour mark could lead to a mushy texture.

What temperature should I cook steak for fajitas?

Grill steak until it reaches an internal temperature of 125-130F (it will rise slightly as it rests). This will give you a rare to medium-rare steak, which will be extremely tender and flavorful.

Can I cook steak fajitas on the stovetop?

Yes! If you don’t want to use a gas or charcoal grill, you can use a grill pan or cast iron skillet on the stovetop. Instructions are included in the recipe card below!

How do you cut steak and veggies for fajitas?

After the steak has had time to rest, cut it diagonally, against the grain (through the muscle fibers), into long strips. The bell peppers and onions should be cut into 1/2 inch strips.

a plate of steak fajitas

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store grilled fajita steak and veggies in an airtight container, and keep them in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

If you want to prep these ahead of time, here are a few things you can do:

  • Combine ingredients to make the fajita marinade, and store it in an airtight container up to 4 days.
  • Prep veggies (clean and cut into 1/2-inch strips), and store in the fridge up to 4 days.
  • Grill the steak, and store up to 3 days.
  • And since the steak can be marinated up to 10 hours, throw it in the fridge in the morning, and it’ll be ready to grill when you get home from work!

How to Freeze and Reheat

Store steak fajitas filling in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To reheat. Warm the steak and veggies in the oven (350F, in a baking dish covered with foil), on the stovetop, or in the microwave for just 1-2 minutes.

What to Serve with Grilled Steak Fajitas

Serve sizzling steak fajitas on a platter, along with warm tortillas and toppings, so that everyone can assemble their own as they go–that’s part of the fun! Some toppings to try: avocado corn salsa, street corn, salsa verde, taco sauce, chimichurri, creme fraiche, and shredded cheese.

They’re also great served along with cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, esquites, refried beans, Mexican grilled corn, tortillas chips and poblano queso. A Pineapple Agua Fresca or Orange Margarita would be a refreshing finish!

Or try using leftovers on fajita nachos, or make fajita bowls by combining everything (steak, veggies, toppings) with rice.

close up on strips of fajita steak and veggies
Recipe Card

Steak Fajitas Recipe

4.59 from 115 votes
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Marinate: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: Becky Hardin
sliced steak and vegetables on a plate
A flavorful fajita marinade leads to delicious steak and veggies. Make the easiest steak fajitas for dinner any time!
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Ingredients 

For the Meat:

  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ½ cup fresh lime juice 5-7 limes
  • Juice from 1 large orange
  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 medium cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium jalapeno peppers seeded and diced
  • 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning click for recipe!
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • 2 pounds trimmed skirt steak cut with the grain into 5-inch pieces

For the Fajitas:

  • 3 medium bell peppers red, yellow & orange, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2 –inch-wide strips
  • 1 large green bell pepper stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2 –inch- wide strips
  • 1 large yellow or white onions cut (stem-to-steinto ½-inch-wide strips
  • 12 (8-incflour or corn tortillas warmed

For Serving:

  • Guacamole Pico de Gallo, Mexican Rice, Beans, Sour cream, Cheese, Salsa, Chopped Fresh Cilantro, Lime Wedges

Instructions 

For the Meat & Vegetables:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, canola oil, brown sugar, minced garlic, fajita seasoning, jalapenos, cumin and black pepper. Season to taste with salt.
    ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ½ cup fresh lime juice, Juice from 1 large orange, ½ cup canola oil, 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar, 2 medium cloves garlic, 2 medium jalapeno peppers, 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Kosher salt
  • Pour ½ cup marinade in a large bowl or a gallon-size zip-loc bag; set aside.
  • Transfer the cut steaks to a gallon-sized zip-loc bag and pour the marinade over the steak. Squeeze out excess air from the bag and seal. Massage the marinade over the meat until all the meat is fully coated. Transfer the meat (in the bag or a pan large enough for it to lay flat) and place it in the fridge. Refrigerate 2-10 hours, flipping the bag over often.
    2 pounds trimmed skirt steak
  • When ready to cook, remove the meat from the fridge 15-30 minutes before using. Before cooking the meat, wipe off the excess marinade with paper towels.
  • While the meat marinates, add the cut vegetables to the reserved ½ cup marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to use, stirring occasionally.
    3 medium bell peppers, 1 large green bell pepper, 1 large yellow or white onions

To Cook the Vegetables:

  • 30 minutes before ready to cook, preheat oven to 475°F and arrange the baking rack to the lower-middle position.
  • Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
  • 30 minutes before cooking, if using a charcoal grill, light the charcoal.
  • Remove the meat and vegetables from the fridge.
  • Use paper towels to wipe off the excess marinade from the meat.
  • Use tongs to transfer the vegetables to the prepared baking sheet, shaking off excess marinade as you work.
  • Transfer the vegetables to the oven when the meat is cooked and removed from the grill (or stovetop).
  • Cook the vegetables 4 minutes, toss to redistribute and cook another 4-5 minutes or until fork-tender and slightly charred.

To Grill the Meat:

    …on a Charcoal Grill:

    • If using a charcoal grill: fill one grill chimney with charcoal and light it. When top coals are mostly covered with gray ash, pour the coals over one side of the charcoal grate. Close the grill and let preheat 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grill after the grill preheats.
    • Place the meat directly over the hot half of the grill and leave the lid open.
    • Cook the steak, flipping often, until it is beautifully charred on both sides, about 6-8 minutes total cooking time. The center of the meat should register 125-130°F on an instant-read meat thermometer.

    …on a Gas Grill:

    • Turn half the burners to the highest heat, cover and preheat for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, clean and oil the grate.
    • Place the meat on the hot side of the grill, cover and cook, turning occasionally, until steak has a beautiful char on both sides, about 6-8 minutes total time. The center of the meat should register 125-130°F on an instant-read thermometer.

    …on the Stovetop:

    • Use a 10-12 inch well-seasoned cast iron skillet. If you have a cast iron grill pan, that’s great, if not – a regular cast iron skillet will work.
    • Brush 1-teaspoon canola oil over the skillet and heat it over medium-high heat until pan is sizzling hot. Carefully place the steak in the pan and cook a total of 6-8 minutes or until you get a gorgeous char on both sides. Flip the meat over after 3 minutes or when the beef releases from the pan and cook the other side about 3 minutes. The internal temperature should read 125-130°F on an instant-read thermometer.

    After grilling the steak:

    • Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes (this will allow the juices to redistribute). Slice the meat against the grain.
    • Drizzle with any leftover meat juices and lime juice.
    • Place the meat and vegetables on a large serving platter and serve with warmed tortillas, guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Mexican rice, beans, sour cream, cheese, salsa, chopped fresh cilantro, lime wedges.
      12 (8-incflour or corn tortillas, Guacamole
    • Enjoy!
    Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 35gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 813mgPotassium: 643mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1885IUVitamin C: 82mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 4mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Did you make this? Leave a comment!

    More Fajita Recipes We Love

    Meet Becky Hardin

    Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

    4.59 from 115 votes (100 ratings without comment)
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    37 Comments
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    Alicia Q
    Alicia Q
    October 5, 2024 7:37 pm

    Too sweet if I made this again I’d cut the brown sugar out

    Sara
    Sara
    February 3, 2023 7:46 pm

    Amazing! I cook a lot but have never tried fajitas. We eat a lot of Mexican food in Texas and these are some of the best fajitas I’ve had in a long time. veggies we’re great too. Thanks. Ant wait to make them for company.5 stars

    Jessica
    Jessica
    September 29, 2022 8:46 pm

    I dont usually leave comments on recipes but made this last night and it was sooooooo yummy! I made it exactly as recipe called, grilled the steak and cooked veggies in oven. The meat was good enough to eat on its own with some sides.5 stars

    Diana
    Diana
    February 4, 2022 8:08 pm

    Very good marinade. Only had about 3 hours to let stk sit in this incredibly wonderful liquid. Tasted amazing. Thanks for sharing.5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    February 11, 2022 1:58 pm
    Reply to  Diana

    Thanks for stopping by, Diana!

    Lydia
    Lydia
    October 1, 2021 7:58 am

    Amazing marinade! Question: Are you supposed to cut the steak into strips before or after marinating/cooking? In the ingredients it says 2 pounds of flank steak cut into 5 inch pieces. But in the instructions it says to slice the steak after you take it off the stovetop. Thanks!!5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    October 5, 2021 9:02 am
    Reply to  Lydia

    Cut after cooking!

    Cathy Cassel
    Cathy Cassel
    August 22, 2021 6:22 pm

    Delicious! Everyone loved it. Will definitely be keeping this one in our rotation!5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    August 26, 2021 1:30 pm
    Reply to  Cathy Cassel

    Thanks for sharing, Cathy!!

    JoeM
    JoeM
    July 5, 2021 3:08 pm

    This is my go to and I dont cook well – its loved by everyone. I actually have made this a few times and I found that not cutting the steak pre marinade/ grilling has worked better – but that just me!5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    July 9, 2021 11:19 am
    Reply to  JoeM

    Thanks for sharing, Joe!

    Robin
    Robin
    May 14, 2021 8:16 pm

    Dang sister, you know how to make a marinade. Honestly, I have made both the chicken and steak fajitas and they are seriously good. The marinade is complex and balancedThank you for the truly delightful recipes5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    May 25, 2021 2:57 pm
    Reply to  Robin

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Robin! I hope you’re able to find even more delicious recipes as time goes out!

    Mary V Thun
    Mary V Thun
    May 4, 2021 7:27 pm

    This was a great recipe! My husband asked me if I made this from a kit. He really praised me for such a great dinner. I can’t wait to serve this again. I no longer celebrate Cinco de Mayo so I made it a day early.5 stars

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    May 7, 2021 11:06 am
    Reply to  Mary V Thun

    That’s great! thanks for sharing, Mary!

    Patti
    Patti
    March 19, 2021 3:42 pm

    Will this marinade also work for chicken?

    Becky Hardin
    Becky Hardin
    March 25, 2021 10:51 am
    Reply to  Patti

    I haven’t tried it, but I am sure it would be tasty!