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Restaurant-Style Skillet Steak Fajitas: Juicy and Flavorful

Close-up of sizzling steak fajitas with colorful peppers and onions in a cast iron skillet.
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Make steak fajitas that taste like they came straight from your favorite Mexican restaurant. This recipe focuses on a flavorful marinade for tender steak and uses a hot skillet to achieve that classic sizzling effect perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs flank steak or skirt steak, sliced against the grain into thin strips
  • 1/4 cup lime juice (freshly squeezed is best)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 large bell peppers (one red, one green), sliced
  • For serving: warm flour tortillas, salsa, guacamole, sour cream

Instructions

  1. Combine the sliced steak with lime juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and minced garlic in a bowl. Mix well to coat the steak. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for best flavor.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet (cast iron works well for that sizzle) over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Remove the steak from the marinade, letting excess liquid drip off. Add half of the steak to the hot skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to your desired doneness. Remove the steak and set it aside. Repeat with the remaining steak.
  4. Add the sliced onions and bell peppers to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp and slightly charred.
  5. Return all the cooked steak to the skillet with the vegetables. Toss everything together for 1 minute to heat through.
  6. Serve immediately while sizzling hot with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • For the best flavor and tenderness, slice your steak against the grain after it has rested slightly.
  • To achieve the restaurant-style sizzle, make sure your skillet is very hot before adding the vegetables and steak in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan.
  • If you are meal prepping, cook the steak and vegetables separately and store them. Reheat together just before serving.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishdiarist.com/steak-fajitas-juicy-skillet-recipe/