Sizzle up my juicy skirt steak recipe with the best sweet and savory 4-ingredient marinade! It's quick, easy, and tender every single time.
❤ With love and full tummies ~ Mama Bear ❤
- ~ * ~ * ~ * ~Let's Get Cooking!~ * ~ * ~ * ~✨Share this post and let’s spread the joy of authentic home cooking! ✨Servings: 4 (1/4 steak) | 1.2 net carbs | 24.6 g Protein | Total Cook Time 3 hrs 10 Minutes
- Why You'll Love this Recipe:
- Juicy, tender steak – Most of my steak recipes use my trusty stovetop-to-oven method, but since this cut is so thin, the easiest and best way to cook skirt steak is the stovetop alone. A quick sear creates a golden crust with all the juices and flavors locked inside.
- Flavorful marinade – The most important part is to tenderize the beef, and my marinade for skirt steak does this beautifully. But I also love the blend of sweet, savory, and umami flavors. And you only need 4 main ingredients for it, plus salt and pepper.
- Cook to your liking – With my handy time chart, you never have to overcook (or under cook) your steaks again. And since we’re using the stovetop, you don’t have to worry about the weather being nice enough to grill.
- Family friendly - everyone will love this of all ages.
- Versatile - make a bowl and throw in the traditional Chipotle Bowl ingredients like rice, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, pico and beans (if your not KETO)
- Ingredients :
- 1/4 cup Olive oil (plus 1 tablespoon additional for searing)
- 2 tbsp Coconut aminos (or low sodium soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 1 lb Skirt steak (1/2 inch thick, cut crosswise into 2 large pieces)
- Instructions :
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, coconut aminos or soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Place the steaks in a gallon zip lock bag and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag and move the marinade around to coat well.
- Marinate skirt steak in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, but no more than 24 hours. (The meat can get mushy after that.)
- Remove the steak from the marinade and discard the marinade. Pat the surface dry.
- Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s very hot (a drop of water added to it should sizzle away), add a tablespoon of olive oil.
- Add the skirt steak to the pan and sear for amount on chart below.
- NOTE: For a nice sear, due to the short cook time, do not move the steak around except to flip. The time will vary depending on your steak thickness and pan, so use a meat thermometer to be sure – 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) for rare, 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) for medium rare, 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium, 150 degrees F (66 degrees C) for medium well, and 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) for well done. Steak temperature will increase by an additional 5 degrees when resting in the next step.
- Transfer the steak to a cutting board or plate. Tent with foil and rest for 5 minutes. Then, slice thinly against the grain to serve.
Ingredients Notes :
The Steak:
- I highly recommend getting outside skirt steak, which will be labeled as such. Sometimes I have to ask the butcher for this cut.
- Even though it costs a bit more than inside skirt steak, the difference in tenderness is huge. It’s also usually a bit thicker, which means it’s harder to overcook it. The inside variety is more tough and chewy, but if that’s all you’ve got, it still turns out pretty great with a good marinade like this one.
Skirt Steak Marinade:
The marinade in my skirt steak recipe doesn’t have too many ingredients, but each is very important to make it tender and juicy. You’ll need:
- Olive Oil – For the skirt steak marinade and for searing. It brings out the flavors and helps you get that nice, golden sear. Avocado oil is a good substitute.
- Coconut Aminos – This adds a sweet, savory, and umami flavor all in one. You can use reduced sodium soy sauce instead, but coconut aminos is my fave because it’s sweeter and less salty.
- Lemon Juice – An acidic ingredient is super important for tenderizing the meat. I keep bottled lemon juice on hand for recipes like this one where it doesn’t make much difference. Lime juice, balsamic vinegar (similar to my balsamic steak marinade), or really any kind of vinegar will have a similar tenderizing effect, with different flavors.
- Garlic – I prefer fresh minced garlic cloves, but you can use 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic as a shortcut.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – My rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper per pound of meat, so adjust accordingly. Use a bit less if you opt for soy sauce instead of coconut aminos.
- Expert Tips :
- Cut the steak to fit your pan. Skirt steak (especially outside skirt steak) is usually pretty long, so it won’t fit into your pan whole. I always cut it crosswise into 2 pieces to fit in my skillet, though sometimes it comes that way from the store.
- Choose the right skillet. I use my 12-inch cast iron skillet to cook both pieces at the same time. If you don’t have one that big, you may need to cut the steak into shorter pieces and cook in batches. But I highly recommend cast iron for the best sear!
- Marinate overnight if you can, but don’t overdo it. I’ve found that 3 hours is the bare minimum, but for the most tender marinated skirt steak, overnight is better. Just don’t go over 24 hours, or the meat starts to get mushy.
- Preheating your pan is crucial. This ensures a good sear and prevents sticking. You’ll know it’s ready when a drop of water sizzles away instantly.
- Use tongs to flip the steak easily. Since it’s so long and thin, any sort of turner will be a challenge.
- After resting, slice thinly against the grain. This breaks up the tough muscle fibers, making each bite even more tender. The grain usually runs across in the short direction (look at the lines in my picture above), but I usually find an angle that’s still perpendicular without making the slices excessively long. If you do end up with long slices, you can always cut them shorter afterward to eat, or cut into shorter pieces before slicing thinly.
Storage :
- Store: Pop any leftovers in an airtight container and stash them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. They taste amazing in tacos or my steak salad later!
- Meal Prep: Since you need time to marinate anyway, my skirt steak recipe is perfect for meal prep! Just marinate it the day before and it only takes a few minutes the day-of. If you want to make the marinade more than 24 hours ahead, you can — just wait until the day before to add the steak.
- Reheat: Place the steak in a baking dish, add a splash of broth to the bottom, cover with foil, and warm in the oven at 250-300 degrees F for about 10 minutes. This creates a steamy environment that keeps the meat juicy.
- Freeze: I’m not a big fan of freezing cooked steak, but if you need to, it’ll last up to 3 months in the freezer. It’s pretty handy for tossing into soups, sandwiches, salads, or casseroles. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Source: Wholesum Yum