Mexican food is always a favorite in my house, and I constantly find myself making recipes such as chicken enchilada casserole, chipotle barbacoa, chicken taquitos and steak fajitas. I happen to love fajitas; they’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and the whole family can customize them to their own tastes. This steak fajita marinade is my go-to for perfect fajitas each and every time. Looking for more great marinade recipes? Don’t miss my teriyaki marinade or BBQ chicken marinade!
Steak Fajita Marinade Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need olive oil, water, lime juice, sugar, salt, cumin, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, soy sauce and pepper.
How Do You Make Steak Fajitas?
Place all of the marinade ingredients in a bowl or resealable bag. Stir well to combine, then add steak and veggies to the bowl or bag. Cover the bowl or seal the bag, and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or up to 8 hours for maximum tenderness. Remove the steak and vegetables from the bag and grill or pan sear as desired. Let the steak rest, then cut it into thin slices and serve with the veggies.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
This recipe works best with whole steaks. I do not recommend slicing the beef before it goes into the marinade. You can use whatever fajita vegetables you like in the marinade. I typically do a combination of onion, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers and poblano peppers. I recommend marinating the meat for 6-8 hours for the best results. Be sure to let the steak rest after it’s cooked, then cut it against the grain into thin slices. This recipe makes enough marinade to coat one pound of steak and 2 cups of sliced vegetables. Serve plenty of toppings on the side such as black beans, charro beans, sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, or diced avocado, Mexican rice, diced tomatoes or fresh cilantro. Don’t forget the corn tortillas or flour tortillas!
Flavor Variations
This recipe is delicious as-is, but you can certainly customize the flavors to your tastes.
Fresh Herbs: Feel free to add a handful of herbs such as chopped cilantro leaves or sliced green onions. You can also add dried herbs such as dried oregano. Hot & Spicy: If you prefer a spicy marinade, add a few dashes of hot sauce or minced canned chipotle peppers to taste. Citrus: While lime juice is a classic pairing with Mexican food, you can add some lemon or orange juice to the mix for a different flavor. Even pineapple juice is a great option! Protein: This marinade also works with other types of protein such as shrimp, chicken breast or pork tenderloin.
Once you try this steak fajita marinade, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis for a dinner that the whole family will love.
