If you are looking for an epic Skirt steak marinade to make the best fajitas of your life then read on because this recipe is full of flavor and relatively easy to make with just a few easy-to-find ingredients!

Skirt Steak fajitas are one of my favorite things to make because skirt steak is an economical cut that can easily feed a crowd so you can set up a fajita bar at your next cookout and let your friends and family pile their tortillas high with their favorite toppings. 

lived in San Antonio when I was younger and got spoiled with good Tex Mex at a young age and Fajitas are one of my first food memories. This food memory has lived on with me into my adult years and I’ve developed an epic skirt steak marinade that will now help you create lasting memories over these skirt steak fajitas!!

Why Skirt Steak Vs Flank Steak for Fajitas?

Before we dig into this marinade, let’s first discuss Why Skirt Steak for fajitas versus flank steak? While many people will make their fajitas with flank steak, Texans know that a fajita is only a fajita when made with skirt steak.

Fun Fact: the word “fajita” is a derivation of the Spanish word “faja” which translates to “belt” or “girdle” in English.

Skirt Steak comes from the lower central area of the cow, specifically from the plate to rib area. Skirt steak is ideal for hot and fast grilling and benefits from smoke flavor cooked over charcoal. This cut of meat is great paired with this Chipotle Lime Skirt Steak marinade that tenderizes the meat while adding tons of flavor!

Why This Chipotle Lime Skirt Steak Marinade Makes the Most Flavorful Fajitas

Now, let’s talk about the flavors of chipotle and lime in this skirt steak marinade. This sauce has two core ingredients that make it epic: Chipotle Peppers in Adobo sauce and Lime Juice.

Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeños which means they get the concentrated flavors of jalapeño while simultaneously lending smoke flavor to anything you put them in, making them a flavorful addition to all dishes. In addition, the adobo sauce  is a rich sauce made from vinegar, garlic, onions, paprika and tomato, make a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce a flavor power house!

When I first got into grilling and cooking in my mid to late 20s, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce were one of my greatest culinary discoveries! I wanted to put Chipotle peppers in adobo in ALL THE THINGS (and I still do!) like mayo, marinades, sometimes I even use them in desserts! This culinary staple is a MUST-HAVE in your culinary arsenal!

Next, let’s talk about how Citrus, specifically lime juice, brightens all dishes. The smell of fresh lime juice wakes up your senses while also uplifting them! Citrus also has the unique benefit of tenderizing meat since it is acidic. All marinades need a balance of herbs, spice fat and acid and Lime Juice is one of my preferred acids in all marinades. If you also love Citrus, check out my Mojo Marinade, which is another excellent marinade for proteins!

In this marinade, the Chipotle pepper in adobo is our spice, the lime juice is our acid, garlic is added for depth of flavor and cilantro is added for an earthy, herbacious undertone.

These flavors come together to form the basis for an incredible marinade that will elevate your fajita game!

 

Ingredients for this Chipotle Lime Skirt Steak Marinade

• the juice of 2 limes
• the zest of 2 limes
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, plus 1 tsp sauce
• 1 large bunch cilantro, stems removed
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp salt or to taste

Ingredients for the Skirt Steak Fajitas

• 1.5–2 lbs skirt steak
• 1 onion, sliced in thin strips
• 2 large bell peppers, red/green/yellow or orange- sliced in strips
• 8 tortillas

Toppings for Your Fajita Bar

• 1 avocado (optional), sliced in half- sprinkled with lime juice and sea salt
• 1 package queso fresco (white Mexican cheese), crumbled
• 2 limes, sliced- you can throw these on the grill to make them extra juicy!
• sea salt (to taste)
• pepper (to taste)
• cilantro, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup sour cream or “Crema Mexicana” – Mexican Creme! So good!
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeno- optional pickled jalapenos

 

How to Make this Chipotle Lime Skirt Steak Marinade

1. Combine all marinade ingredients in an immersion blender or food processor.
2. Marinate your skirt steak for at least 1 hour and up to 5 hours.
3. Preheat your grill for medium direct heat, about 350-400 degrees. Using a cast iron skillet, put the skillet on the grill and add the avocado oil. Once the oil gets hot, add the onion and peppers to saute on the grill.
4. Grill the skirt steak on direct heat for 4 minutes per side, or until they begin to lightly develop char marks. Be careful not to overcook as this is a thin cut of meat and keep in mind that the meat will continue to cook after it’s taken off the grill. Grill until you hit an internal temp of 125 degrees (medium rare) keeping in mind that the meat will continue to cook once you take the meat off the grill. 
5. Tent the meat in foil for 5 minutes after it is taken off the grill. Once the onions are translucent, the veggies are ready to be taken off the grill.

Slice the skirt steak AGAINST THE GRAIN in thin strips and serve alongside warmed tortillas and all of your toppings so everyone can build their fajitas as they like!

Substitutions and Variations for this Skirt Steak Marinade and Fajita Recipe

• Flank steak can be substituted for skirt steak but I prefer skirt steak if you can find it!
• I prefer to go Mexican style with my toppings but you can go American Style and opts for shredded cheddar cheese instead of Queso Fresco.
• Always look to buy ORGANIC flour tortillas when making Fajitas because ALL grains are sprayed with Glyphosate as a drying agent (dessicant) and this is a cancer causing chemical. I find Organic tortillas at Trader Joes, Whole Foods and sometimes Costco. 
• GRAIN FREE TACOS: If you don’t do grain, I love Siete Foods Tortillas. Their Cassava Tortillas are my favorite
• KETO/LOW CARB TACOS: you can make no carb tortillas by combining and egg with pork panko (this is panko made from pork rinds, essentially- it is a great no carb flour alternative for those eating low carb or animal based).

Clean Meat Recommendations

Since you “are what you eat” it is important to know where your meat comes from. Here are some of my clean Meat recommendations:

White Oak Pastures:

White Oak Pastures is a six generation, 156-year-old family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. From their website: We take pride in farming practices that focus on regenerative land management , humane animal husbandry, and revitalizing our rural community. We know radically traditional farming creates products that are better for our land, our livestock and our village.

Use my code below to get $20 off your first order.

http://whiteoakpastures.com/grillgirl20

REP Provisions:

REP Provisions sources beef from a network of regenerative farmers that offers clean meat and also offers a line of clean ingredient sauces and rubs. From their website: Our mission is to support local regenerative farmers who are building a more resilient & equitable food system, while restoring the health of our planet. Through our network of verified regenerative farms and ranches, REP Provisions provides greater transparency for conscious consumers who never underestimate the power of their dollar. One box at a time, together we’re generating hope and reclaiming our freedom.

Use my code below for 15% off your order!

Tools Needed

• Stick Blender- I love my cuisinart stick blender (immersion blender) for making marinades. A food processor works well too!
• Mason Jars (optional) – I like to use large pint size mason jars for making my marinades, sauces and salad dressings in. I think they look pretty on the table for serving and they’re also great for storing. The BLUE mason jars (as seen in the picture above) are my favorite to use because I like the pop of color. 
• Grill – It is best to grill the skirt steak but if you don’t have a grill as an alternate you can quickly sear the skirt steak in a cast iron pan on both sides. Be careful not to overcook! 
• Meat Thermometer – you need an instant read digital thermometer for grillig and ALL cooking to ensure you don’t overcook (or undercook) your food. Try my Limited Edition Instant Read Digital Thermometer
• Wood Chips- for adding wood smoke to a charcoal grill. You can also make a wood chip packet and add smoke on a gas grill. 

Tips for Making this Skirt Steak Marinade and Skirt Steak Fajitas

How to Add Extra Flavor on your meat: If you want to add extra citrus flavor, try my Sunshine State of Mind Craft BBQ Rub with a Kaffir lime and orange zest base and add it to the meat before adding the marinade onto your meat.

Pierce Your Meat with a Fork: I like to puncture the meat with a fork to help tenderize it further and get more places to let the marinade permeate the meat.

Don’t over Cook the meat: cook to medium rare at 125- you can always put back on the grill but if you overcook you can never fix that!  

Enjoy these fajitas with your favorite toppings and a large margarita (try out my Perfect Skinny Margarita recipe!) to feel like a true Texan, even if you live elsewhere. If you haven’t heard, I recently launched a Craft BBQ Rub that is excellent on all proteins and even as a cocktail rimmer! Use code Sunshine for 5% off if you want to give it a try. 

I hope you enjoy this skirt steak marinade recipe for tacos and fajitas at your next cookout! Leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought of this recipe! Give me a follow online on the Gram @grillgirlrobyn on INSTA so you can see the latest and greatest recipes and adventures! Cheers and thanks for checking out this longtime favorite Skirt Steak Marinade Recipe! God Bless! – Robyn

 

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Check out our other Grilled Beef recipes!