Your Tex Mex game just got easier with this flavorful, tender, and juicy Air Fryer Flank Steak! This steak has a quick jalapeno-lime marinade that tenderizes the meat and makes it so incredibly delicious! It is amazing by itself and also makes the best carne asada burritos, fajitas, and steak salad!
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Fast: The meat will marinate in as little as 30 minutes, but you can also make it earlier in the day and let it sit for as long as 4 hours. When it comes time to cook it, it's done to perfection in just 6 quick minutes!
Tender & Flavorful: The jalapeno lime marinade does two things. First, it adds the best flavor that you are going to fall in love with. But it also helps to tenderize the meat by breaking down the fibers. The air fryer also helps transform this into the perfect steak. The way that the hot air circulates mimics a sear, locking the juices of the meat inside so that you end up with a juicy steak.
Budget-Friendly: Flank steak is an affordable cut of beef, so it will stretch your budget to feed your family without compromising on quality.
Versatile: The flavor of this jalapeno-lime flank steak is so good you will be sneaking bites before it can get to the table! So enjoy it with your favorite Tex Mex side dishes like cilantro-lime rice and beans and you will be completely happy!
Or throw some onions and peppers in with your steak and it is ready for fajitas! If you have any leftover steak (we never do) then you can wrap them in a tortilla for burritos, top your salad, use them in quesadillas, make a flavorful sandwich, or even add them to a breakfast scramble!
If you are looking for more easy air fryer recipes take a look at these delicious recipes!
Ingredients
Looking for the full recipe? The recipe card at the bottom of this post includes the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Flank Steak: You can use either flank steak or skirt steak as they are very similar cuts of meat. These are known for being tough cuts due to their strong muscular grains, but between the marinade and air fryer cooking it transforms into tender strips.
Lime Juice: Freshly-squeezed lime juice will give you the best flavor and the acidity helps to tenderize the meat. Take your limes and roll them firmly on a table or counter to get the most juice from the fruit.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds the best flavor to your marinade! If you do not have fresh garlic then substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Soy Sauce: I usually use low sodium soy sauce but regular can be used as well. If you do not have soy sauce then substitute an equal amount of coconut aminos, tamari, or Worcestershire sauce.
Jalapenos: Remove the seeds for mild flavor and leave them in if you want more spice.
Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro adds a burst of freshness to this simple steak recipe.
Instructions
Step One: Prepare Steak
- You don't need a meat mallet to tenderize your steak. Just trim any excess fat off then pierce it with a fork all over both sides. This is the easiest way to break down the tough muscle.
- Place the meat in a shallow dish (like a pie plate) or in a large Ziploc bag.
Step Two: Mix the Marinade
- Whisk the marinade ingredients in a medium bowl.
Step Three: Divide Marinade
- Remove ¼ cup of the marinade mixture and place it in a small bowl.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro.
- Set this bowl in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Step Four: Marinate the Flank Steak
- Pour the marinade over the steak and turn the steak to make sure it is well-coated.
- Place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or as long as 4 hours. The more it sits the more flavorful it will be, but if you leave it for longer than 4 hours the meat will start to get mushy due to the acid of the limes.
Step Five: Cook
- Place your marinated flank steak in a preheated air fryer basket.
- Cook it for 3 minutes, then flip it and cook an additional 3 minutes.
- In my air fryer, this makes a perfect medium-rare steak but different models may require a slightly different cooking time, so use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Cook it to 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare or 140°F (60°c) for medium. (The temperature will rise an additional 5 degrees or so as it rests.)
- Remove the meat and pour the reserved cilantro marinade over the top.
- Cover with foil for 5 minutes and let it rest at room temperature.
Step Six: Slice
- Move the rested steak to a cutting board.
- Slice it into ¼-inch strips cutting against the grain.
It's important to cut your flank steak against the grain of the meat. To do this, look at the long fibers of the meat and cut in the opposite direction, slicing through the long fibers. If you cut in the same direction as these lines then it will be difficult to chew the meat, but cutting in the opposite direction allows you to enjoy the tender steak.
Storage and Reheating
- You can refrigerate your leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
- If you want to freeze this recipe, I recommend placing it in the freezer as soon as you add the marinade. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator and then cook it following the recipe directions.
- You can also freeze the cooked meat for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, put it back in the air fryer for about five minutes, or until it is heated through.
Recipe FAQs
Flank steak is a thicker cut of steak from the loin of the cow, and is a little bit leaner. Skirt steak has more marbling and is a thinner cut. Because it is thinner, skirt steak may cook up faster than flank steak, so check it after 3-4 minutes.
Yes, the marinade and cooking method works with a variety of cuts of beef. Top sirloin is delicious! You can even do air fryer filet mignon using the same recipe steps. Thicker steaks will take a little longer to cook, so use a thermometer to make sure it is cooked to your desired doneness.
The air fryer will circulate air all around the steak, so it is cooking on all sides at once, which means you don't need to pan sear the sides to seal in the juices.
Yes, you can make Jalapeno-Lime Flank Steak on the stove, on the grill, or in your oven. On the stove, heat a little bit of olive oil over medium-high heat and then sear the steak for 2-3 minutes on each side. On the grill, it is also cooked at medium-high heat for a few minutes on each side. Just brush a little oil onto the grates before adding the meat. To cook in an oven, place the meat in a shallow cooking dish and cook at 450°F (230°C) for 8-12 minutes.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Flank Steak (with Jalapeno-Lime Marinade)
Recipe by:Ingredients
- ½ cup lime juice (about 4 large limes)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 ½ pounds flank steak
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Trim the flank steak of excess fat, then pierce both sides of the meat with a fork. Place in a pie plate or in large Zip-lock bag.
- Whisk the lime juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, and jalapenos in a medium bowl.
- Transfer ¼ cup of the marinade into a small bowl and mix cilantro into the small bowl of marinade. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Pour the remaining marinade over the steak. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or for as long as 4 hours.
- When you are ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Remove the flank steak from the bag and discard the remaining liquid. Pat the steak dry using paper towels.
- Place the steak in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes, flipping halfway through Once it has reached your desired doneness, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a clean plate. Pour the cilantro mixture over the top and cover with aluminum foil. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice the steak against the grain into strips. Serve with rice, potatoes, or tortillas.
Notes
- You can refrigerate your leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days.
- If you want to freeze this recipe, I recommend placing it in the freezer as soon as you add the marinade. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator and then cook it according to the recipe directions.
- You can also freeze the cooked meat for up to 3 months.
Equipment
Nutrition
The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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