Fajitas are something we don’t eat enough. I’ve seriously been making fajitas since I was 12 years old, yet we somehow replaced the fajita with the fish taco craze the past few years.
Skillet steak fajitas was partly inspired by a new side dish I dreamt up a few months ago. Sauteed poblano peppers and red onions. It’s the perfect flavorful topping over brown rice or quinoa. Don’t know how we arrived there, but who doesn’t love grilled peppers and onions in fajitas?
Poblano peppers have a lot more flavor than your typical bell pepper. They have a hint of smoke and spice, yet overall are very mild. Pared with red onions and seasoned flank (or skirt) steak, it’s all you need for a perfect fajita—plus maybe a little cheese and avocado!
Most people marinade flank/skirt steak, however for simplicity I opted for a homemade dry rub consisting of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, and brown sugar. It adds a nice spicy, flavorful touch with a hint of citrus (from fresh lime) and brown sugar.
One critical tip when serving steak fajitas is to properly (and thinly) slice the steak for tenderness (I learned the hard way). Skirt and flank steak tend to be very flavorful, yet tougher cuts due to the dense muscle fibers. You will notice the steak has a very defined grain running though it. It may be more noticeable after you cook it. Slicing strips with the grain will force you to bite through these tough fibers. If you slice against the grain, the meat will break apart much easier.
No one likes fajitas that fight back.
Prep Time:
Yield:
Print
PinIngredients
- 1 pound flank or skirt steak
- 3 poblano peppers, sliced
- 1 medium red onion, sliced
- 10–12 6-inch flour tortillas
- 1–2 avocados, sliced, for topping
- 2 limes
- Mexican blend cheese, for topping
- Fresh cilantro, for topping
- 2 tablespoons canola oil, for searing
Steak seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 packed teaspoon, brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove steak from the oven 30 minutes before searing. Combine all steak seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Coat both sides of the steak in juice from half a lime, rubbing into the meat. Dry rub each side of the steak with a heaping teaspoon of steak seasoning, fully coating. Let rest for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, thinly slice the poblano peppers and red onion, set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a cast iron skillet and turn up to medium-high heat. Allow the skillet to become hot first. Place the steak face down and sear undisturbed for 4-5 minutes. Flip and sear for an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on a plate, covered in aluminum foil.
- Add the peppers and onions to the skillet with another tablespoon of oil, reduce heat to medium and cook until tender and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place the steak on a cutting board and find the natural graining running lengthwise through the steak. Cut the steak into thin slices AGAINST the grain. This is to ensure the steak is tender and easy to bite. If you slice with the grain, the meat will be much tougher to bite.
- Return the steak to the skillet and sear longer on the stove top if desired (for medium and higher).
- Serve directly in the skillet with warm tortillas, sliced avocado, cheese, and lime wedges.
Notes
Cooking steaks at high temps in a skillet tends to get smokey. Open a kitchen window and turn on your kitchen’s overhead vent fan before you start to help with ventilation.
Temperatures for steak
Rare: 120° F to 125° F
Medium rare: 125° F to 130° F
Medium: 135° F to 140° F
Medium well: 145° F to 150° F
Well done: 160° F and above
