Quick Look at this Easy Chili Lime Steak Fajita Marinade
- Ready In: 10 minutes
- Marinate Time: 30 minutes
- Amount of Steak: one batch of this marinade is perfect for 1.5 – 2 pounds of steak (any cut).
- Main Ingredients: olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, soy sauce, garlic, & warm spices
- Dietary Info: dairy-free, gluten-free friendly
- Why You’ll Love It: Every cut of meat is instantly made more flavorful and juicy after soaking in a simple homemade marinade! I took 8 simple ingredients, whisked them together, and poured them over some steak to create the BEST steak fajitas I have ever tasted. You have to use this quick steak fajita marinade on your steak tonight!
Share and summarize this recipe:
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- Olive Oil – an essential ingredient for any homemade marinade recipe.
- Soy Sauce – it brings those classic unami flavors that we all love and can easily be swapped out for tamari to make it gluten-free.
- Lime Juice + Lime Zest – not only do they taste fresh, but they help to tenderize the steak!
- Warm Spices – chili powder and cumin bring those classic fajita flavors.
How To Make A Steak Fajita Marinade
Step 1 – Put all ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 2 – Whisk to combine.
Pro Tip
Or simply place all of the marinade ingredients in the dish or bag in which you plan to marinate the steak. Save a dish!
Step 3 – Pour the marinade over the steak in a baking dish or large storage bag. Let it marinate for 30 minutes – 2 hours.
Steak Fajita Marinade Times
| 30 minutes | perfect for a quick marinade of flavor and juiciness |
| 2 hours | ideal marinate time for the maximum flavor and juiciness without compromising on texture |
| over 2 hours – overnight | Too long!! The acidity will breakdown the muscle fibers too much, creating a mushy texture. |
Best Ways To Cook A Marinated Steak
Begin by removing the steak from the marinade, allowing the excess to drip off. Then choose the cooking method you want:
- Stove Top: cast iron flank steak
- Grill: perfectly grilled steaks
- Sous Vide: sous vide steaks recipe
- Smoker: reverse seared steaks
How Should I Use A Flank Steak Fajita Marinade
Highly recommend using this to marinate a cast iron flank steak to serve with some easy fajita vegetables! Serve them as flank steak fajitas or in a steak fajita bowl for a delicious weeknight dinner that is packed with so much great flavor!
Steak Fajita Marinade FAQs
Yes, the steak should be fully coated in the marinade so feel free to make a double or triple batch, if needed.
The marinated steak will still be delicious without it, but using soy sauce or tamari is a great way to add some salty unami flavor.
Yes, any cut of steak can be used!
Other Simple Marinade Recipes You Might Like
Made this recipe and loved it?!
We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review โ it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
Follow Us on Social
Ingredients
- ยผ cup olive oil
- โ cup fresh lime juice, approx. 2 limes
- zest of 2 limes
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sub tamari for gluten-free
- ยฝ teaspoon chili powder
- ยฝ teaspoon ground cumin
- ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1-2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Combine: In a small bowl, add ยผ cup olive oil, โ cup fresh lime juice, zest of 2 limes, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ยฝ teaspoon chili powder, ยฝ teaspoon ground cumin, ยผ teaspoon kosher salt, and 1-2 tablespoons cilantro (if using). Whisk until well combined.
- Marinate Steak: Pour the marinade over the steak of your choice in a reusable silicone bag or glass container. Seal and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or more.
- Serve: Cook your steak however you want!
Notes
- Spice it up: feel free to add a little crushed red pepper, if you want!
- Marinate Time: due to all of the acidity in the marinade, this is a quick marinade and only requires 30 minutes. It is not recommended to use this marinade for more than 2 hours.
Bridget says
This was the perfect addition to take our fajitas over the top!