By Laurel Perry
Updated Jun 26, 2025
Juicy, tender strips of flank steak are the highlight of these easy steak tacos—and one of my favorite ways to do taco night. I like to marinate the steak in a zesty, savory mix that really packs in the flavor before throwing it on the grill and slicing it up. Then I load it onto warm tortillas and pile on all my favorite toppings—usually red onion, avocado, and plenty of fresh cilantro. It’s such a simple meal, but every bite is packed with bold, delicious flavor.
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Easy Steak Tacos Recipe
Tender, juicy grilled steak tucked into warm corn tortillas and piled high with all my favorite taco toppings—what more could I ask for? These tacos are seriously delicious and so easy to make. Grilling the steak locks in all that moisture and flavor, and the citrusy marinade takes it to the next level. I usually go with lean flank steak and top it with fresh onion, creamy avocado, and a handful of cilantro. It’s a simple, satisfying meal that feels a little special, whether it’s taco night at home or we’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo .
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Steak
- ▢ 1½ lbs. flank steak or skirt steak
- ▢ ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
- ▢ ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from 1 orange)
- ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 tsp ground cumin
- ▢ ½ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ tsp ground black pepper
For the Tacos
- ▢ 8 corn tortillas
- ▢ ¼ cup diced red onion
- ▢ 1 avocado sliced
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Instructions
- Add the steak to a large Ziplock bag. 1½ lbs. flank steak
- In a medium bowl, whisk the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper together, then pour the marinade over the steak. ¼ cup fresh lime juice, ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Toss and massage to coat the steak well. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Heat your grill or indoor grill pan over high heat. Grill the steak, discarding excess marinade, for 7-10 minutes per side. Set aside on a large plate or sheet pan and tent loosely with foil. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes.
- While the steak rests, grill the tortillas until they are warmed through. 8 corn tortillas
- Once rested, slice the steak against the grain. Serve in warm tortillas with red onion, avocado, and cilantro. ¼ cup diced red onion, 1 avocado, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Equipment
- Ziplock bag
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
Becky’s Tips
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice . It adds the best flavor to this recipe!
- If your onions seem too pungent, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Steak Tacos Step by Step
Prep the teak: Add 1½ lbs. of flank steak to a large Ziplock bag.
Prepare the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk ¼ cup of fresh lime juice, ¼ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice, ¼ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro, 4 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of ground cumin, ½ tsp of kosher salt, and ¼ tsp of ground black pepper together.
Marinate the steak : Pour the marinade into the bag over the steak. Toss and massage to coat the steak well. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
Grill the steak: Heat your grill or indoor grill pan over high heat. Discard excess marinade, and grill the steak for 7-10 minutes per side. Remove from heat, and set aside on a large plate or sheet pan, tented loosely with foil. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes. While the steak rests, grill 8 corn tortillas until they are warmed through.
Slice: After resting, slice the steak against the grain for the most tender strips.
Serve and enjoy: Serve in warm tortillas with ¼ cup of diced red onion, 1 sliced avocado, and ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro.
How to Store
Store leftover steak taco components in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat the steak and tortillas on the grill or stovetop until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
You can top these tasty tacos with just about anything you can dream of—sour cream, creamy guacamole , fresh salsa , even tangy pico de gallo —the possibilities are endless!
Serve steak tacos with cilantro lime rice and refried beans for a complete meal. Wash them down with pineapple agua fresca or a refreshing margarita !
more taco recipes to try
Birria Tacos Recipe
Crispy Chicken Tacos
Street Tacos
Steak Tacos
Steak Tacos Recipe
Equipment
- Ziplock bag
- Grill or Indoor Grill Pan
Ingredients
For the Steak
- 1½ lbs. flank steak or skirt steak
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from 1 orange)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
For the Tacos
- 8 corn tortillas
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 1 avocado sliced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Add the steak to a large Ziplock bag. 1½ lbs. flank steak
- In a medium bowl, whisk the lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper together, then pour the marinade over the steak. ¼ cup fresh lime juice, ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice, ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- Toss and massage to coat the steak well. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Heat your grill or indoor grill pan over high heat. Grill the steak, discarding excess marinade, for 7-10 minutes per side. Set aside on a large plate or sheet pan and tent loosely with foil. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes.
- While the steak rests, grill the tortillas until they are warmed through. 8 corn tortillas
- Once rested, slice the steak against the grain. Serve in warm tortillas with red onion, avocado, and cilantro. ¼ cup diced red onion, 1 avocado, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Video
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice . It adds the best flavor to this recipe!
- If your onions seem too pungent, soak them in ice water for 10 minutes.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
