Steak Fajita Marinade (for Flank Steak)
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Mar 11, 2024 (last updated Apr 8, 2026) 
This steak fajita marinade takes just 5-minutes to mix together and transforms flank steak into juicy, flavorful fajitas. Made with lime juice, smoked paprika, and chili powder, it works equally well on the grill or in a skillet on the stovetop. Marinate for as little as 30-minutes, or overnight for even deeper flavor.
5 star review
“Made this recipe tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I marinated the steak yesterday(for 24 hours)and it truly was quick and easy. The marinade is so simple that I thought it couldn’t possibly taste very good and boy was I pleasantly surprised. So flavorful with just a few ingredients! This is definitely a keeper will make it again and again. ”
– Michele
Quick Steak Fajita Marinade for Flank Steak
Who doesn’t love fajitas? Slices of meat, peppers, and onions all sautéed with a Mexican-inspired seasoning blend and served with tortillas and all the fajita fixings. It’s so quick and delicious! I know it’s super easy to buy pre-made fajita seasoning packets at the store, but I promise that a simple marinade is just as easy and even better.
Just like my favorite chicken fajita marinade, this 5-ingredient steak marinade gives you big flavor and texture payoff since it tenderizes the meat and infuses tons of smokey, spicy flavor that you wouldn’t get from a dry seasoning blend. All you have to do is mix up the marinade ingredients (no chopping involved!) and let the marinade work its magic on the flank steak.
Once it’s done marinating, you can either grill the steak for those beautiful charr marks or cook it in a cast iron skillet on the stove for a 1-pot meal since you sautée the veggies in the skillet as well. These are steak fajitas elevated to another level without a lot of effort, so you’ll for sure be coming back to this recipe! And , for another great use of flank steak, my slow cooker flank steak is a set-and-forget option that’s great for tacos or fajita bowls.
Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make an Easy Fajita Marinade for Steak
Testing Notes for Juicy Steak Fajita Marinade
- Lime Juice: I definitely prefer fresh lime juice for this one!
- Sugar: The small amount of sugar in the marinade does not make the steak sweet, instead it helps tenderize the meat and adds color during the cooking process.
- Smoked Paprika: The smoked paprika adds (you guessed it) some smokey flavor to this beef dish, and I highly recommend it.
- Chili Powder: Adjust the spice level of this dish by using either mild or hot chili powder and/or by increasing or decreasing the amount of chili powder. It can be omitted if you’re sensitive to spice.
- Steak: Flank steak (also called London broil) or skirt steak works equally well in this recipe.
- Bell Peppers: Any color of bell pepper works here.
Steak Fajita Marinade (for Flank Steak)
Ingredients
For the Steak Fajita Marinade
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or other neutral flavored oil such as canola or vegetable oil)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For Steak Fajitas
- 1 ¼ – ½ pounds flank steak
- 3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 4 bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced
Equipment
- Cast Iron Pan optional
Instructions
Make the Steak Fajita Marinade
- Whisk the lime juice, oil, sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and salt in a small bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the marinade and the steak to a 1-gallon zip-top bag or baking dish. Toss the steak to coat, then press as much air out of the bag (if using) as possible, or cover with plastic wrap (if using a baking dish).
- Refrigerate for 30-minutes, or up to overnight.
For Marinated Steak Fajitas: Grilled
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Remove the steak from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Set the remaining marinade aside.
- Grill the steak for 3 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature registers 145°F (for medium rare). Remove from the grill, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the fajita veggies.
For Marinated Steak Fajitas: Stovetop
- Preheat a large cast iron skillet to high heat. Remove the steak from the marinade, shaking off all excess. Set the remaining marinade aside.
- Add 2 teaspoons neutral- flavored oil to the pan. Cook the steak for 3 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature registers 145°F (for medium rare). Remove from the pan, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the fajita veggies.
Cook the Fajita Veggies
- Heat a cast iron skillet to medium high heat – use the same skillet you cooked the steak if using the stovetop option. Add 2 teaspoons of oil, along with the veggies. Cook for 5-10 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened and begin to char, stirring frequently.
- While the veggies cook, thinly slice the steak against the grain.
- Add the reserved marinade to the veggies and bring to a strong simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes for the marinade to reduce. Add the sliced steak and stir to combine.
- Serve immediately with toppings of your choice.
I made this with 1-lb of shaved steak and it was SO good! Served it with cheese, salsa, and tortilla chips for a quick and easy dinner. Will be making again!
So very good!! So easy and wonderfully flavorful.
Yay, Cindy, so happy to hear this one was a hit! Thanks for your review!
Whoa baby!! This is a new favorite! I marinaded the steak for approximately 30 hours and then cooked it on the outside grill. It was a super easy recipe but tasty complicated. I chopped up the peppers and onions in advanced and then when it was close to dinner time I sautéed them in a pan with olive oil and salt and pepper… served it with some small flour tortillas and it was so good! We don’t have steak often as it can be expensive – so if you’re going to spring for the steak – this recipe will not disappoint.
Heidi, thanks so much for you feedback on this one! I so appreciate it. 🙂
WOW. I loved this easy, delicious, steak recipe. Made it ahead, so efficient!
So happy to hear this one was a hit, Ellie. Thanks for leaving a review!
HUGE HIT for this family!!! Flavor was perfect!!
Stephanie, YAY, so happy to hear this one was a hit! Thanks so much for leaving a review, I so appreciate it!
Sounds wonderful. Could I do the same with Chicken?
Elizabeth, yes! Here’s my recipe for fajita chicken marinade!
Made this recipe tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I marinated the steak yesterday(for 24 hours)and it truly was quick and easy.
My grocery store did not have any flank steaks this week so I substituted a 1.25 pound package of “beef for fajitas” that was already sliced.
I cooked the onions separate from the peppers because that’s what my family prefers.
The marinade is so simple that I thought it couldn’t possibly taste very good and boy was I pleasantly surprised. So flavorful with just a few ingredients! I’ve been making Robyn‘s recipes for years, so I don’t know why I was surprised! This is definitely a keeper will make it again and again.
Michele, thank you so much for taking the time to share your kind words and for leaving a review! So happy to hear this one was a winner for you!