Austin Eats

  • Recipe Index
  • Guides
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Guides
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Guides
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Main Courses

The Best Beef Fajitas Made With Wagyu Skirt Steak

1 Comment

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

When it comes to Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisines, few dishes rival delicious grilled steak fajitas. Bursting with flavors and textures, steak fajitas are a favorite for many. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or simply craving a hearty meal, mastering the art of cooking grilled steak fajitas is not hard with this easy recipe. In this post, we'll explore everything you need to know to create the perfect steak fajitas, from selecting the right cut of meat to mastering the cooking techniques and assembling a mouthwatering dish. This easy recipe makes the Best Beef Fajitas Made With Wagyu Skirt Steak.

Grilled steak fajitas.

If you like grilled beef with a lot of flavor, try my recipes for Smoked Tri-Tip, Grilled Carne Asada and Reverse Seared Beef Tenderloin.

Jump to:
  • Choosing the Right Cut of Beef
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Top Tip
  • Final Thoughts
  • Related
  • Pairing
  • 📖 Recipe

Choosing the Right Cut of Beef

The key to great steak fajitas lies in selecting the right cut of beef. Skirt steak and flank steak are two popular cuts of meat used for fajitas. Both are considered flat cuts. The key differences are that skirt steak is a thinner and fattier cut with more marbling while flank steak is a leaner cut with a chewier texture. Both are great steaks for beef fajitas.

Skirt Steak

Skirt steak has a beefy flavor and good marbling, making it a popular choice for grilling. It is also traditionally used in many Mexican restaurants for making fajitas. Skirt steak comes from below the ribs and has a coarse grain structure and lot of intramuscular fat, which enhances its tenderness and juiciness when cooked. There are two varieties of skirt steak: inside skirt and outside skirt. Inside skirt, located closer to the rib cage, tends to be thicker and is well-suited for grilling, while outside skirt is thinner and cooks very quickly. Nearly all outside skirt steak is purchased by commercial kitchens. The skirt steak that you find at the grocery store or local butcher shop will most likely be inside skirt steak. A citrus-based marinade will help skirt steak become tender and juicy.

Flank Steak

Flank steak comes from the abdominal muscles and has a coarse grain structure. While it lacks the marbling of skirt steak, flank steak tends to be thicker and leaner and is also well-suited for grilling. Like skirt steak, flank steak needs to be tenderized in a citrus marinade. When sliced thinly across the grain, flank steak is a popular choice for beef fajitas. Because flank steak is thicker than skirt steak, the resulting fajita meat with also be thicker. It will also take longer to cook.

Wagyu Skirt Steak

A skirt steak was used in this recipe. Choose a skirt steak with a lot of marbling if possible. All that fat will help make the skirt steak more flavorful and more tender. If you can find a Wagyu skirt steak, even better. The skirt steak used in this recipe was Wagyu and made fajitas that just melt in your mouth. I found it at my local market in Austin, TX and it was surprisingly only about a dollar more than choice skirt steak. Wagyu skirt steak can have an intensely beefy flavor and that flavor is tamed by the marinade.

Wagyu skirt steak.

If you have trouble finding a skirt steak, choose a well-marbled flank steak. Just remember that a flank steak will be thicker than skirt steak and will therefore take longer to cook.

Ingredients

  • Skirt steak
  • Lime juice
  • Orange juice
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic cloves
  • Chili powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Ground coriander
  • Black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • Cilantro
  • Red bell pepper
  • Poblano pepper
  • Yellow onion
  • Flour tortillas
  • Pico de Gallo, sour cream, and cilantro, for serving

See printable recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Marinating the Steak

In order to make skirt steak as tender as possible, it needs to spend at least 2 hours in a citrus-based marinade. The marinade will also infuse the steak with a lot of flavor.

Start by patting the steak dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Prepare a fajita marinade by combining lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, black pepper, salt and cilantro in a blender and blend until smooth. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and pour the rest in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Add the skirt steak to the marinade, ensuring it's fully coated, and let it marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. The acidity from the lime and orange juice will help break down the tough fibers and connective tissue in the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavorful steak.

Grilling the Steak

There are various ways to cook skirt steak for fajitas, but grilling and searing are among the best methods for achieving that perfect char and flavor. The steak in this recipe was first grilled quickly over very hot coals to give it a good sear. Then, after a brief rest, it was cut into strips and finished on a griddle with the vegetables.

If you are using an outdoor grill, preheat it to medium-high heat. Alternatively, you can use a large cast iron skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Personally, I do not use a cast iron skillet because the citrus marinade damages my precious cast iron seasoning. To me, it is not worth the hassle of re-seasoning my skillet.

Once the grill or skillet is hot, remove the steak from the marinade and discard the marinade. The cooking time for skirt steak is pretty quick. Cook the steak 2-3 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of about 130°F for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the steak. For the best results, hotter is better. Aim for a quick sear to lock in the juices while maintaining the tender interior. Don’t overcook it. After cooking, transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring juicy and flavorful fajitas.

Cook the Vegetables

While the steak is resting, cook the onions, red bell pepper and poblano pepper on a hot griddle or skillet with a little vegetable oil for about 6 minutes. Once rested, slice the steak across the grain into thin strips, about ¼” wide. Cutting across the grain shortens the muscle fibers, resulting in more tender meat. Finish the steak strips on the hot griddle or skillet alongside the vegetables for 2 additional minutes.

Skirt steak on the grill.

Quickly sear the skirt steak over very hot coals for 2-3 minutes per side, then let it rest.

Onion, red bell peppers and poblano pepper slices on the griddle.

While the steak is resting, cook the onion, red bell pepper and sliced poblano pepper in a small amount of vegetable oil.

Assembling the Fajitas

Warm some flour tortillas or fresh corn tortillas on the grill or in a skillet for 5-10 seconds on each side. Then, fill each warm tortilla with a generous portion of sliced steak, along with sautéed onions, red bell peppers and poblano peppers. Top with a drizzle of the reserved marinade and your favorite garnishes, such as Pico de Gallo, Mexican Crema or sour cream, and fresh cilantro. Serve with Mexican rice and black or refried beans for a satisfying meal.

Variations

The fajitas in this recipe were made with grilled onion, red bell pepper and a poblano pepper. Orange, yellow and green bell peppers could also be used.

Storage

Store leftover fajita meat and vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Top Tip

Buy Wagyu skirt steak if you can find it. It is only slightly more expensive than choice or prime and well worth it.

Final Thoughts

Cooking grilled steak fajitas at home is easy. Whether you choose skirt steak or flank steak, both cuts can yield delicious restaurant-quality fajitas at home with the right preparation and cooking technique. Enjoy!

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • Reversed seared tomahawk steak
    Tomahawk Steak - A Double Cut Bone-In Ribeye Reverse Seared
  • T-bone steak on a hot grill.
    How to Cook a Reverse Seared Texas T-Bone Steak
  • Smoked Tri-Tip
    Smoked and Reverse Seared Tri-Tip
  • Grilled Carne Asada
    Grilled Carne Asada - Tasty and Easy to Make

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe.

  • Creamed Corn with Poblano Peppers
    Texas-Style Creamed Corn with Poblano Peppers
  • Tex-Mex Charro Beans Made in a Smoker
  • Cornbread in a skillet.
    Cast Iron Skillet Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread
  • Texas Corn Ribs
    Texas Grilled Corn Ribs - With a Little Heat and a Lot of Flavor

📖 Recipe

Grilled steak fajitas.

Grilled Wagyu Steak Fajitas Recipe

5 from 1 vote
When it comes to Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisines, few dishes rival delicious grilled steak fajitas. Here is an easy recipe for making mouthwatering steak fajitas with a Wagyu skirt steak.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Time to marinade 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: BBQ, Mexican, Tex Mex
Calories: 698
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video

Ingredients
  

Marinade
  • 2 limes juiced
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ pounds skirt steak
Fajitas
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and cut into ¼" strips
  • 1 poblano pepper seeded and cut into ¼" strips
  • 1 yellow onion cut into ½" strips
  • 12 flour tortillas
  • ½ cup pico de gallo
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 limes cut into wedges

Equipment

  • Outdoor grill gas or charcoal

Method
 

  1. Pat the skirt steak dry with paper towels and remove any extra fat.
  2. Prepare a fajita marinade by combining lime juice, olive oil, orange juice, garlic, chili powder, black pepper, cumin, coriander, salt and cilantro in a blender and blend until smooth. Remove ¼ cup of the marinade and pour the rest in a resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Add the skirt steak to the marinade, ensuring it's fully coated, and let it marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
  3. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
  4. Cook the steak 2-3 minutes per side, to an internal temperature of about 130°F for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the steak. For the best results, hotter is better. Aim for a quick sear to lock in the juices while maintaining the tender interior. Don’t overcook it.
  5. After cooking, transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring juicy and flavorful fajitas.
  6. While the steak is resting, cook the onions, red bell pepper and poblano pepper on a hot griddle or skillet with a little vegetable oil for about 6 minutes.
  7. Once rested, slice the steak across the grain into thin strips, about ¼” wide. Cutting across the grain shortens the muscle fibers, resulting in more tender meat. Finish the steak strips on the hot griddle or skillet alongside the vegetables for 2 additional minutes.
  8. Warm the tortillas on the griddle or in a skillet for 5-10 seconds on each side. Then, fill each warm tortilla with a generous portion of sliced steak, along with sautéed onions, red bell peppers and poblano peppers.
  9. Top with a drizzle of the reserved marinade and your favorite garnishes, such as Pico de Gallo, Mexican Crema or sour cream, and fresh cilantro. Serve with Mexican rice and black or refried beans for a satisfying meal.

Nutrition

Serving: 6ozCalories: 698kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 46gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 1047mgPotassium: 875mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1489IUVitamin C: 84mgCalcium: 203mgIron: 7mg

Video

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!

More Main Courses

  • Reverse seared tri-tip on a plate.
    Marinated Tri-Tip in a Cast-Iron Skillet
  • Pulled pork sandwich.
    Apple Cider Brined Pork Shoulder for Pulled Pork
  • Smoked meatloaf with BBQ sauce glaze.
    Smoked Meatloaf with Brown Sugar and BBQ Sauce Glaze
  • Flat iron steak cooked to medium-rare
    Seared Flat Iron Steak with Red Wine Marinade

Comments

  1. Dave says

    May 09, 2024 at 10:51 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to make and very juicy.

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Dave
Dave

I'm Dave, just a guy who likes to cook for family and friends and take pictures of what I make. I am not a chef. While some of my recipes might look complicated and intimidating, I assure you that they are all really quite easy. If you can cut an onion, you can make any recipe on this website. Have some fun and make something new.

I have a new cookbook coming out. Get notified when it is available.

Notify Me

Footer

back to top

Policies & Terms

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer

New Cookbook

A new cookbook is coming soon!

Get on the list.

Contact Me

  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 Austin Eats

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.