Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (2024)

  • Low Carb Dinners
  • Easy Dinners
  • 4th of July
  • Father's Day
  • Low Carb

A flavorful, juicy flank steak is all but guaranteed with this easy recipe.

By

Elise Bauer

Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated October 25, 2023

Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (2)

69 ratings

In This Recipe

Flank steak is a lean, somewhat tough but flavorful cut of beef that benefits from the tenderizing effects of a marinade. It is best cooked medium rare and thinly sliced at an angle across the grain of the meat.

How to Cook Flank Steak

Prepared this way, marinated, cooked quickly at high heat, and thinly sliced, flank steak practically melts in your mouth. This recipe calls for grilling the steak. But if you don't have a grill, you can prepare the steak in a large cast iron frying pan as well.

Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (3)

The Best Marinade for Grilled Steak

The flank steak marinade in this recipe calls for a lovely blend of soy sauce, honey, and garlic. It works wonderfully for this cut of meat.

For more Southwestern flavors, see our carne asada recipe. Do you have a favorite flank steak marinade? Or a grilling trick for flank steak? If so, please let us know in the comments.

Love Flank Steak? Try These Recipes

  • Grilled Chili Lime Flank Steak
  • Rolled Stuffed Flank Steak
  • Grilled Flank Steak with Mushrooms
  • Flank Steak with Orange and Avocado Salsa
  • Flank Steak Stir-Fry with Asparagus and Red Bell Pepper

Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (4)

What Is Flank Steak?

Flank steak is the cow's lower chest or abdominal muscle. Since it's muscle that's used a lot, the flank is a thick-grained, low-fat cut. The beauty of it is that it's inexpensive but flavorful. It's a versatile cut of beef, especially when prepared well. It's best marinated and then seared whole over high heat. Cutting the cooked flank steak against the grain at a 45-degree angle ensures you're cutting through the tough parts, making it easier to eat.

Skirt steak is a similar cut, but has a different shape, a bit more fat, and the grain runs in a different direction.

How Long to Marinate Flank Steak

The ideal amount of time is 12 hours, but you can marinate it for up to 24 hours. You should let it sit in the marinade for a minimum of 2 hours, even if you're pressed for time.

How to Store and Reheat Cooked Steak

You can store leftover flank steak for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, warm up in a preheated 225°F oven until it's warmed through with an internal temperature of 110°F (about 15 minutes or so). Then, sear on a well-oiled cast iron pan for about 60 to 90 seconds on each side.

Ideas for Leftover Grilled Flank Steak

  • Use them as filling for weeknight tacos.
  • Add them to stir-fried vegetables.
  • Toss them with ramen and broccoli, like this recipe.
  • Add them to a bowl of ramen or pho.
  • Make a steak salad with the slices.
  • Toss them in a grain bowl.
  • Use them as a burrito filling.
  • Make nachos.
  • Serve them on the side for DIY lettuce wraps.
  • Make homemade cup noodles.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Marinating2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 30 mins

Servings6 servings

Ingredients

For the marinade

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the steak

  • 1 (2-pound) flank steak

  • Coarse salt, to taste (optional)

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (optional)

Method

  1. Marinate the steak:

    Combine the marinade ingredients in a large non-reactive bowl.

    Place the steak in the bowl and turn it, so it is completely coated with the marinade. (You can also place the steak and marinade in a plastic freezer bag and place it in a bowl.)

    Chill and marinate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

    Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (5)

  2. Prepare yourgrill:

    Prepare thegrill forhigh, direct heat with one part of the grill for lower, indirect heat. The grill is hot enough when you hold your hand about an inch over the hot side, and you can only hold it there for about a second.

  3. Grill the steak:

    Remove the steak from the marinade and gently shake off the excess marinade from the steak (But make sure there is still a coating of it, you'll want the oil on it to help keep the steak from sticking to the grill.).

    If you want, sprinkle generously on all sides with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. The salt and pepper will help form a savory crust on the steak.

    Place steak on the hot side of the grill. Grill for a minute or two on each side to get a good sear. Then, move the steak to the cooler side of the grill, cover and cook a few minutes more until done to your liking.

    How to Grill the Best SteakREAD MORE:

    Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (6)

    Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (7)

    How do you know when the steak is done? One way to tell is to poke it with your fingertips. While the steak is still raw, test it with your fingers; it will be quite squishy. That's what a very rare steak feels like. Touch the tip of your nose and that's what a very well done steak feels like. Here's a visual guide, the finger test to check the doneness of steak.

    Otherwise, use a good meat thermometer (I recommend a Thermapen.) Pull the steak off the grill at 120 to 125°F for rare, 130-140°F for medium rare, and 145°F for medium.

  4. Rest the steak:

    When the steak has cooked to your liking, remove from the grill and place on a cutting board. Cover with aluminum foil to hold in the heat while the steak rests for 10 to 15 minutes.

  5. Slice across the grain:

    Notice the direction of the muscle fibers of the steak; this is called the grain of the meat. Flank steak is a very lean cut that will be tough and chewy unless you cut it in a way that breaks up the muscle fibers.

    So, cut the steak across the grain of the meat, at a steep diagonal, so that the slices are wide. I find it easiest to use a long serrated bread knife for this, but any long sharp knife will do.

    Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (8)

    Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (9)

    If you want, you can take the excess marinade and bring it to a boil, simmer for several minutes, and serve with the flank steak. Great also with salsa or horseradish sauce.

    Did you love this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
353Calories
19g Fat
9g Carbs
35g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories353
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g25%
Saturated Fat 5g27%
Cholesterol 97mg32%
Sodium 653mg28%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 35g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 31mg2%
Iron 2mg13%
Potassium 475mg10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Make Our Highly Rated Flank Steak Recipe Your Answer to "What's For Dinner?" (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat flank steak? ›

Our Best Ideas for Flank Steak

After cooking, slice against the grain (into thin strips) and it's ready for any weeknight dinner idea you throw at it. Use it to bulk up salads, make it your protein in grain bowls or stuff into tortillas for taco night—whatever you decide you'll be glad you added it to the menu.

What is flank steak typically used for? ›

Flank steak is ideal for fajitas, stir-fries, and other applications that call for beef strips. Rest cooked steak for at least five minutes before serving, and slice thinly against the grain, preferably at a 45-degree angle, for the best texture. Slicing with the grain will result in an unpleasantly chewy steak.

Does flank steak get softer the longer you cook it? ›

If you're looking for a tender and flavorful way to cook flank steak, consider slow cooking. Slow cooking allows the meat to break down and become melt-in-your-mouth tender while infusing it with rich flavors.

What is the secret to cooking flank steak? ›

Rub a flank steak with olive oil, season it with salt and pepper and slide it onto a foil-lined sheet pan for easy cleanup. Then just broil it until it's medium-rare, 6 to 8 minutes. No flipping needed.

How do you cook flank steak so it's not tough? ›

  1. Marinate the Flank Steak:Marinating the steak before cooking can help tenderize it and infuse it with flavor. ...
  2. Slice Against the Grain:After cooking, it's crucial to slice flank steak against the grain. ...
  3. Cook to Medium Rare or Medium:Flank steak is best when cooked to medium-rare or medium doneness.
Sep 26, 2023

Is flank steak worth it? ›

It's by far one of the most versatile pieces of steak you can buy, and it tastes great no matter which way you choose. One of the most common uses for the cut is flank steak fajitas. The thin cut is the perfect size for fajita steak and its chewier texture couldn't be more perfect.

Is flank steak a healthy cut of meat? ›

Flank steak is a popular cut of beef that is best known for its intense and rich flavors and tenderness. As a lean cut and excellent protein source, flank steak is a great choice for health-conscious people or those who strictly adhere to a low-fat diet.

Should you beat flank steak? ›

Flank steak is extremely lean with hardly any fat or connective tissue so it does not need to be trimmed but it should be pounded with a meat mallet in order to tenderize the steak. Do you have to marinate flank steak? Flank steak needs to be marinated or braised to increase tenderness.

Why is flank steak so expensive? ›

Flank steak is generally one of the most affordable cuts of beef you can find. Yet it tends to come at a slightly higher price than the Skirt steak. This is largely because the Skirt cut is a little more tender, and therefore easier to cook with different methods.

How to tenderize flank steak? ›

Acids like balsamic vinegar and lemon juice or lime juice are commonly used to tenderize flank steak, but a lesser-known tenderizer is soy sauce. Like acid, soy sauce will break down the proteins just enough to make for a tender steak. This flank steak marinade is made with low-sodium soy sauce.

How do you cook a flank steak? ›

Because flank steak is relatively thin, it's best to cook it over fairly high heat so that it can develop a flavorful crust on the outside before it's overcooked on the inside. This means a flank steak will do best with quick, high-heat cooking methods like grilling, broiling, and pan-searing.

What is another name for a flank steak? ›

London broil is another name for flank steak. It is a lean and flavorful cut of beef that is often used for grilling or broiling.

Why is my grilled flank steak tough? ›

The critical reason for this is that flank steak, although lean and tasty, is tougher than other cuts of beef due to the many long, thin fibers running through it. To help tenderize flank steak, it is often marinated and cooked by grilling, stir-frying, broiling, or smoking.

Why did my flank steak come out chewy? ›

Typically, leaner cuts like the flank or skirt can be chewy if not prepared correctly. Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender.

Can you eat flank steak by itself? ›

This can be used for steak, but it can also be prepared in fajitas, tacos, sautéed with vegetables as a wok and even eaten alone on the grill. It's a very versatile cut!

Is flank steak tender or less tender? ›

Flank is more tender than the inside skirt. The outside skirt is more evenly matched and may be more tender than a flank. Keep this in mind if tenderness is important to you. You can tenderize these cuts with a mallet or by marinating them in olive oil and citrus juice overnight.

Why is flank steak so popular? ›

Flank steak is famous for its meaty flavor, but its lack of marbling (interior fat veins) means that it's tougher than some other cuts. Cooking it to medium-rare will keep it juicy, and slicing it very thinly across the grain will reduce its chew.

Should you pierce flank steak? ›

Score Meat Before Marinating: To help the marinade penetrate as deeply as possible (especially thicker cuts like flank steak), prick the surface of the meat with a fork or score it with a knife.

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