Easy Grilled Skirt Steak

Grilled skirt steak is a staple recipe that everyone should have. Tender grilled skirt steak is marinated with an easy citrus marinade that is both sweet and savory. It’s perfect for quick grilling. Serve the steak with fresh chimichurri sauce or as fajitas, tacos and more.

Skirt steak is one of the best steaks to grill as it cooks fast and easy at high heat. I add a delicious citrus marinade that is zesty, salty, and has a splash of umami flavor. Serve the tender steak with Chimichurri for herby flavor that compliments the beefy flavor well.

Fire up your outdoor grill and make this easy steak dinner for the entire family. The quick grilling time and delicious beefy flavor makes it a perfect choice during grilling season.

Serve the grilled skirt steak with Cajun Butter Corn and Cucumber Tomato and Feta Salad with Grilled Peaches and Ice Cream for dessert. It’s the perfect dinner any time!

Marinated Skirt Steak

Skirt steak if a long, thin cut of beef. It’s rich and beefy and is great for grilling or searing. You can use skirt steak for fajitas, carne asada, tacos and more. Or simply serve it on it’s own with chimichurri and a fresh salad or side dish.

Skirt steak is one of the most flavorful cuts of beef, but it needs to be cooked at high heat for just a few minutes. This is why grilling is one of the best ways to cook skirt steak. Marinating the steak tenderizes the beef and adds flavor.

Other cuts of beef like flank steak, are tougher, thicker, and less flavorful. Ask your butcher for an outside skirt steak which is the preferred cut of skirt steak.

Ingredients You Need

NOTE: The full list of ingredients with measurements is provided in the recipe card below.

All of the ingredients are provided in the photo below. You probably already have all of these ingredients in your pantry. Screenshot this photo and take it with you to the grocery store.

• Skirt Steak: Choose a steak with visible marbling as the marbling is fat and flavor. It should be bright red and about 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick. This recipe is only for skirt steak, so if you want to choose a different cut of beef, choose a different recipe.

For the citrus marinade:

• Citrus: I use a combination of fresh orange and lime juice. The citrus juice adds zesty flavor and helps tenderize the meat.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves: Add robust flavor to the marinade. Freshly minced garlic is best.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Use high quality extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe.
• Soy Sauce: Adds a salty umami flavor to the marinade. You can use tamari sauce, if gluten free.
• White Vinegar: Helps to tenderize the beef.
• Honey: Adds a little sweetness to the marinade and balances out the citrus.
• Browning Sauce: I love adding browning sauce to beef since it enhances the color and flavor of the beef. You can omit, if desired.
• Spices: This simple marinade uses cumin and smoked paprika to add delicious flavor.

For a kick of heat, you can add some red pepper flakes to the marinade.

How to Cook Skirt Steak on the Grill

One of the best ways to cook skirt steak is on the grill. The high heat of the grill perfectly chars the steak and cooks it quickly and easily in just a few steps.

1. Marinate the steak: Add all of the ingredients for the skirt steak marinade to a large bowl or ziploc bag. Add the steak and marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, but preferably 4 to 6 hours.
2. Let the meat rest: Once the steak is done marinating, let it rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat your grill to high heat.
3. Grill the steak: Cook the steak on the grill until medium-rare doneness, about 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness.
4. Serve: Let the steak rest for 10 minutes after cooking, then slice against the grain into thin strips. Serve immediately.

Internal Temperature of Skirt Steak

Cooking steak to the perfect temperature is the most important part. Skirt steak is a thin cut of beef so it only needs to be cooked for a few minutes at high heat.

The ideal temperature for skirt steak is Medium-Rare. If you find yourself needing to go higher, do not cook it more than medium as it will get very chewy and overcooked. Nobody likes overcooked steak!

• Medium-Rare: 130 to 135°F
• Medium: 135 to 145°F

If you want a Medium-Well or Well Done steak, choose a completely different cut of steak as this will not work well with skirt steak.

Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness. After just a few minutes, the steak will be perfectly charred and have beautiful grill marks.

Recipe Tips

• Let the steak rest: Allow the steak to rest for 10 minutes. This helps lock in the juices and flavor.
• Slice the skirt steak: Once you let the skirt steak rest, you can cut the steak into thin slices. Be sure to slice against the grain of the meat so that you cut against the tough muscle fibers and connective tissue. This makes each bite perfectly tender and exactly what you expect in a perfectly cooked steak.
• Serve the steak with fresh chimichurri: While you can serve this steak however you want, my absolute favorite way to serve the steak is with fresh homemade chimichurri sauce. The sauce is made with just a few ingredients including fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. It adds a fresh herby flavor that pairs well with the meaty flavor of the steak.

Storage and Meal Prep Instructions

Meal Prep: This skirt steak recipe is perfect for meal prep. Marinate the steak overnight and you are ready to grill in just a few minutes at dinnertime. You can make the marinade 1-2 days in advance, just make sure to wait to add the steak until the night before. You don’t want the steak to marinate for longer than 18 to 24 hours.

Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Steak is a great addition to a salad if you’re looking for a great way to use leftovers.

Reheating: You can reheat the steak on a grill or in the oven. The oven or grill temperature should be 250 to 300°F. Heat for about 10 minutes, until warmed through.

Serving Suggestions

Grilled skirt steak is a versatile dish that tastes great with a variety of dishes. The absolute best way to serve the steak is with homemade chimichurri sauce. The sauce adds a vibrant, fresh, and robust flavor that pairs well with skirt steak.

• Easy Chimichurri Sauce: A simple sauce you can make at home that is packed with flavor.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: The perfect comfort food combination.
• Roasted Garlic Cheesy Bread: Because cheesy bread goes with everything!

No matter how you choose to enjoy this flavorful steak recipe, you will have a delicious lunch or dinner.

More Steak Recipes

If you love steak as much as I do, try a few of my other favorite steak recipes:

• Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
• Puerto Rican Pepper Steak
• Copycat Chipotle Steak
• Easy Pepper Steak