Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak

Infused with tequila, soy sauce, and brown sugar, this skirt steak recipe yields juicy and flavorful meat every time. It’s great on its own or as the star of steak fajitas, quesadillas, tacos, and salads—plus, after marinating overnight, it only takes a few minutes on the grill to finish cooking. 

 

It’s All About The Skirt Steak Marinade

While I love a marbled tender skillet ribeye, it’s hard to beat the flavor that you get in a skirt steak. However it’s a tough cut of meat which is where my fabulous marinade comes in.

This marinade recipe uses ingredients that highlight the steak while making it versatile enough to use in multiple recipes. I love the subtle flavor of tequila that comes through after cooking and how the brown sugar tempers the salty umami you get from the Worcestershire and soy sauce. The flavors of the marinade are the real star of the show, although a great cut of meat from the butcher shop definitely helps! 

Serve this with some simple to make oven roasted potatoes for an awesome meal.

What is Skirt Steak

Skirt steak is a long cut of beef that comes from the chest and abdominals of the cow and is prized for its flavor instead of its tenderness. But just because it’s a tougher cut doesn’t mean you can’t get juicy and tender meat after letting it sit in my perfect skirt steak marinade.

There are two types of skirt steak, which are great for this recipe! Inside skirt steak is from an inner part of the muscle while outside skirt steak is from the outside and is a more tender cut. You can use whichever one you prefer! Both have a thick grain and are excellent at soaking up marinades. 

You should always use a marinade when working with this type of meat due to the tough fibers it contains. Marinades infuse the meat with more flavor and help break down tough muscle fibers so that you don’t have to work so hard when taking a bite of steak! If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I love a good marinade when working with pork chops and chicken and my skirt steak marinade is no exception. 

Grab some fresh flour tortillas, avocado, and red onion to make delicious steak tacos or make an amazing steak sandwich with chimichurri sauce and roasted bell peppers. These thin strips of heaven are great to have on hand for adding a little extra flavor and protein to salads or rice bowls, too! Pair it with this charred corn or grilled corn and blueberry salad for some extra flavor! 

​Why This Is The Best Steak You’ll Ever Make

• Beefy Flavor – This cut of steak is known for its great flavor, thanks to its location in the body (the muscle moves a lot, resulting in a lean and flavorful cut).
• Super Versatile—The strip steak’s large surface area and thinness mean there’s a lot more surface area for different marinades to flavor the meat. 
• Short Cook Time – Since it’s so thin, skirt steak takes just a couple minutes on the grill to be fully cooked! 
• Lean cut of Meat – A flank steak has very little marbling especially compared to a ribeye.

Ingredients For Flavorful Steak

Skirt steak – You can use inside or outside skirt steak for this recipe. You can also use a hanger steak or flank steak which are similar to a skirt steak.

Liquids – Tequila, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce make up the base of this marinade. 

Produce – You’ll need some jalapeno, green onion, garlic, and lime. 

Seasoning – Brown sugar and black pepper round out the spicy saltiness of the rest of the marinade. 

What Other Cuts Can I Use? 

I personally love skirt steak with this recipe, but you don’t have to limit yourself to just one cut of meat. Try flank steak, hanger steak, or tender filet mignons for this recipe. They’ll all work beautifully in the spicy marinade! 

How To Make The Best Steak

Step One: Make a Skirt Steak Marinade

Whisk together the tequila, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined. Add the chopped jalapeno, onions, and garlic. 

Step Two: Marinate Steak

Place the steak in a ziplock bag and pour the marinade over it. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until the next day.

Step Three: Fire Up The Grill

Heat your grill to high (about 400º). Remove the steak from the marinade and discard any leftover liquid. Grill the steak on each side for 3-4 minutes or until it reaches 135-140º for medium. Let it rest loosely covered in foil for 5 minutes.

Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top before serving and enjoy!

Can I Make This On The Stove? 

Yes! You can make this on the stovetop using a cast iron skillet or grill pan. Follow the same philosophy of cooking it quickly on high heat! I recommend letting your pan heat up before placing the meat on it. 

Tips For Grilling Skirt Steak

• ​When it comes to skirt steak, cooking it quick on high heat is key! 
• ​This thin cut of meat can overcook quickly, so aim for medium-rare to medium doneness. Use a meat thermometer to keep from overcooking. Since meat continues to cook after it sits, you want to remove it from the heat before it reaches medium-well. 
• Use a sharp knife to slice against the grain. This will result in a tender slice of meat with a better mouth feel.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.