These Cajun Steak Tacos are an easy weeknight meal to impress and ready in under 15 minutes. Lean steak covered in delicious Cajun seasoning and gently fried, it makes one of the best taco toppings, with all the usual fixings to go with it. Mexican restaurant quality tacos, made at home! They are fresh and light and great for feeding a crowd.
Tacos, tacos, tacos! Oh how we love tacos! Little bready disks piled high with all our favourite toppings. What’s not to love? We would happily eat tacos all day every day and Cajun Steak Tacos are one of our favourites. Melt in your mouth steak with all your favourite toppings. Not only are they a crowd pleaser but they are super simple and quick to make. Making them perfect for a dinner with friends.
What makes them really quick to cook, is using a thin cut of beef. It keeps the tacos healthy, still full of lean protein, and quick. Whilst we love slow cooked shredded beef tacos, sometimes we just don’t have time to make those, so these are the perfect weeknight alternative. Load it up with homemade salsa and guacamole for that taco fix.
If you are looking for some other beef recipes to try, then why not try our Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa, Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon, 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef, or Beef Burrito Bowl.
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What you will need
- Steak - We used flank steak, however sirloin or rib eye will work too. You want a thin piece of steak so it cooks quickly.
- Herbs and spices - We used a Cajun seasoning blend. You could make your own, or save time and use a good quality store bought one. You could use a Fajita mix instead it you wanted.
- Oil - We cooked the steak in a good quality olive oil.
- Bell pepper - This adds plenty of crunch to the tacos. We used red and green bell peppers, but any colour would work.
- Onion - Thinly sliced onions get nice and caramelised and they are a delicious addition to tacos.
- Small soft tortillas - We use flour tortillas, however you could use corn tortillas instead. Use small ones to keep these taco size.
- Salsa, guacamole and slaw - These are the perfect taco toppings. We have given some recipes below, but feel free to use your favourites.
Step by step
One: Mix together the spices and sprinkle over both sides of the steak. Make sure the whole steak is covered.
Two: In a pan heat half the oil and add the peppers and onions and gently cook for around 5 minutes until softened and put in a bowl and set aside.
Three: Add the rest of the oil to the pan and add the steak and cook for 2 minutes each side for a medium steak.
Four: Slice the steak and serve with the vegetables, salsa, guacamole and slaw in a soft tortilla.
Why should you try it?
- Quick and easy - These take just 15 minutes to cook and once the steak is cooked it is as easy and loading the tacos up.
- Adaptable - There are so many different ways that you can serve these steak tacos. Whatever your favourite taco toppings are, put them on.
- A new way to eat steak - If you are used to having steak with chips and peppercorn sauce, then this is a new way to enjoy it and now extra effort.
Health benefits of beef
Beef can definitely play an important role in a balanced diet and using lean cuts is key for this. It can provide a lean source of protein, iron and eight essential vitamins and minerals. Beef is a significant provider of protein and is naturally low in sodium and contributes towards good health and wellbeing.
When it comes to beef, we are all about the thin lean cuts (which are perfect for tacos, when you want to save space for all the other fillings too). Not only are they quick to cook, but they are lower in fat too.
Beef is a significant provider of protein and is naturally low in sodium and contribute towards good health and wellbeing.
Thin cuts of beef are no more than 5mm thick and because they are so quick and easy to cook, they are good to use in things like sandwiches, wraps and pasta dishes for a super quick and lean meal. They are so versatile and hopefully you have tried our Spicy Steak and Roasted Potato Salad with Chermoula Dressing already and you will give these Cajun Steak Tacos a try next.
What is the best beef to use?
The best steak to use for steak tacos is flank steak. This is also known as top round in the UK. Flank steak is a leaner cut of meat and when it is cooked it is tender and juicy. Make sure to slice your meat against the grain for the best results. Other beef options that work well for steak tacos include flank steak, rib eye, sirloin steak, or New York strip steak.
What to serve with Cajun Steak Tacos
These steak tacos are pretty filling as they are. However, if you are serving it as part of a Mexican feast, then we have a few side dishes that would go really well with them. Why not try some of these:
- Chipotle Black Bean Nachos
- Salsa Picante
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Restaurant Style Salsa
- Baked Tortilla Chips
- Jalapeno Sauce
- Grilled Pineapple Salsa
- Mexican Coleslaw
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you don't need to and we haven't for this recipe and have kept it quick and simple and ready in 15 minutes. However, if you have more time then you can marinate it first and it will give a more intense flavour. Add a little oil and some lime juice and then marinate it for 30 minutes. No longer though, as the steak will get mushy.
This really depends on how you like your steak cooked. We recommend using a meat thermometer to get it to the correct temperature for how you like your steak.
Rare - 45°C to 50°C (120°F to 125°F)
Medium-Rare - 55°C to 60°C (130°F to 135°F)
Medium - 60°C to 65°C (140°F to 145°F)
Medium-Well - 65°C to 70°C (150°F to 155°F)
Well Done - 70°C and above (160°F and above)
Once the tacos are made us, we don't recommend storing them. However, if you have cooked too much steak, then it will keep in an air tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
If you use gluten free tortillas and seasoning mix and make sure there is no cross contamination, then these can be gluten free.
Yes, this can easily be doubled. You might need to cook the steak in batches.
Extra tips
- You will need to cook these on a high heat - this is so you get a nice sear on the outside, but it still gets pink in the middle.
- Allow the steak to rest for 10 minutes before cutting it. This is to make sure that you don't lose all the juices and flavour.
- Make sure to cut the steak across the grain. This is to break up the muscle fibres and it will be tough and chewy otherwise.
- Add some creaminess by topping the steak with some slices of avocado.
- To take the flavours to a next level, skip the salsa and drizzle with some chimichurri sauce.
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Recipe
Cajun Steak Tacos
Ingredients
- 200 g thin cut beef steaks
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon paprika
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 small tortillas
- 1 red pepper thinly sliced
- 1 green pepper thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- salsa, guacamole and slaw to serve
Instructions
- Mix together the spices and sprinkle over both sides of the steak. Make sure the whole steak is covered.0.5 teaspoon garlic powder, 0.5 teaspoon paprika, 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 0.5 teaspoon onion powder, 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano, 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper, 200 g thin cut beef steaks
- Thinly slice the peppers and onion.1 red pepper, 1 green pepper, 1 medium onion
- In a pan heat half the oil and add the peppers and onions and gently cook for around 5 minutes until softened and put in a bowl and set aside.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the rest of the oil to the pan and add the steak and cook for 2 minutes each side for a medium steak.
- Slice the steak and serve with the vegetables, salsa, guacamole and slaw in a soft tortilla.4 small tortillas, salsa, guacamole and slaw to serve
Notes
- You will need to cook these on a high heat - this is so you get a nice sear on the outside, but it still gets pink in the middle.
- Allow the steak to rest for 10 minutes before cutting it. This is to make sure that you don't lose all the juices and flavour.
- Make sure to cut the steak across the grain. This is to break up the muscle fibres and it will be tough and chewy otherwise.
- Add some creaminess by topping the steak with some slices of avocado.
- To take the flavours to a next level, skip the salsa and drizzle with some chimichurri sauce.
Heidy L. McCallum
Good morning from America, I have to say this is a very interesting fusion recipe you have here. I used to live in Louisiana and never had the privilege of seeing a wonderful Cajun Mexican Fusion such as this one. It looks remarkable and I would love to try it out one day. Thanks for a new bright idea for dinner. You rock!
Dannii
Hello from the UK! We are all about fusion food here at HHH and this is one of our favourites. Cajun seasoning lends itself so well to so many other recipes. I hope you enjoy it.
Barnaby
wow that looks sensational can't wait to make this. You need to try some of this tea I drink its amazing will share a link.
Codrut Turcanu
It looks so... super yummy! Definitely worth trying at home...
Elaine
Wow. The pictures of these tacos are amazing. I wish you could smell and taste pictures :) I will have to try this recipe as well. Thanks for posting! Keep cooking!
hannah wood
The Beef looks so good in the Tacos my Husband would love me to make this for him.
Emily @amummytoo
Lovely flavours - these would go down a storm with my husband and son.
Kelley @ Chef Savvy
I love tacos! I need to start doing tacos more and start with your cajun steak tacos! Yumm
Fiver Feeds
This is just so perfect. It has all the ingredients I like, I'll definitely give it a try!
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes
Tacos look delicious and they'd definitely keep my resident carnivore happy :)
Jan @GlugofOil
I saw this and I immediately wanted to make this! Everything looks so tasty! Oh yes I have to make this.
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk)
Looks like a perfect meal with beautiful photos too.
Mayuri Patel
I am not going to buy ready made cajun powder. Its best to make it at home , fresh and without preservatives. My favourite taco filling is beans and corn with loads of salad and avocado.
Sarah Maison Cupcake
That looks like a proper feast and I would love to sit down to a board laid with all that! I'm not that familiar with cajun flavours but need to experiment and get into them!