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 (or air 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.
We would happily eat tacos all day every day and steak tacos are one of our favourite taco recipes. Melt in your mouth steak with all your favourite toppings.
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 to make. Load it up with our homemade salsa and the best 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?
Jump to:
Why You Will Love Them
- 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.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- 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. You could use leftovers of of Air Fryer Peppers too.
- 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.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Steak Tacos - Step by step
- Step 1: Mix together the spices and sprinkle over both sides of the steak. Make sure the whole steak is covered.
- Step 2: 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.
- Step 3: Add the rest of the oil to the pan and add the steak and cook for 2 minutes each side for a medium steak.
- Step 4: Slice the steak and serve with the vegetables, salsa, guacamole and slaw in a soft tortilla.
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 rib eye, sirloin steak, or New York strip steak.
What To Serve With 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
We also like making an avocado and mango salsa to add on top of this steak taco recipe, as it really lightens it up. Perfect for a warm summer evening.
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.
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. For a steak taco marinade, 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.
More Taco Recipes
If you’ve tried this steak taco recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Cajun Steak Tacos
Ingredients
- 200 g (7 oz) 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 ground black pepper
- 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil - for the veg
- 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil - for the steak
- 4 Soft tortillas - small
- 1 Red bell pepper - thinly sliced
- 1 Green bell pepper - thinly sliced
- 1 Onion - thinly sliced
- Salsa, guacamole and slaw - to serve
Instructions
- Mix together 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 and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepperSprinkle over both sides of 200 g Thin cut beef steaks. Make sure the whole steak is covered.
- In a pan heat 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil and add 1 Red bell pepper, 1 Green bell pepper and 1 Onion and gently cook for around 5 minutes until softened. Put in a bowl and set aside.
- Add 0.5 tablespoon Olive 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 4 Soft tortillas.
Recipe 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.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Heidy L. McCallum says
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 says
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 says
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.
Elaine says
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 says
The Beef looks so good in the Tacos my Husband would love me to make this for him.
Emily @amummytoo says
Lovely flavours - these would go down a storm with my husband and son.
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
I love tacos! I need to start doing tacos more and start with your cajun steak tacos! Yumm