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.
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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?
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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 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.
Dannii's Top 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) of Thin cut beef steaks
- 0.5 teaspoon of Garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon of Paprika
- 0.25 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon of Onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon of Dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon of Dried thyme
- 1 pinch of Sea salt and ground black pepper
- 0.5 tablespoon of Olive oil - for the veg
- 0.5 tablespoon of 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 tsp of Garlic powder, 0.5 tsp of Paprika, 0.25 tsp of Cayenne pepper, 0.5 tsp of Onion powder, 0.5 tsp of Dried oregano, 0.5 tsp of Dried thyme and 1 pinch of Sea salt and ground black pepperSprinkle over both sides of 200 g of Thin cut beef steaks. Make sure the whole steak is covered.
- In a pan heat 0.5 tbsp of 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 tbsp of 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 Video
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
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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.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I love the sound of the cajun spice mix, I'll have to try it out in a veggie version :)
Camilla @FabFood4All says
Ooh these Tacos are right up my street - so tasty and healthy with the right balance of vegetables:-) Thanks for sharing!
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet says
Truth be told, I've never eaten tacos before or for that matter any Mexican food. I think it's time I need to find a proper Mexican restaurant in London to dine at because looking at your offering it seems like I'm missing out!
Lianne Soller says
Yum! This looks fabulous! I absolutely love tacos of any kind! I recently made some with sweet potato, quinoa, and black beans, with a pomegranate cranberry salsa. Best tacos I've ever had!
Hannah Staveley says
My hubby would love this so much I am a veggie so not for me but could change some of the items.
Tracey says
I love Mexican food and these Cajun stake tacos look delicous and super easy to make. Tx
shobha says
I love Mexican food.. all the dishes here are awesome. Been long time since I made them.
Arriane says
How spicy are these? I don't like anything too hot.
Denise says
I am making these tonight and I can't wait. I love how quick they are.
Rach @ This Italian Family says
These tacos are a great idea! And these look like the perfect dinner! Yummy!
David @ Spiced says
I lived in south Louisiana for a while, Dannii...and let me tell ya, Cajun food is something special! These Cajun Steak Tacos are making my mouth water right now...thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca says
I am going to make this with quorn "chicken" as I am a vegetarian. That salsa looks amazing. I have never tried making it myself, but it sounds really easy.
Tammy says
Those peppers look really good. Did you put anything on those?
Agness says
I am absolutely in love with a steak meat and avocado!! Omomo! It looks like a perfect meal to me! Omomomomomo! Thanks for posting that :*
Alison says
I adore mexican food. I normally use chicken but must try steak and am really intrigued by the idea of fish. These look lovely