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Home » Recipes & Tips » Leftover Steak Tacos Recipe

Leftover Steak Tacos Recipe

04/27/21 | 30 Minutes or Less, Main Dish, Recipes & Tips

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Learn how to make steak tacos from leftovers so you don't have to waste, but don't have to eat reheated steak either. Win-win!Learn how to make steak tacos from leftovers so you don't have to waste, but don't have to eat reheated steak either. Win-win!

Learn how to make steak tacos from leftovers so you don’t have to waste, but don’t have to eat reheated steak either. Win-win!

What to do with Leftover Steak: make Steak Tacos!

Steak night is always a great time, but using up leftovers may seem like a pain. Cooking a steak twice leads to a rubbery mess, but turning the steak into something unique can have its advantages. For example- leftover steak tacos.

Take your leftover steak from the night before, slice it thin and cook it just right. Lay between a soft or crunchy tortilla shell and you have yourself a fabulous new dinner that’s both frugal and fun.

Tacos are always a huge hit around here and making steak tacos with leftover steak just amplifies that. It’s a creative way to use up what you already have on hand and helps to prevent food from going to waste.

This leftover steak tacos recipe is a perfect meal for Taco Tuesday or any other day of the week. While perfect for summer, it can be served up any time of the year and in any weather. Using our own homemade taco seasoning mixture, and a fresh garden squash we can add both flavor and some moisture (as well as hidden veggies) into every bite!

 Steak Tacos Recipe Ingredients

  • Steak: We need 3 cups of finely chopped leftover cooked steak. You can use steak, roast, or any other leftover cooked meat depending on what you have on hand. Just make sure to chop the pieces small.
  • Oil: We want to use vegetable oil to help cook down the onions and ingredients to prevent sticking and help to heat everything evenly.
  • Onion: This will help to add a little natural sweetness and flavor.
  • Garlic: Adding some minced garlic into the mix will really help to make our taco filling taste incredible.
  • Zucchini: I’m almost always trying to add in a little veggie to my taco filling. While I mostly opt for summer squashes like zucchini, any mild flavored veggie could work, depending on what is in season.
  • Taco seasoning: Our homemade taco seasoning will include chili powder, cumin, coriander, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
  • Tomato paste: Adding in some tomato paste will help to bring all of the flavors and ingredients together into one cohesive dish.
  • Beef broth: To make sure our filling isn’t dry, adding in some beef broth or water wil help to give us the moisture needed.
  • Salt and Pepper: Adding salt and pepper to taste means adjusting it to your own tastebuds.
  • Tortillas: We want to use 6 inch taco shells so our tacos are small. You can fry them up for a better taco eating experience or just buy store-bought taco shells for convenience.
hands with a sharp knife cutting steak into bite sized pieces
adding seasoning to a sillet full of cooked steak bites and onion
adding water to taco seasoned steak and onions in a skillet
seasonings and tomato paste in a skillet full of cooked steak pieces and diced onion

How to make Left Over Steak Tacos

  1. Cook the oil in your pan until it’s heated and shimmering.
  2. Add in the onion and zucchini, cooking until just beginning to brown. This should take about 3 minutes.
  3. Add in your cooked steak pieces and stir to combine. Let cook until heated through, about another 3 minutes.
  4. Add in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add in the taco seasoning spices, stirring to coat the meat and veggies well. Cook for another minute.
  6. Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth, and cook until liquid is reduced and very little liquid remains. This should be about 3 more minutes.
  7. Now fill your taco shells of choice with filling, being careful not to overpack them.
  8. Serve warm with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy.
upclose view of cheese covered steak tacos with lime wedges to the side

How to serve a Steak Taco

Steak tacos taste great plain or with any of these optional toppings:

  • Shredded lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Diced onion
  • Shredded cheese
  • Cilantro
  • Diced avocado
  • Sour cream
  • Lime

Leftover Steak Taco Storage

Storing the tacos in the shells is not recommended. However, the taco filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Leftover Steak for Tacos FAQ

What goes well with steak tacos?

Cilantro Lime Rice
Avocado Lime Ranch
Avocado Corn Salad
Avocado Salad Recipe
Black Beans
Refried Beans

How do you cut thin steak for tacos?

I think the thinner the cut steak is for the tacos, the easier it is to eat.

How do you heat up leftover steak for tacos?

The easiest way is in a skillet, as outlined in the recipe.

Can you add taco seasoning to already cooked meat?

Yes, you can. This recipe outlines how to do that.

What can I season steak with?

You can season the steak with the spices outlined in the recipe or with taco seasoning.

What is taco steak meat called?

It is typically just called steak. Any kind of steak will work for this recipe.

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upclose view of cheese covered steak tacos with lime wedges to the side
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Leftover Steak Taco Recipe

Learn how to make steak tacos from leftovers so you don't have to waste, but don't have to eat reheated steak either. Win-win!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword beef taco filling recipe, leftover steak tacos, steak tacos
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 282kcal
Author Longbourn Farm • Alli Kelley
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Equipment

  • Redmond Real Salt
  • Wooden Kitchen Utensils
  • Non-Stick Frying Pans
  • Liquid Measuring Cups
  • Taco Holder

Ingredients

  • 3 cups steak (cooked, leftover) chopped
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup zucchini diced or shredded, optional
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup beef broth water can be substituted
  • salt and pepper to taste
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Add oil to the pan and let it heat until shimmering.
  • Cook onion and zucchini until just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the cooked steak and stir until combined and heated through about 3 minutes. 
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Add the spices, stir to coat meat and vegetables. Cook for about 1 minute.
  • Add tomato paste and beef broth stir to combine and simmer until reduced and very little liquid remains about 3 minutes.
  • Fill taco shells of your choice or fry your own!
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Notes

You can use whatever leftover cooked meat you have. Steak, roast, anything you have. Whatever you use, I recommend keeping the filling pieces chopped pretty small so they fit well in the tortilla shells and everything in the filling is a uniform size.
I always try to include a veggie in the beef mix, and this time of year it’s zucchini. Any other mild-flavored vegetable will go great in beef tacos, the beef and the seasonings have bold flavors so slipping some mild-flavored veggies in there shouldn’t bother anyone.
I actually make a large batch of the spices in this recipe so I can have homemade taco spice mix on hand. I add about 3 tablespoons of the taco spice mix per pound of meat, but taste test to your preference. Here is the spice mix recipe for a larger batch:  Homemade Taco Seasoning

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 890IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @longbournfarm or tag #longbournfarm!

Comments | 14 comments

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Comments

  1. Diya says

    August 16, 2020 at 8:43 PM

    This was very good. I made the recipe as is. It tasted like a fajita without the green peppers. I will definitely make it again but I will cook some green pepper strips in at the onion and meat cooking stage. We used tomato basil wraps because that’s all that I had and we added all of the optional ingredients listed. My husband gave the “MMM” of approval. That’s when I know it’s good.

    Reply
    • Alli says

      August 17, 2020 at 10:27 PM

      So glad to hear that Diya! Thanks!

      Reply
  2. ROBYN says

    August 6, 2020 at 3:59 AM

    5 stars
    One of the best way to use leftover beef. Thank for your useful recipe!

    Reply
    • Alli says

      August 6, 2020 at 11:05 PM

      So glad you liked it! Thanks, Robyn!!

      Reply
  3. Robert A Gjurgevich says

    July 6, 2020 at 9:45 PM

    5 stars
    Made it. It was a very good for my left over Tri-tip! 🙂

    Reply
    • Alli says

      July 6, 2020 at 9:56 PM

      So glad you liked it, Robert!

      Reply
  4. Sammi Windley says

    December 30, 2017 at 7:07 PM

    5 stars
    What a great way to use up left overs!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Cook Steak in a Pan • Longbourn Farm says:
    October 18, 2022 at 12:08 AM

    […] Once you’ve mastered how to cook steak in a pan, you can branch out and try all sorts of different steak recipes – like my leftover steak tacos! […]

    Reply
  2. 26 Leftover Steak Recipes (Easy) - Whimsy & Spice says:
    September 6, 2022 at 2:49 AM

    […] 10. Leftover Steak Tacos […]

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  3. How To Cook Zucchini On The Stove • Longbourn Farm says:
    July 14, 2022 at 10:12 PM

    […] Beef Taco Filling […]

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  4. What is Brine? (Brining Salt to Water Ratio) • Longbourn Farm says:
    July 14, 2022 at 11:22 AM

    […] Leftover Steak Tacos […]

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  5. 25+ Leftover Steak Recipes That Can Impress Even The Pickiest Eaters says:
    February 28, 2022 at 8:31 AM

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  6. 17 Easy Leftover Steak Recipes - MenuDetails.com says:
    August 9, 2021 at 10:49 AM

    […] https://longbournfarm.com/beef-tacos-from-scratch-zucchini/ […]

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  7. 17 Easy Leftover Steak Recipes (Quick & Delicious) says:
    July 19, 2021 at 3:18 PM

    […] https://longbournfarm.com/beef-tacos-from-scratch-zucchini/ […]

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Hi, Friend!


Alli Kelley is an Agriculture focused entrepreneur. She runs a successful food blog, a consulting and coaching business, and all the social media connected with an online presence.

She also owns and operates a small, diversified farmstead where she enjoys home improvement projects, experimenting in the garden, creating profitable mini businesses on the farm, and of course, riding her big grey horse, Zane.
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