Grilled Flank Steak

Grilled Tex-Mex Flank Steak is a quick and easy meal that is a showstopper and crowd-pleaser. With zero marinade time, and a quick cook time, this Flank Steak recipe is perfect for any occasion.

This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.

This is one of my all-time favorite Beef recipes. I love it because it can feed a crowd and has minimal prep time. I don’t know about you, but if it’s summer and I’m grilling, that also means it’s hot outside. And when it’s hot outside, I’m not interested in working hard on dinnertime.

I wanted to develop a grilled Flank Steak recipe that took minimal prep because no one wants to be working in the kitchen on summer nights. The rub is based completely on ground spices because they are packed with potent flavor. Since this recipe doesn’t have a marinade time, those flavors needed to bloom the minute they hit the hot grill.

I also wanted the cook time to be quick and the cooking directions to be easy so that even if you’re new to cooking Beef on the grill, this recipe felt totally doable. If you’re a Beef grilling master, you’ll want to save this for later because it will be a complete hit.

If Flank Steak is a cut of Beef you’ve never heard of before, here’s a little bit of information about it.

• Flank Steak comes from the lower abdominal muscles closer to the rear of the animal.
• Flank Steak is different than Skirt Steak and Round Tip Steak, although they can look similar in their packaging.
• Flank Steak is typically sold in packages that are around 1lb.
• Flank Steak is near the middle of the pricing scale.
• Flank Steak is best served medium-rare.

How To Grill Flank Steak

1. Preheat your grill on high heat. If it has a temperature reading, it should be around 600ºF.
2. Combine chili powder, cumin powder, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Pat the Flank Steak dry with a paper towel.
4. Brush or rub oil onto the Flank Steak.
5. Even distribute the seasoning mix you created in step 2 over the Flank Steak, rubbing it in and making sure every surface is coated.
6. Place the Flank Steak on the grill and close the lid. The temperature will drop to about 500ºF. This is where you want it to stay.
7. Grill for approximately 4 minutes per side, finishing when the internal temperature of the Flank Steak reaches 145ºF.
8. Remove from the grill and let sit for 5-10 minutes to rest.
9. Serve sliced by slicing thinly against the grain of the steak (see description and picture above in the post).

How long do you grill Flank Steak?

As mentioned before, Flank Steak is best when served medium rare (145ºF). Because of the shape of Flank Steak, typically this takes about 3-4 minutes per side if your grill is on high heat.

How do you cut Flank Steak?

When cutting Flank Steak or any cut of Beef, it’s always best to cut thin strips against the grain. Beef will always have a “direction” the muscle strands are going. By cutting across those, “against the grain,” you make them shorter which makes them easier to eat. This can impact the tenderness of your meat and is an important part of serving grilled Flank Steak.

How do you serve Flank Steak?

We like to serve Flank Steak as pictured here; on a sheet tray surrounded by all the toppings we like to eat with it. You can serve it on flour tortillas and make soft tacos, or even in hard taco shells. It’s amazing chopped up and served on Tex-Mex nachos or in a rice and taco bowl. The options are delicious and endless!