Chipotle Skirt Steak Fajitas with Sour Cream

Name: Chipotle Skirt Steak Fajitas with Sour Cream
Prep time: 1 h 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 lb skirt steak (or flank steak; 2 chipotles in adobo, chopped fine; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 tbsp brewed coffee; Juice of 1 lime; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 red bell pepper, diced into thin strips; 1 yellow bell pepper, diced into thin strips; 1/2 white or red onion, diced into thin strips; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup chopped cilantro; 1 tsp salt, more to taste; Sour cream, for serving; Flour tortillas

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Fajitas are a super quick meal, loaded with flavor. These are so simple to make with generous portions of juicy steak and flavor bursts. Chipotle skirt steak fajitas are quite spicy but balanced out with sweet peppers, cilantro, and sour cream.

Chipotle skirts steak fajitas, grilled and served with sour cream

Grilled strips of flavor

The Spanish word “fajita” means “little strip” which makes sense when you look at the tacos above. Making fajitas couldn’t be easier, simply cutting veggies into strips and grilling a thin steak at high heat.

I haven’t tried this recipe with chicken or pork, but I assume it would do just fine as well. The chipotle-coffee marinade is specifically designed to enhance the natural beefy flavors, bringing out smoky, roasted, and earthy tones with a punch of heat.

Marinating skirt steak with the chipotle coffee sauce

Skirt Steak is a Sponge

Skirt steak or flank steak are the most commonly used cuts for fajitas. Personally, I choose skirt steak every time because of the fat content and it’s sponge qualities. It’s so tender that sometimes you have to be careful of it falling apart when raw. All of those open pockets of muscles and fat soak up marinades so well.

The biggest question: How long should you marinade skirt steak?

That depends on the amount of acid. The more acid in the marinade, the shorter the time. Generally, I will marinate my skirts steaks for a minimum of one hour in the fridge, sealed in a plastic bag. It won’t hurt if you keep it sealed overnight, but I would avoid doing a 24-hour marinate with skirt steak.

Skirt steak searing on the grill, next to the pan of peppers and onions.

The components of fajitas

Fajitas are not complicated: Sliced meat, thin-sliced veggies, and tortillas. These chipotle skirt steak fajitas are designed to have a combination of spicy, smoky, and sweet. The biggest key is making sure that you’re balancing out your flavor profiles for the most explosive bites. Let’s talk about those flavors right now:

Spicy & Savory Steak. The marinade includes chopped chipotle chiles in adobo, coffee, minced garlic, and a few other components. Bold, explosive flavors are soaked into the meet to complement the beefy flavor you’re looking for with each bite. The marinade doesn’t need every flavor profile, that’s why we have…
Peppers & Onions. These are going to be softer, and sweet. We don’t want gooey, soft peppers, just soft enough that you’re not crunching down. You could add something spicy like jalapenos, but I promise you that the steak has that extra kick.
Something Cool. So, I like sour cream for this one. Guacamole would work too. The reason this is important is that the sour cream (or guac) not only cools the mouth from the heat but also has acid. The extra acid ties the earthiness of the chiles and coffee together with the sweet veggies.

Fajita peppers and onions are cooking on the pan. — *Veggies in the Hestan pan, right over the burner.*

Multitasking on the grill

Having an outside kitchen is a huge luxury, one that I do not have. What I do have, however, are large grilling surfaces and amazing pans that withstand incredible heat and wear. These Hestan NanoBond pans take up to 1050°F and are made out of titanium, with an aluminum core. They hold heat extremely well and can take the punishment. This is NOT an ad, just letting you know what I’m using on my grills.

The vegetables will take 8-10 minutes to soften, so I would recommend firing them up alongside the steak if you have enough grilling surface. If you don’t and you’re a single-burger cook, just cook the steak first and let it rest under loosely tented foil while you cook the veggies. It will all work out.

Once you’ve got the peppers, onions, and skirt steak ready to go. Slice against the grain and serve right away!

Check out more skirt steak recipes if that’s your thing too!

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can’t find skirt steak or flank steak?

Any thin grilling steak will work for this recipe. If you use a thicker steak like a ribeye, the process will be different, but the results would sure taste great!

Can I use other peppers or onions?

Yes, just know that they will change the flavors. I also like to use poblanos, which are more bitter. Green peppers are also more bitter, so if you used both it would be overwhelming. Pay attention to the flavors.

Can I use something other than coffee?

Sure! You should try soy, and omit the salt in the marinade. The combination is pretty delicious and adds some extra umami. Beef stock would work as well, just remember this also has salt.

What’s the best type of tortilla for fajitas?

I prefer flour, which is more traditional as well. Flour tortillas soak up the juices better, and are generally larger which means it will hold the filling.