Grilled Skirt Steak Recipe

This Grilled Skirt Steak Recipe is marinated in a simple, yet jaw-dropping marinade and grilled to absolute perfection.

Serve this juicy and flavorful grilled steak with my herb-infused chimichurri sauce!

Imagine, perfectly juicy and tender steak that’s marinated in a delicious blend of sweet, savoury, spice and acidity. Then it’s grilled for just a few minutes on high heat to give it that perfect caramelized char on the outside… can you taste it yet?

I have been OBSESSED with this recipe all summer long, and it’s time you join the obsession.

Difference Between Skirt Steak and Flank Steak

What exactly is Skirt Steak? How does it differ from Flank Steak? Can you use Flank Steak in place of Skirt Steak?

All great questions! 

Both Skirt Steak and Flank Steak are long, narrow cuts of beef.

Skirt steak comes from the diaphragm muscles of the cow, containing a lot of tough fibers and is usually quite thin. Visually, you should be able to see these fibers running through the cut of beef.

Flank steak, on the other hand comes from the bottom abdominal area of the cow, and is typically more muscly and thicker cut of beef.

Can You Swap Flank Steak for Skirt Steak?

These two cuts of beef are probably the most interchangeable, but if you are wanting to swap flank steak for skirt steak, you’ll want to pound the flank steak down to a more even thickness. You can use a meat mallet or a heavy rolling pin to achieve this.

Since skirt steak is typically a thin cut of beef, it only needs a few minutes of high heat on the grill to cook, where flank steak can be a little thicker and could possibly need more time.

Skirt Steak Marinade

Skirt steak takes a marinade very well, but you want to be careful to not let it sit for more than 24 hours, as this can be overkill for the thin cut of beef.

All you really need is at least 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• Avocado Oil – a good quality oil that can tolerate high heat
• Dry Sherry – adds the perfect amount of acidity to tenderize the steak
• Soy Sauce – gives the marinade the salt it needs to also help tenderize
• Honey – for added sweetness and a nice caramelization of the steak’s crust
• Garlic – freshly chopped garlic or jarred garlic will work
• Crushed Red Pepper – for some added heat to the marinade

This simple marinade adds the perfect punch of flavor to the steak, with a little touch of honey to help caramelize the outside of the steak.

How To Cook Steak on the Grill

Since skirt steak is a thin, tough cut of beef, it does best when only cooked to a medium-rare (130-135 degrees F) or at most, medium (135-145 degrees F).

In order to make this steak nice and tender on the grill, we need to cook it at a HIGH heat.

I’m talking, as high as your grill can go. 500 degrees+. 

My grilled Skirt Steak recipe only needs a few minutes per side, just enough to quickly caramelize the outside, while still remaining nice and tender on the inside. If you overcook the steak, the fibers running throughout will get tough and chewy.

Internal Temperature of Skirt Steak

Again, we’re ONLY cooking this steak to a medium-rare… at most medium (and I would err on the lower side of medium). If you’re looking for a steak that you can cook to anything more than this, this is not the recipe for you.

• Medium-Rare: 130 – 135 degrees F.
• Medium: 135 – 145 degrees F.
• Medium-Well: pick a different cut of steak like a ribeye or filet.
• Well Done: put the skirt steak down and try this Salisbury Steak Recipe instead.

My Favorite Meat Thermometer

This is my favorite instant read meat thermometer. It’s an affordable piece of equipment that will help you become a better cook.

PRO TIP – let the steak sit at room temperature in the marinade for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling. This will help it cook more efficiently.

Resting The Skirt Steak

After your steak has cooked, let it rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before slicing into it. Don’t cover the steak with foil at this time as that could increase the internal temperature. Instead, if needed, loosely cover with foil only if absolutely necessary (ie: flies nearby).

How To Properly Slice Skirt Steak

One last bit of info before I send you on your way with this delicious skirt steak recipe, and it might be one of the most important steps… how to cut skirt steak once it’s cooked! 

You can visibly see the fibers running through the skirt steak (easiest to see prior to cooking), this is called “the grain”. You’re going to thinly slice the steak in a perpendicular cut, or “against the grain” to achieve the most tender bite.

Example: For this steak, I’ve made one cut right in the middle of the steak, dividing it into two more manageable pieces. Then I turn the steak 90 degrees, so the grain is going in a perpendicular direction to my slicing.

Skirt Steak Side Dishes

Like I said earlier, we’ve been making this grilled skirt steak recipe on constant repeat in our house. Here are some of our favorite sides to pair with it…

• Easy Chimichurri Sauce – that gorgeous green stuff pictured above
• Garlic Parmesan Rice – perfectly creamy and fluffy
• Baked Potatoes – steak and potatoes are always a winning combo
• Roasted Broccoli or Brussels Sprouts
• Grilled Veggie Kabobs

I highly, highly recommend pairing with the chimichurri sauce, which is why I’ve included it in the recipe card below.

I’m so excited for you to try this recipe!

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