Mexican Street Tacos Recipe

Introduction

Mexican Street Tacos offer a burst of vibrant flavors wrapped in warm, soft tortillas. This easy recipe features marinated skirt steak cooked to perfection and topped with fresh onion, cilantro, and lime for a truly authentic taste.

A white round plate holds six small tacos arranged in a circle around a clear glass bowl filled with bright green lime wedges. Each taco has two soft white corn tortillas with light brown char marks, folded gently. Inside, the first layer is a generous amount of dark brown cooked meat pieces with a slightly crispy texture, topped with small bits of finely chopped purple onions and fresh green cilantro leaves scattered on top. Around the plate, sprigs of fresh cilantro and whole bright green limes rest on a white marbled surface, along with a small clear bowl of extra chopped onions nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil (divided)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
  • 12 mini flour tortillas (warmed)
  • 3/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime (cut into wedges)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, lime juice, 1 tablespoon canola oil, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano to create the marinade.
  2. Step 2: Place the skirt steak in a gallon size Ziploc bag or a large bowl, add the marinade, and coat the meat well. Marinate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours, turning occasionally to ensure even flavor.
  3. Step 3: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak along with any marinade and cook, stirring frequently, until the steak has browned and the marinade has reduced, about 5 to 6 minutes, or until the steak reaches your desired doneness.
  4. Step 4: Warm the mini flour tortillas if needed. Serve the cooked steak in tortillas, topped with diced red onion, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Tips & Variations

  • For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or diced jalapeño to the marinade.
  • Swap skirt steak for flank steak or sirloin if preferred; just adjust cooking time accordingly.
  • Use corn tortillas instead of flour for a more traditional flavor.
  • Top with crumbled queso fresco or a drizzle of crema for added richness.

Storage

Store leftover cooked steak and toppings separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the steak gently in a skillet over medium heat. Keep tortillas wrapped in foil or a clean cloth to maintain softness.

How to Serve

Three soft corn tortillas with light brown char marks on their edges are folded and placed closely together on a round white plate showing some metal texture. Each tortilla holds a filling of browned, cooked meat pieces that look juicy and slightly crispy. On top of the meat, there are small, chopped purple and white onion pieces along with bright green cilantro leaves scattered evenly. The whole scene is set against a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the marinade and steak ahead of time?

Yes, you can marinate the steak up to 4 hours in advance to deepen the flavors. Avoid marinating longer as the acidity in lime juice can start to break down the meat’s texture.

What if I don’t have a cast iron skillet?

Any heavy-bottomed skillet or grill pan will work well for cooking the steak. Just be sure to heat it properly before adding the meat to get a good sear.

Print

Mexican Street Tacos Recipe

These authentic Mexican Street Tacos feature tender skirt steak marinated in a zesty blend of soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and spices. Grilled to perfection in a skillet, the flavorful steak is served on warm mini flour tortillas and garnished with fresh red onion, cilantro, and lime wedges for a vibrant and satisfying meal.

  • Author: Tim
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes
  • Yield: 12 mini tacos 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Scale

Marinade and Steak

  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil (divided)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)

Toppings and Serving

  • 12 mini flour tortillas (warmed)
  • 3/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime (cut into wedges)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the marinade: In a medium bowl, mix together the reduced sodium soy sauce, freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 tablespoon canola oil, minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, and dried oregano until well combined.
  2. Marinate the steak: Place the skirt steak pieces and the marinade mixture into a gallon-size Ziploc bag or a large bowl. Seal or cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning occasionally to evenly coat the steak; you may marinate up to 4 hours for a more intense flavor.
  3. Cook the steak: Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated steak pieces and the marinade to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until the steak is browned and the marinade has reduced, about 5-6 minutes, or until it reaches your desired doneness.
  4. Assemble the tacos: Warm the mini flour tortillas. Spoon the cooked steak onto each tortilla, then top with diced red onion, chopped fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime from the wedges provided. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free alternative, substitute mini flour tortillas with corn tortillas.
  • To enhance the smoky flavor, you can grill the steak instead of cooking it in a skillet.
  • Marinating the steak longer than 4 hours is not recommended as the acidity can break down the meat texture excessively.
  • Add sliced jalapeños or a drizzle of hot sauce for extra heat.
  • Leftover steak can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Keywords: Mexican street tacos, steak tacos, skirt steak recipe, easy taco recipe, lime and cilantro tacos

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