Churrasco (Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak)
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This grilled churrasco recipe is bright, fresh, and packed with flavor. Skirt steak is tenderized in a vibrant marinade of lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, and spices before being seared to perfection on a hot grill. Get ready for tender, succulent steak with a bright and smoky spice.
My churrasco recipe features tender strips of skirt steak infused with the bold, lively flavors of fresh lime, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, and onion. The lime works to flavor the meat while giving it a nice and tender texture at the same time. You’ll see — this steak just about melts in your mouth!
This grilled churrasco steak recipe is fantastic any time of year, but I particularly love making it for summertime dinners. The refreshing flavors of the marinade were made for hot summer nights. Plus, this recipe couldn’t be easier. All that is needed is a 30-minute marinade and a quick turn on the grill. You’ll have juicy, delicious steak in no time!
Video Below in Recipe Card
Watch how to make and slice this in the recipe card video!
For more scrumptious steak recipes, check out my Southwest Flap Steak, Marinated Grilled Flank Steak, and this Reverse Sear Cowboy Steak.
Table of Contents
- Skirt Steak – This long, thin cut comes from the underside of the ribs of the cow. If none is available, flank steak is the next best option.
- Cilantro – Brightens up the marinade and infuses the steak with a fresh, peppery, and lemony flavor.
- Lime Juice – Tenderizes the meat and adds a sweetly-sour taste. I prefer Mexican, or key limes, but feel free to use regular limes if needed.
- Onion and Garlic – Add layers of pungency and zestiness to the dish.
- Oil – Use vegetable oil or another neutral-tasting oil like olive, avocado, or canola.
- Pickled Jalapenos – These zingy peppers can usually be found in jars in the olive section. If needed, you can use a fresh jalapeno instead. Be sure to remove seeds, slice, and measure out the suggested amount.
- Make the Marinade. Add the cilantro, quartered onions, juiced limes, garlic, vegetable oil, jalapenos, salt, and pepper to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Soak the Steak. Transfer the puree to a Ziploc bag or sealable container. Add the skirt steak to the container, seal, and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Grill. Preheat the grill to 350-400 degrees F. Clean the grill grates and oil them lightly.
- Grill the Steak. Transfer the steaks to the grill. For medium rare, grill each steak for 3-4 minutes per side. For medium-cooked steak, grill each one for 5-6 minutes on each side.
- Rest, Slice & Serve. Let the steak rest for about 5 minutes. Then use a sharp knife to slice AGAINST the grain just before serving.
How to Slice Steak Against the Grain
This is a very important step, especially for this cut of meat. Cutting against the grain shortens the length of the tough fibers, making the meat more tender and easier to chew.
Here’s how to identify the grain and what “against” means based on that:
- Find the parallel lines of muscle fiber that run through the meat.
- Then, use a sharp knife to slice the meat ACROSS those lines, NOT with the lines. For thin wider slices, cut at an angle.
If your churrasco comes out a bit chewy, there are a few likely causes.
Due to the nature of skirt steak, overcooking can lead to dryness and toughness. For the best results, I recommend only cooking your steak to medium.
If you cooked your steak perfectly, then the most likely culprit is improper slicing.
The “grain” of steak is actually a series of long muscle fibers which are quite tough and chewy.
When you slice skirt steak off the ends, you are actually cutting the meat with the grain and those long muscle fibers are fully intact in each bite. Mucho chewing required!
When you slice against the grain, the muscle fibers are shortened. Each piece of steak comes out far more tender. Slicing against the grain is essential for the best possible results.
Luckily, slicing against the grain is super easy. Simply look for the long fibers running through the meat. Position your knife perpendicular to the grain lines and slice. Cut at an angle for thinner, wider slices.
Churrasco and carne asada are very similar in many ways with a few key differences.
Both of these Latin American dishes feature cuts of beef that are marinated, cooked over an open flame, and thinly sliced. However, they have different origins and slightly different preparation methods.
The term churrasco is a Portuguese word meaning barbecue or grilled meat. This tradition of preparing meat over an open flame originated in Brazil and has since become popular in many Central and South American countries. It usually involves a simple dry rub or marinade of salt, pepper, and garlic with lime juice or vinegar sometimes thrown in the mix.
Carne asada is a Spanish term that also translates to grilled meats. However, this dish is specifically Mexican. It is prepared in much the same way as churrasco, except that carne asada relies on a marinade made of citrus juice, vinegar, garlic, and various Mexican spices like cumin or chili powder.
You can think of this Mexican churrasco steak recipe as a blending of these two delicious traditions.
This marinated steak recipe is as versatile as it is tasty. Here are just a few of the countless ways I like to enjoy it:
– Serve with rice dishes like Mexican Green Rice, Red Rice, or Cilantro Lime Rice.
– Pair with vegetable sides like Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus, or these Fall Vegetables.
– Enjoy with hearty sides like Mashed Potatoes, Charro Beans, or Authentic Street Corn.
– Toss some on a Mexican Garden, Classic Caesar, or fresh salad of your choice.
– Use churrasco steak in Mexican favorites like these Steak Tacos or Grilled Steak Fajitas.
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Churrasco (Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak)
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb skirt steak
- 1 bunch cilantro (1 cup, packed – leaves and stems)
- 1/3 cup lime juice (See Note 1)
- 1 onion trimmed
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sliced pickled jalapeño rings
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor add the cilantro, quartered onion, juiced limes, garlic, oil, jalapeños, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
- Preheat grill to 350-400°F.
- Pour this mixture into a Ziploc bag or container that can seal and add the skirt steak pieces. Seal and let marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Clean grill and oil. Grill 3-4 minutes per side for medium rare. 5-6 minutes per side for medium. Allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing AGAINST the grain.
Video
Notes
- I use Mexican limes, which are typically thin skinned, slightly yellow and extra juicy. They are sometimes called Key Lime and have a higher acidity. Feel free to use regular limes if unavailable.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this for my family and they absolutely LOVED IT!!! (I’m a vegetarian). Question for you Kevin – Can I marinate it for 24 hours? Or is that too long?
You could but the texture of the meat will change. It’s a personal preference, but it will be fine.
You are right. Kevin – the family found it to be too chewy when it was marinated overnight. I think we found our sweet spot to be b/w 1-2 hours! Thank you again for an amazing recipe!!
I’m trying it now first time like Ive done different was than this. I do love the smell after being blended.
It does smell so good Sam! Let me know how you enjoyed it!
You can’t go wrong with cilantro lime!
I have to agree!
Gave this a try for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Easily, a new family favorite recipe!
I am so glad! Thank you for sharing!
Such an amazing meal! My family would love this!
Thank you! I hope they do!
This cilantro lime steak sounds incredibly delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
It really is! You will love it!
Yum! This recipe is delicious and tasty! The steak has a lot of flavor and is juicy! We love it here! Can’t wait to make this again!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it every time!
This Mexican skirt steak couldn’t look any more perfect!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for sharing this is so good!
Thank you!
This was outstanding in flavor and oh so simple to make! Keeping this one for sure!
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it!