How To Cook Skirt Steak Perfectly Every Time

Cooking skirt steak has never been easier or more delicious than with this recipe for it! This pan-seared skirt steak has the perfect crisp outer sear with a super tender and juicy center. It's honestly the best way to cook skirt steak, and you only need 10 minutes to whip it up!

The Best Skirt Steak Recipe

If you've been wondering how to cook skirt steak, you've come to the right place! This easy skirt steak recipe makes the perfect medium rare steak that's better than anything you could get at a steakhouse!

Seriously, this cast iron skirt steak ends up absolutely perfect. It's got a wonderful sear on the outside of it, and then on top of that, the inside turns out super tender & juicy.

Now, I'm not going to lie, this skirt steak recipe is delicious in its own right, but it's made even better if you add a drizzle of a bright and herby chimichurri sauce on top of it.

Gah, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Plus, as I mentioned, this skirt steak recipe is super quick and easy to make too. It's ready in just 15 minutes, and all you have to do is season the steak and then let the cast iron skillet take care of the rest! 

That means you'll have plenty of time to whip up some tasty sides to go with it. Some of my favorites things to serve with this skirt steak are these sauteed brussels sprouts, this sauteed broccoli, and this sauteed eggplant.

Ingredients

One of the best things about this skirt steak recipe is how easy it is to make. Besides the skirt steak, you only need a few simple ingredients to whip it up. Honestly, you might even have everything you need to make it on hand already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need:

• 1lb. skirt steak, trimmed of excess fat
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or olive oil)
• Coarse salt and pepper, to taste
• Chimichurri, to serve with

Simple stuff, right?! It's kind of like this grilled beef tenderloin recipe, simple ingredients, yet a ton of flavor.

By the way, if you can't find skirt steak, a good flank steak is the next best thing. It's generally thicker and not as fatty but overall it's a really great replacement in skirt steak recipes.

Oh, also, if you're looking for another tasty cast iron steak recipe to try, you can't go wrong with this one!

How to Cook Skirt Steak

Even if you've never tried cooking skirt steak before, this recipe will have you feeling like a pro.

It's so simple, you can basically boil everything down to 3 steps: season, sear, and slice!

Now, let's get cooking.

Step 1: Prepare The Skirt Steak

First, if you haven't already, you'll want to let the skirt steak come to room temperature. Doing this will allow the steak to cook more evenly later on.

Next, you can cover your room-temperature steak with plastic wrap and pound it with a meat mallet until it's ½ inch thick.

Then, you'll want to take off the plastic wrap and rub the steak all over with oil. Follow that up by seasoning both sides well with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Sear The Skirt Steak

Once your skirt steak is pounded and seasoned, you can heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on the stove and add some oil to it. Then, as soon as the oil is hot and sizzling, you can add your skirt steak to the skillet.

Now you'll want to let the steak cook for 2-3 minutes on one side without moving it. Then, after that amount of time passes, you can flip the steak over and cook it for another 1-2 minutes - that is, of course, if you're trying to end up with a medium rare skirt steak. I don't recommend cooking your steak to medium or medium well since it will end up tough and chewy.

Step 3: Serve The Skirt Steak

Finally, you can transfer the perfectly cooked skirt steak to a plate - or cutting board - and let it rest for 5 minutes. I know it's tempting to dive in now but trust me, that resting time makes a huge difference in keeping your skirt steak as juicy and flavorful as possible.

Anyway, once the 5 minutes are up, you can slice your skirt steak against the grain and top it with a drizzle of chimichurri sauce plus a couple of lime wedges for squeezing.

Enjoy!

How To Store Skirt Steak

This recipe for skirt steak makes enough for 4 servings, so it's perfect for a family dinner or dinner for two - if you're lucky you might even end up with some leftovers!

Speaking of leftovers, if you happen to end up with any, you can store the cooked steak in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days.

Alternatively, if you want to keep your steak for even longer, you can freeze it in an airtight freezer-safe bag - or airtight container - for up to 3 months.

How To Reheat Skirt Steak

When you're ready to enjoy your skirt steak again, you can eat it straight out of the fridge cold or you can reheat it. For what it's worth, I think these skirt steak leftovers are great additions to tacos, sandwiches, or salads!

Anyway, if you want to reheat the skirt steak, I recommend doing so on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Then, just warm it in a preheated oven that's been set to 250°F (120°C) for about 10.

After that, give 'em a quick 2-minute sear on the stovetop over high heat. This step is optional but it's great for bringing back the crisp outer crust.

FAQs About This Skirt Steak Recipe

What is the best cooking method for skirt steak?

The best cooking method for skirt steak is to pan sear it in a cast-iron skillet. This allows the steak to cook evenly and results in a perfect crust with a medium rare center.

How do you cook skirt steak so it's not tough?

The best way to cook skirt steak so it's not tough is to only pan sear it for about 5 minutes over medium high heat. If you cook it for too long or at too low of a temperature, the skirt steak will end up being tough and chewy. 

How long does it take to cook a skirt steak?

It will only take about 4-5 minutes to cook skirt steak. You'll want to cook the skirt steak for 1-2 minutes on one side, and then flip it and cook it for another 2-3 minutes on the other side.

Is it better to cook skirt steak in the oven or on the stove?

Although both methods are great for cooking skirt steak, it is better to cook skirt steak on the stove. Cooking it on the stove is the only way to give the outside of the skirt steak a perfect crust.

Should you marinate skirt steak?

You do not need to marinate skirt steak, although it will add a ton of additional flavor to it if you do. Also, since skirt steak has tough muscle fibers, marinating it can help break down the coarse muscle fibers and make it end up more tender. A simple marinade for skirt steak is to mix soy sauce, lime juice, and red wine vinegar together and then let the steak sit in it for about 30 minutes.

How do you slice skirt steak?

The best way to slice skirt steak is against the grain, preferably into ¼ inch thick slices. Holding a sharp butcher knife at a 45° angle will help cut through the tough muscle fibers.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to cook skirt steak perfectly every time!

This pan-seared skirt steak recipe is so incredibly simple yet so satisfying. It has everything you want in a steak, from the tender, juicy meat to the crisp seared outer crust, every bite is just so, so good. Plus, the fact that it's so quick and easy to make is just an added bonus!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this skirt steak recipe as much as I do. As always, be sure to leave a comment below if you give it a try.

More Dinner Recipes

If you liked this skirt steak recipe, I have a ton of other easy dinner recipes on the blog that you can try next!

Here are some reader favorites:

• Eye of round steak
• Sauteed chicken breast
• Beef and broccoli stir fry
• How to cook ground turkey
• Thin pork chops
• Bottom round roast
• Bacon wrapped pork chops
• Steak tips
• Oven roasted sausage

Also, don't forget to follow my Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok pages for more deliciousness! I'm always posting new recipes on 'em.