Name: Flank Steak Tacos with Strawberry Mint Salsa
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice ((from about 2 limes)); 1/4 cup chopped red onion; 3 cloves garlic, (minced); 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tsp chili powder; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1 lb. flank steak ((can also use skirt steak)); 8 8-inch flour tortillas; Strawberry Mint Salsa ((recipe below)); 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese, (for topping); 1 1/4 cup chopped strawberries ((from 8-10 large strawberries)); 1/4 cup chopped red onion; 2 Tbsp chopped mint; 1 Tbsp chopped jalapeño; 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

These Flank Steak Tacos are a flavor explosion thanks to strawberry mint salsa and gorgonzola cheese... They'll help you hold on to summer for as long as possible!

Overhead view of four flank steak tacos with strawberry mint salsa and gorgonzola cheese with mint, strawberries, lime wedges, and jalapeño slices in the background with recipe title at top

(This recipe for Flank Steak Tacos with Strawberry Mint Salsa was originally published in September 2011, but has been updated with new photos and content in 2019).

This is such a confusing time of year for me. On the one hand, it's very much still summer (for almost a whole entire month!). It's still nice and warm during the days here in New England and I'm still eating as much summer produce as I possibly can.

However, it was 56 degrees when I woke up yesterday morning and my husband tried to wear his winter coat to work (It's August!! To be fair, his winter coat is pretty lightweight, but still, no), kids are pretty much all back to school, and summer is unofficially ending this weekend.

Oh also, I'm over here behind the scenes working on lots of pumpkin and apple recipes, while still trying to soak up as many summer vibes as I can.

So, yes, I'm confused. But for the most part, I'm trying to live in the present and my present is filled with strawberries, fresh herbs, and easy weeknight dinners. Though I've had strawberries in dessert form so many times this summer, I'm also a fan of strawberries in savory entree form, especially when it comes to steak.

These Flank Steak Tacos with Strawberry Mint Salsa blew my mind when I first made them years ago and they've become a staple in my summer meal repertoire.

The tacos are super easy and quick to get on your dinner table, but packed with summer deliciousness!

Best Steak for Tacos?

While you can use any kind of steak you want for these tacos, I highly recommend flank steak for these because it's a lean cut of beef that's super flavorful and tender and easy to cook. If you can't find flank steak, you can substitute with skirt steak (it's a little bit fattier and thinner, but also delicious!). I've used skirt for these tacos before and it works well.

I haven't tried using it in this recipe, but flat iron steak is also similar to flank and skirt, so that can also be used as a substitute.

Tips for Cooking Flank Steak

Marinate it! This taco recipe is very easy to make, but I do recommend marinating the steak or at least an hour. However, you can also let it marinate overnight if you want to whip everything up before bed and have the flank steak ready to go at dinner time.

Take steak out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking.

Don't overcook flank steak as it can dry out and get chewy if you do. I recommend cooking it to medium-rare (it should take about 3 minutes on each side over medium-high heat.

Once you remove the steak from the pan, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, otherwise, the juices will release when you slice it.

Always slice flank steak against the grain for the most tender meat. If you slice with the grain, the meat will be tough.

How to Make Flank Steak Tacos

Star by making the flank steak marinade. I use:

Lime juice
Extra virgin olive oil
Red onion
Garlic
Chili powder
Cumin
Salt
Pepper

It's a super simple marinade, but delicious.

You can either mix your marinade ingredients in a bowl and pour over steak in a dish or put everything into a bag.

Whatever you use, try to flip the steak or move it around in the marinade a couple times to ensure no parts of the steak are unexposed to the marinade.

Overhead view of flank steak/skirt steak marinating in a baking dish

When the steak is done marinating, remove from fridge, and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Heat a grill pan (or regular pan or actual grill) to medium-high. Cook the steak for about 3 minutes on each side. For medium-rare, the steak should come in at 135 degrees on a meat thermometer.

Once you remove the steak from the pan, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes.

After letting it rest, slice the steak thinly against the grain.

Overhead view of thinly sliced flank steak on cutting board

How to Make Strawberry Mint Salsa

While the steak is marinating, you can whip up the strawberry mint salsa, which is also incredibly easy.

Here are the ingredients I used for the strawberry salsa:

Strawberries
Red onion
Chopped mint
Jalapeño
Lime juice

Mix everything together in a medium bowl and pop the bowl in the fridge while you finish the steak, so the flavors can meld together. Yum.

Collage showing strawberry mint salsa with one photo showing chopped red onion, chopped strawberries, mint, and chopped jalapeño in a bowl and one photo showing all the ingredients mixed together

Now, warm your tortillas, either by placing them on a the grill pan or in the microwave. Divide steak evenly between the tortillas and top with strawberry mint salsa and a little bit of gorgonzola cheese.

Overhead flat-lay view of multiple flank steak tacos topped with strawberry mint salsa and gorgonzola cheese with strawberries, mint, lime wedges, and jalapeño slices all around

Yup. It definitely tastes like it's still summer out there! But guess what? These flank steak tacos aren't just for summer... You can make them any time of year!

While strawberries are definitely best in the spring/summer months, depending on where you life, they're likely readily available year-round, which means you can make the strawberry mint salsa any time.

We eat tacos quite often in our house (there are SO many varieties, you feel like you're having a completely different kind every time), but I'm pretty sure these flank steak tacos are my absolute favorite.

Overhead closeup of a flank steak taco topped with strawberry mint salsa and gorgonzola with two other tacos next to it and mint, jalapeño slices, a strawberry, and a lime wedge in the background

When I first made these, I was a little uncertain about how strawberries and gorgonzola would go together. But let me tell you, they're an incredible match.

You have the sweet flavor of the strawberries combined with the creamy aggressive sharpness of the gorgonzola and you're in heaven. Or at least I was.

But that also could have had something to do with the fact that there was flank steak involved.

What to Drink with Tacos

Another awesome thing about flank steak tacos? They go fabulously with all kinds of summer cocktails or even a simple glass of white wine or rosé. If you're looking for a cocktail pairing, I recommend:

Spicy Vodka Blackberry Smash (the more berries, the better!)
Jalapeño Parsley Sour Martini
Tequila Thyme Lemonade
Tropical Gin Sunrise
North End Margarita

I also love the idea of these Beer Margaritas from Casa de Crews!

I also use a strawberry salsa (with avocado and mango!) on these shrimp tacos... Just one more way you can get your fill of summer fruit in savory form.

How are you trying to get the most out of the remaining summer fruits and veggies?

📖 Recipe