A perfect balance of savory + sweet + citrusy
This Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri is the kind of dish that I could literally put on the menu every single week and both the fella and I would still be excited to eat it. Skirt steak is a notoriously flavorful cut that is just made to be soaked in a great marinade - and let me tell you friends, this garlic citrus marinade is killer! Topping it off with my creamy Avocado Chimichurri Sauce makes this dish a perfect balance of savory + sweet + citrusy that is just begging to be added to your regular menu rotation.
Let's talk about the marinade for a moment
Have you ever tasted a marinade so good that you consider drenching all foods in it thereafter? That's how I feel about the marinade for this Grilled Skirt Steak. It's equal parts sweet + garlicy + citrusy, with just a tiny hint of mild spice. Let's break it all down:
- Olive Oil - A rich, silky base to carry all the flavor.
- Garlic - Plenty of it, because garlic makes everything better.
- Lime Juice + Zest - It always hurts my heart a little when people juice citrus and toss the zest—so much flavor lives in the oils of the peel. This marinade uses both for maximum lime punch and layered acidity. Two tools I swear by: a good microplane and a sturdy citrus juicer.
- Orange Juice + Zest - Same story here. Zest that orange! It brings bright, sweet depth to the mix thanks to those essential oils in the skin.
- Tamari or Soy Sauce – Adds deep, salty umami flavor that plays beautifully with the citrus and garlic. If you need a gluten-free or Paleo option, coconut aminos work well here too.
- Worchestershire Sauce - Sweet, tangy, and savory, this brings an unmistakable backbone to the marinade.
- Dijon Mustard - Just a touch adds subtle heat and complexity. My go-to is Edmond Fallot—it’s got that perfect punchy balance.
- Dried Oregano - Earthy, slightly bitter, and robust. It gives the marinade a savory, herbaceous depth that ties everything together.
- Salt - Don’t underestimate the power of good salt. Diamond Crystal kosher salt is a staple in my pantry.
- Cracked Black Pepper - Always freshly cracked. The flavor difference is huge compared to the preground stuff.
How to make a great grilled skirt steak
- Choose a quality steak. Whether you've got a favorite local butcher or you're buying from a reputable grocery, make sure that you're starting out with great quality meat. There are two kinds of skirt steak that you might find. The first is the outside skirt steak, taken from the plate of the cow (below the rib, between the brisket and flank) which is often wide and flat. The second is the inside skirt steak, taken from the flank and is often thinner and narrower. The latter is what I use for this recipe as it's most easily found where I live, but both cuts work equally well.
- Let the meat marinade for as long as possible! We're talking a minimum of 30 minutes (on the low end) or up to the night before (on the best) if you want to maximize the flavor and tenderness of the steak. Trust me, friends, put this steak to marinade the night before and then sit back and be wowed by the flavors!
- Sear it briefly over high heat. Flank steak is generally very thin and therefore cooks very quickly, about 2-3 minutes per side on a piping hot grill for a medium-rare steak.
- Let it rest. Once cooked, allow the Grilled Skirt Steak to rest for 10 minutes in order to lock the juices in and preserve the tenderness.
- Cut against the grain. Because this cut of meat has coarse muscle fibers, you'll want to cut it against the grain for the most tender eating experience.
I don't have a grill, can I cook the steak another way?
Yes, of course! Skirt steak cooks best over quick high heat. If you don't have a grill, the steak can be cut down to size and cooked in a piping hot cast-iron pan for 3-4 minutes per side.
Serve this Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri with
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for a low-carb dinner
- Smashed Potatoes
- Roasted veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, and sweet potatoes
- A stack of warm corn tortillas
- A side of seasoned beans and a swirl of sour cream
- On top of salad greens
Don't forget about the gorgeous green sauce
I like to serve this Grilled Skirt Steak with my creamy Avocado Chimichurri Sauce. It provides the perfect creamy + bright + acidic bite to compliment the sweet + savory flavors of the marinaded skirt steak and can be made in a quick 5 minutes. Grab the recipe here!
Alternatively, if you'd prefer to serve this Grilled Skirt Steak with a different sauce, you'll find plenty of delicious options here!
Tools needed
- A gas or charcoal grill
- Tongs
- A large glass bowl with a lid for marinading
- A citrus zester/microplane + juicer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- An instant-read meat thermometer (optional)
- A good chefs knife
- A cutting board (I prefer bamboo for this)
Leftovers (If there's such a thing)
Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. My choice method for reheating this Grilled Skirt Steak is by warming the meat up over the stove in a cast-iron pan.
Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Prep Time: 37 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 43 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Mains
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Latin American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri is the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and citrusy.
Ingredients
- For the marinade:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup lime juice + zest of 3 limes
- ⅓ cup orange juice + zest of 1 orange
- ¼ cup soy sauce (may sub for tamari or coconut aminos)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (may sub for additional coconut aminos for Paleo)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 tsp kosher salt
- 2-3 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- The steak:
- 2 lbs skirt steak*
- 1 cup Avocado Chimichurri Sauce to serve the Grilled Skirt Steak with
Instructions
- A minimum of 30 minutes, though ideally the night before, assemble and set the meat to marinade:
- Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a large glass bowl.
- Add the skirt steak, making sure that it is covered completely by the marinade.
- Cover and place in the refridgerator to marinate.
- Griling the steak:
- Prepare the grill by lightly oiling the grates. For a gas grill, preheat to medium-high heat.
- Once the grill is properly hot, grill the steak until a deep brown crust forms, about 2–3 minutes per side. If using an instant-read thermometer, remove the steak from the grill when the center registers about 125°F–130°F for medium-rare or 130°F–135°F for medium, keeping in mind that the temperature will continue to rise slightly as the steak rests. I prefer to grill this cut of meat to medium-rare.
- Remove steak from heat and allow to rest for 10 minutes in order to lock in more of its juices. I prefer to let mine rest directly on a bamboo cutting board, and then serve from the cutting board to minimize dishes.
- Cut the Grilled Skirt Steak into strips, against the grain in order to maximize the tenderness in each bite.
- Serve with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
*both the outside skirt steak (wide + flat from the plate) and the inside skirt steak (thin + narrow from the flank) work equally well
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ lb serving + ¼ cup chimichurri
- Calories: 1065
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 3173mg
- Fat: 94g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Daniella says
My husband and I made this tonight. The steak had really nice flavour and the chimichurri sauce was amazing.
The cook temperature on the steak in your notes is not correct though. Medium rare is 130-135. We tried the 120 and the steak was absolutely rare. I should have gone with my gut when I saw that. We had to put the steak back on the grill. Otherwise, delicious.
We will make this again with the change in cooking time.
Jenni says
Daniella, Thanks so much for catching that! You were right—the temperature guidance in my notes was too low for medium-rare, especially for a thinner cut like skirt steak. I’ve updated the recipe to reflect a more accurate range. I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor and chimichurri and plan to make it again!
Elana Berusch says
Made this tonight and it was so goooood! Love the citrus of the marinade!
Yang says
marinating the steak is a wonderful idea! your have got an amazing flavour combination in there. the avocado chimichurri also sounds amazing!
Dana says
Avocado chimichurri! I would've NEVER thought. I love fart-out recipes like that. And anything that uses avocado is a win in my books. I can't wait to try this. Great way to add some richness as well as some healthy fats to a finger-lickin' steak sauce.
Patricia Bozeman says
Thank you so much for adding the citrus zest in with the juice! So much flavor, it's just too good to waste. The avocado adds some richness to the chimichurri too. Fantastic!
Sandra Shaffer says
Wow! This grilled skirt is making my mouth water and yes, I could eat that avocado sauce by the spoonful. We still have sunny weather here in CA, so you better believe I'm getting all the grilling in I can. Totally going to take your recommendation and marinade the steak overnight. Thank you!
Debra says
OOH...this looks amazing. I'm allergic to coconut...do you think a tamari sub would work well? That chimichurri with avocado is genius...two of my most favorite things.
Whip & Wander says
Yes, Tamari will work beautifully as a sub. This marinade is my all-time favorite so I hope you give it a try!
Sarah says
That Trader Joe's garlic olive oil mix is super delicious! And I'm so glad you mentioned coconut aminos- I just discovered them and LOOOOOVE them!! All the things on this steak are making me drool. YUM!!
Lisa says
I couldn't agree more about the zest from the citrus -- I've literally worn out 2 microplane graters because I use so much zest. I love the way it brightens up sauces, marinades and dressings -- not to mention adding bright notes to any baked goods. Now about that gorgeous skirt steak -- one of my favorites, and my husband would never say no to that, either. The vibrant green sauce looks positively delectable and would intensify the flavors and overall juiciness of the steak. I just bought a big bag of charcoal -- now I have a purpose for it.
Whip & Wander says
My microplane is one of my most-used tools too!
Tina says
I too could eat this every week. I love skirt steak and Chimichurri is my favorite sauce for beef. Yours is brilliant and am going to make this for hubby, he LOVES steak. I also use the rind, I just whip it across a microplaner. Thanks for sharing this!
Whip & Wander says
I hope you both love it. This marinade is our favorite!
Gloria says
I made chimichurri sauce this summer for a bbq party....but not with avocado. What a cool idea. The perfect topping to steak. I know this would be a hit in our house. Perfect for parties too.
Katerina says
I love that amazing pop of colour! I can just imagine how refreshing that sauce would taste - yum! Thanks for sharing!
Sharon says
This grilled skirt steak would be a wonderful recipe for the weekend. The marinade looks fantastic and the addition of the Avocado Chimichurri Sauce to it makes it that much better!