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:
- Garlic Oil – As a SIBO sufferer I don’t tolerate whole garlic very well, so instead I use a great garlic-infused oil. Though you can feel free to substitute whole garlic + olive oil if you don’t have a garlic intolerance like me. I’ve included a measurement for this swap in the recipe below.
- Lime Juice + Zest - It always breaks my heart a little bit when people juice citrus and completely ignore the gorgeous pure flavor in the zest. This recipe uses both zest and juice to add pure lime flavor and a complex acidity to the sauce. Two of the most well-loved tools in my kitchen are my zester/microplane and my citrus juicer.
- Orange Juice + Zest - The same goes for the orange in this marinade. Zest that orange beauty up because the natural oils in its skin are responsible for big bright + sweet flavors in this marinade.
- Coconut Aminos - Coconut aminos is generally made from two simple ingredients: coconut tree sap and sea salt, which is why I love having it on hand. It provides excellent salty + umami flavors in this dish. You can generally find this sauce on Amazon or at Whole Foods.
- Worchestershire Sauce - This sauce is equal parts savory + sweet + and vinegary. Though you can easily find gluten-free Worcestershire sauce these days, it can be harder to find a Paleo-friendly version. If you are looking for a Paleo swap, I suggest omitting the Worcestershire in favor of an additional tablespoon of Coconut aminos.
- Dijon Mustard - A good Dijon mustard is my secret weapon in so many great dishes. A small amount of good Dijon will often offer a bit of complex spiciness to a dish and I think it does wonders for this marinade. My favorite Dijon mustard is this one by Edmond Fallot.
- Dried Oregano - This adds a flavor profile that's both peppery and bitter + and an aroma that's slightly sweet and minty.
- Salt - Good salt can make a world of difference in any dish. I like to use quality sea salt with a medium/fine grind. Both Jacobsen Sea Salt and Diamond Kosher Salt are great options.
- Cracked Black Pepper - I highly suggest using cracked peppercorns in this dish (and all dishes that call for pepper) rather than the preground alternative because there is so much more flavor. These are the peppercorns and grinder I use.
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.
A note for special diets
This Grilled Skirt Steak is grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and friendly for Paleo, Keto, Whole30, and Low-FODMAP diets.
The marinade calls for Worcestershire sauce, many of which are gluten-free but not Paleo. If you follow a strict Paleo diet the tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce may be swapped for a tablespoon of additional coconut aminos.
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 garlic oil (may sub olive oil + 8 tsp minced garlic)
- ⅓ cup lime juice + zest of 3 limes
- ⅓ cup orange juice + zest of 1 orange
- ¼ cup coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (may sub for additional coconut aminos for Paleo)
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 tsp sea 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 steak until a deep brown crust forms, about 2–3 minutes per side. If you choose to use an instant-read thermometer, the center should register 115° F - 120° F for medium-rare or 125° F - 130° F for medium. 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: 771
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 3075mg
- Fat: 76g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
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!