Beef strips, peppers, and onions are slowly cooked with Mexican seasonings and a generous squeeze of lime to make these Steak Fajitas one of the easiest crock-pot meals to make.
Several years ago, I ran across this fajita recipe on Andie Mitchell’s site, Can You Stay For Dinner? Her Slow Cooked Chili Steak Fajitas sounded too delicious not to try to cook soonest in the kitchen. Hence, to the groceries store and get all that I need for the recipe.
Firstly, to make steak fajitas in the crock-pot, you simply add all the ingredients except the bell peppers into the slow cooker and let that simmer until the meat is tender.
Toss the peppers in just before serving and let them soften for about half an hour. You can use many types of meat from lamb, beef, venison, chicken, turkey and etc. All the spices can be adjusted to your preference.
Skirt steak is the traditional cut used for fajitas. It used to be inexpensive, but now it’s not so cheap, oftentimes flank steak costs less. Either will be a good choice.
COOKING TIPS FOR CROCK-POT FAJITAS
The total cooking time for fajitas will vary based on your crockpot. I’ve made this several times and in different slow cookers.
Marinating the flank steak is a crucial part of the fajita recipe. A marinade adds more flavor to the meat and makes it more tender, because the acid in the marinade helps to break down the muscle and proteins in the meat before cooking.
The cooking time really does vary that much. The first time you make this, you’ll want to check the meat after it has cooked a few hours and turn off the heat before it is falling apart.
The thickness of the strips of beef will also affect cooking time. I like to slice the meat super thin, maybe 1/8-inch or so, and as a result, the meat will cook through in about 4 hours. If I go much past that, the meat begins to fall apart. Still delicious, but not the strips of steak that you’re aiming for here.
This recipe does double or triple nicely to feed more people. However, the cooking time will need to be adjusted for that. So, as noted above, check the meat to determine doneness.
EASY CROCK-POT DINNER RECIPES
Kitchen Tip: I use this slow-cooker to make this recipe. How long should you cook skirt steak if you are using pan instead of slow-cooker? Sear the first side until browned, about 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat. Flip and cook another 2 to 4 minutes. For medium rare doneness, cook steak until it reaches an internal temperature of 130oF. Work in two batches if needed.
Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
Ingredients
- ▢1 lb beef flank steak sliced into very thin
- ▢1 medium onion sliced into thin strips, about 1 – 1 1/2 cups worth
- ▢2/3 cup salsa
- ▢2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice this was less than the juice from one medium size lime
- ▢2 tablespoons chopped jalapenos
- ▢2 cloves of garlic minced
- ▢4 teaspoons taco seasoning I used my spicy homemade one
- ▢1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢2 bell peppers I like to use the red and green ones together, sliced into strips
Instructions
- Place the onion and the steak in the bottom of the slow cooker. Mix the salsa, jalapenos, lime juice, taco seasoning, garlic and salt in a small bowl and then pour over the steak and onions in the crockpot. Toss gently to coat. Cook at the lowest setting for 4-8 hours. (see cook’s note)
- Once the meat is cooked and tender, add the bell peppers and cook another 30-60 minutes, until softened to your preference.
Notes
The total cooking time will vary based on your crockpot. I’ve made this several times and in different crockpots. The cooking time really does vary that much. The first time you make this, you’ll want to check the meat after it has cooked a few hours and turn off the heat before it is falling apart. The thickness of the strips of beef will also affect the cooking time. I like to slice ours super thin, maybe 1/8-inch or so, and as a result, the meat will cook through in about 4 hours. If I go much past that, the meat begins to fall apart. Still delicious, but not the strips of steak that you’re aiming for here. This recipe does double or triple nicely to feed more people. However, the cooking time will need to be adjusted for that. So, as noted above, check the meat to determine doneness.
Nutrition
Calories: 248kcal · Carbohydrates: 8g · Protein: 34g · Fat: 7g · Saturated Fat: 3g · Cholesterol: 90mg · Sodium: 888mg · Potassium: 847mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 5g · Vitamin A: 2760IU · Vitamin C: 102.4mg · Calcium: 55mg · Iron: 2.9mg
Taco Seasoning Recipe
- In a jar or small mixing bowl, combine chili powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and pepper.
- Shake or stir to combine.
- Store in an airtight container until ready to use.