A grilled flank steak is a simple yet flavorful way to fire up the grill all season long! This cut of steak cooks quickly and all you need is a bit of salt and pepper for tender results.
There are so many ways to enjoy this beef recipe! Make a steak salad, use it in steak tacos or make steak kabobs.
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Enjoy Your Flank Steak Grilled!
Grilling flank steak is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a steak dinner throughout the summer. It is a budget-friendly, lean cut of beef that is juicy, tender and has the perfect amount of smokey char. Serve as a meal on it’s own or use it for flank steak tacos or steak fajitas!
I’m giving you the basic grilling method with just a bit of salt and pepper for seasoning, but you can switch it up any time by adding flank steak marinade, easy steak marinade, or teriyaki steak marinade.
Why We Love Grilled Flank Steak
- It’s so easy. There is virtually no prep work with this recipe. Just season with salt and pepper, then follow how to grill flank steak for delicious results!
- Flavorful. I find any type of grilled meat super flavorful just based on the char marks and smokiness alone. Use a dry rub or marinade like I do when grilling carne asada if you would like!
Ingredients Needed
- Flank steak: I use about a pound.
- Salt: Use kosher salt if you can. The size of the crystals is larger than regular table salt which means you are using less salt in the end. It’s also great at drawing out moisture from the meat, without oversalting, which is what we want!
- Pepper: The peppery half of the salt and pepper duo.
Flavor Variations
- Easy skirt steak marinade
- Easy steak marinade
- Steak fajita marinade
- Homemade Italian seasoning
- Steak dry rub
- Fajita seasoning
- Taco seasoning
How to Grill Flank Steak
- Prep meat. When preparing your meat for the grill, you want to make sure to dry the surface of the meat. Pat with paper towels so that way whatever seasoning you add sticks to it, but also so that it has a nice sear on it. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place on grill. Cook the meat over a preheated grill set at medium-high heat. See below for notes on how long to cook your meat to the desired temperature. Flip halfway and allow it to rest on a cutting board for 5-10 minutes once it’s done.
How Long to Grill Flank Steak
This is a lean cut of beef so you don’t want to overcook it, that’s for sure!
I like mine medium-rare which is about 6 minutes per side. However, depending on how you like yours, the internal temperature on a meat thermometer should read:
- Medium Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Grilling Tips
- Clean and oil the grill. You don’t want remnants of whatever you were grilling last week on your grilled meat.
- Always place the meat on a hot grill. You want to hear that sizzle! If you place the meat on a grill that’s not hot enough, there’s a good chance it will stick to the grill and overcook your meat by the time you wait for it to heat up.
- Allow the meat to rest before slicing. This way the juices have a chance to settle back into the meat and won’t run out as soon as you slice into it. This helps to keep it nice and moist.
- Use a sharp knife to cut against the grain. Doing so shortens the muscle fibers making the meat even more tender and easy to chew.
- Steak in the oven: Grab a baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil. Broil meat in the oven, turning halfway until it’s cooked to desired internal temperature. Simple!
Ways to Serve Grilled Flank Steak
As mentioned above, you can enjoy it sliced with a dipping sauce, like homemade BBQ sauce, chimichurri sauce or teriyaki sauce. This is how my kids like to eat it!
Or you could serve it with some sides like these:
- Pasta: Easy parmesan mushroom gnocchi, spaghetti pesto, or easy homemade alfredo are all great choices.
- Rice: A quick and easy way is to learn how to cook rice in an Instant Pot, or you can use the stovetop method of course. If you want to add a little flair to your rice, I suggest trying cilantro lime rice or easy rice pilaf for a change!
- Potatoes: Greek potatoes, garlic mashed red potatoes, rosemary roasted potatoes are some of my favorites to serve with this dish.
FAQs
It is! It cooks quite quickly, so it’s great for getting dinner on the table fast. This is part of why grilled flank steak is one of my favorite recipes for busy weekdays!
While you can grill the two interchangeable, there are some differences! Flank steak is often wider and thicker with less marbling while skirt steak is longer, thinner and often chewier in texture. I love to use skirt steak in skirt steak tacos.
You definitely can. I like to move anywhere from medium-high to high heat depending on the thickness of the cut. If using high heat, just keep an eye on it and check at the 5-minute mark. If you’re using a grill pan rather than directly on grill grates, then you are free to use a higher heat.
Being careful not to overcook it is essential, especially when you’re not using a marinade to help tenderize it. If you do use a marinade, using one with an acid such as lime juice, lemon juice, or balsamic vinegar helps to break down the fibers. Including olive oil or vegetable oil helps to keep it moist at the same time.
For more beef recipes try beef tenderloin, sirloin steak or steak and potatoes!
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Grilled Flank Steak Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Season each side generously with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place steak on the grill and cook to desired internal temperature (about 6 minutes per side for medium rare (130°-140°F), depending on thickness of steak). See notes for cooking temperatures.
- Let rest for 10 minutes to allow the juices to absorb and keep the meat tender.
- Slice against the grain and drizzle with desired sauce to serve.
Notes
- Medium Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beef, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Grilling, Grilling, Low Carb, Nut-Free, Whole 30
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!