Tiffany Haney
Steak fajitas are a tasty and easy meal to make in a crock pot. With minimal prep, you can create a delicious and healthy meal that's also low-carb and gluten-free. The key to this dish is the slow cooking, which makes the meat tender and juicy. You can use a variety of steak cuts, such as flank, skirt, sirloin or hanger steak, and the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the strips. For a simple recipe, add your steak, peppers, onions and seasoning to the crock pot, and cook on a low setting for 4-8 hours. For a crispier texture, you can broil the steak for a few minutes after slow cooking. Serve your fajita meat with warm tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, salsa or cheese, and enjoy!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Flank steak, skirt steak, sirloin, hanger steak |
| Meat preparation | Slice the meat before putting it into the crockpot |
| Meat texture | Tender, juicy, soft |
| Meat cooking time | 4-8 hours |
| Meat cooking temperature | High or low |
| Meat cooking mode | Slow cooker |
| Meat substitute | Chicken breast, shrimp |
| Vegetables | Bell peppers, red and green peppers, onion |
| Spices | Fajita seasoning, taco seasoning, garlic, lime, jalapenos, salt, coriander, cumin, chilli powder |
| Other ingredients | Beef broth, salsa, avocado, sour cream, cheese, tortillas, cauliflower rice, brown rice |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the ingredients
To cook steak fajita meat in a crock pot, you'll need to gather a few simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. This recipe requires flank steak, but you can also use skirt, sirloin, or hanger steak. You'll also need bell peppers, onion, and fajita seasoning.
When selecting your bell peppers, look for firm and shiny red peppers with no soft spots. The same goes for the onion—ensure it is firm with no soft spots.
Slice the meat into thin strips before placing it into the crock pot. The thickness of the strips will affect the cooking time, so aim for slices of about 1/8-inch thick.
Next, chop the bell peppers and onion into your desired size. You can also add other vegetables like mushrooms or canned black beans if you wish.
Once your ingredients are prepped, it's time to assemble the fajitas in the crock pot. Place the steak, peppers, and onion in the crock pot, and sprinkle the fajita seasoning over the mixture. Stir everything together to ensure the seasoning is well distributed.
From here, you can follow your chosen crock pot steak fajita recipe for cooking instructions.
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Cooking times and settings
The cooking time for your steak fajita will depend on your desired texture. For a chewier texture, avoid cooking the meat until it is falling apart. If you prefer your meat to be tender and easily shreddable, cook it for longer. The thickness of the beef strips will also affect the cooking time. Thinner strips, of around 1/8-inch, will cook through in about 4 hours.
You can cook your steak fajita on a high or low setting. On a high setting, the meat will be ready in 4 to 7 hours. On a low setting, the meat will be ready in 6 to 10 hours. If you are adding bell peppers, add them 30 minutes to an hour before the meat is ready, to allow them to soften.
If you want a quicker dinner, you can cook the fajita on a high setting for four hours. If you have more time, you can cook it on a low setting for eight hours. If you are cooking the fajita on a high setting, add the peppers after three hours. If you are cooking on a low setting, add the peppers after seven hours.
If the meat is not tender after the cooking time is complete, return it to the crockpot and cook for another 30 minutes to an hour.
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Adding vegetables
When it comes to adding vegetables to your steak fajita crockpot, the most popular choices are bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos. Some recipes also suggest adding tomatoes, black beans, and mushrooms.
Bell peppers are added towards the end of the cooking process, as they only need to be softened. You can add them in the last hour of cooking if cooking on low, or the last half an hour if cooking on high. This ensures they retain some texture and don't become too soft. Onions, on the other hand, can be added at the beginning of the cooking process, as they take longer to cook and will add flavour to the meat as it cooks. Jalapenos can also be added at the beginning, along with other spices and seasonings.
If you want to add tomatoes, it's best to use diced or chopped tomatoes, as they will cook down and add flavour to the sauce. Black beans, if you want to include them, should be added towards the end of the cooking process, as they only need to be heated through. Canned black beans are a good option and can be added in the last 15-20 minutes of cooking. Mushrooms are another vegetable that can be added to steak fajitas. They will cook down and add flavour to the dish.
When adding vegetables to your steak fajita crockpot, it's important to consider the cooking time and texture you want for each vegetable. Some vegetables, like bell peppers, are best added towards the end of cooking to retain some crunch, while others, like onions, can be added at the beginning to cook down and add flavour. Experiment with different combinations of vegetables and cooking times to find your preferred method.
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Serving suggestions
There are several ways to serve crockpot steak fajitas. Here are some suggestions:
Tortillas
You can serve your fajita meat in a tortilla, allowing everyone to make their own fajita. Corn and flour tortillas are both popular options. You can also char or broil the tortilla over an open flame to give it a slightly burnt taste.
Rice
Steak fajita meat can be served over rice, including brown rice. You can also serve it with cauliflower rice.
Salad
For a healthier option, serve the fajita meat over a bed of greens or lettuce.
Lettuce wraps
Another healthy option is to use lettuce as a wrap instead of tortillas.
Sides
You can also serve crockpot steak fajitas with sides of sliced avocado, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and shredded cheese. You can squeeze some fresh lime juice over the fajitas just before serving to brighten up the flavours.
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Storing and reheating
Storing your steak fajita meat and veggies is easy. Simply place the mixture in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. Make sure to store any toppings, wraps, or tortillas separately to avoid a soggy mess.
The leftover steak fajitas can be stored in the fridge for up to five days, although some sources recommend consuming them within three days. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze the fajita mixture in a freezer bag for up to two months.
When you're ready to enjoy your fajitas again, thaw the mixture (if frozen) and gently stir the meat over medium-low heat until it's warmed through. You can also reheat smaller portions in the microwave in one-minute intervals until heated through.
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Frequently asked questions
Flank steak is often recommended for fajitas, but you can also use skirt, sirloin, or hanger steak.
You can cook the steak fajita meat in the crock pot for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
Besides the steak, you can add peppers, onions, salsa, jalapenos, lime juice, taco seasoning, garlic, salt, and beef broth to the crock pot.
You can serve the steak fajita meat with tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or cauliflower rice.
