Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak

By Ann Fulton

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It's family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation! 
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Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It’s family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation!

 

 

 

I’m a big fan of recipes that incorporate a variety of vegetables with a basic protein in one, easy-to-assemble dinner. And when a meal is versatile and can be customized with a selection of toppings, chances are everyone will be happy!

The following recipe offers a unique method of preparing flank steak—in a slow cooker with not a drop of liquid. As it cooks, the steak produces and steeps in its own natural juices, resulting in incredibly tender beef.

The use of a simple Tex-Mex inspired spice rub elevates this slow-cooked combination and makes tacos or fajitas a fitting serving option. A bed of rice is an equally satisfying choice, and the flavor afforded by a few spice cabinet staples lends itself to traditional taco toppings like avocado or guacamole, salsa, and shredded lettuce.

As a flavorful extra, I occasionally mix up a spicy-sweet salsa to spoon over the savory flank steak. The optional topping began as a spin on a pineapple mint salsa I have long used for grilled lamb chops. I swapped the mint with cilantro and added sweet mango for a light, slightly sweet topping that complements a variety of south-of-the-border recipes.

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It's family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation! 

If making the salsa, any ripe mango may be used. However, Ataulfo or champagne mangos are especially sweet and creamy and are less fibrous than other common varieties. With their high flesh-to-seed ratio, Ataulfos make an ideal choice in any recipe calling for mango–or simply to eat as is.

Interestingly, though they are much smaller than the mangoes we see in stores year round, the fruit yield per mango—about one cup–matches other common varieties. Widely available from March through July, their skin will turn a deep golden color and small wrinkles will appear when fully ripe. Squeeze gently to judge ripeness–they should be a bit softer than you might expect.

Click here for easy cutting instructions or use the photo, below, as a guide.

Tip: Cutting the flank steak, crosswise, into four or five pieces makes shredding easier later–and no long, stringy pieces! ⇩⇩

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It's family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation! 

Prep ahead options: For added ease, chop the vegetables in advance–even the night before–and store them in an airtight container or a bag in the fridge.  You can even mix the spice mixture in advance.

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It's family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation! 

The tortilla pictured below is a sprouted corn variety, which has a little more chew than the typical tortilla.  Feel free to use your favorite corn or flour tortilla — or pile the tender meat and veggies over rice or another grain of choice.

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak combines veggies and lean protein in one, easy-to-assemble meal that can be customized with a variety of toppings. It's family-friendly and worthy of a spot on the weekly rotation! 

Mango Pineapple Salsa is optional…but highly recommended!

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Slow Cooker Mexican Flank Steak
For a nearly effortless dinner, prep this meal in the morning and let the slow cooker do the work. For added ease, chop the vegetables the night before and refrigerate in an airtight container or bag. For a delicious combination of savory, sweet, and spicy, consider trying the linked recipe for Mango Pineapple Salsa.

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds flank steak
  • 2 small to medium onions, chopped or sliced (I often use 1 red, 1 yellow; 2 of the same is fine)
  • 2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped or sliced (I like red and yellow; again choose what you prefer)
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (leave some seeds for a little heat; I have substituted 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • For serving: corn tortillas, flour tortillas or cooked rice
  • Optional toppings: Mango Pineapple Salsa or regular salsa, chopped avocado, guacamole, cilantro, lime wedges
Instructions
  1. Layer half of the onions and peppers in the bottom of your slow cooker.  Top with the flank steak. (For easier shredding later and shorter, less stringy pieces, I like to cut the flank steak into four or five pieces, crosswise, before placing it in the slow cooker.)
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt. Evenly sprinkle over the flank steak, flipping the meat to get some of the spice mixture on both sides.
  3. Top with the remaining onions, peppers, and the minced jalapeño.
  4. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours (or on high for 3 to 4 hours) or until the flank steak can be easily shredded with two forks. For ease, remove the steak to a dinner plate to shred.
  5. At this point, you may place the meat back in the slow cooker for up to another hour or serve immediately, mixed with a little of the juice as desired.
  6. Heat tortillas, if using, or serve over rice. Top as desired and enjoy!
Notes
  • Though no liquid is added to the slow cooker, flavorful juices will develop as the meal cooks. When using the steak mixture in tacos or fajitas, you may wish to first drain the juice to minimize messy dripping.  When serving over rice, I like to return the shredded meat to the slow cooker, as the rice will act as a sponge for the savory liquid.  When we have leftovers, I mix the remaining rice with the meat and juice. Not only do the flavors meld and improve with time, the rice plumps up as it absorbs the cooking liquid, seemingly stretching the leftovers and creating a mixture that is ideal for tacos or burritos—or simply as is–the next day.
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Comments

  1. Barbara

    I have two slow cookers of skirt steak cooking right now. One for dinner tonight the other for freezing for an easy dinner another night. I’ve not made this recipe before it smells delicious

    Reply
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  3. Sue

    I made this last night for my family and it was a HUGE hit. I was amazed how beautifully the flank steak shredded. My husband was so happy there are leftovers so he can have more again this week. Thanks Ann for another delicious and easy recipe.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth

    We had this for dinner two nights ago served over rice and the flavor was wonderful. Took your suggestion to mix together the leftover rice and beef and had tacos last night. SOOOO good and really easy to pull off!

    Reply