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    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free » Healthy Steak Fajitas

    Published: Feb 18, 2019 · Modified: Jan 7, 2021 by Alicia This post may contain affiliate links.

    Healthy Steak Fajitas

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Flank steak fajitas on a sheet pan

    These healthy steak fajitas are not only easy to make, but they come with a quick marinade that saves you from MSG-filled store-bought packets. Serve in lettuce cups for Whole30, paleo or low carb fajitas.

    Healthy steak fajitas topped with shallots and red pepper in tortillas on a sheet pan

    Fajitas are one of my favorite Friday (or Sunday) night meals. Sure you have to remember to marinate them for a little bit, but they’re easy to whip up and super delicious. This particular recipe doesn’t have a million spices, but it’s packed with flavor. Cherry juice gives this recipe a great tangy flavor without adding a lot of citrus.

    I probably have such fond memories because this is one meal we used to eat all the time when I was growing up. As I’ve talked about before, my mom was never a wonderful cook, but she’s a really awesome baker (something I am not). I feel like you’re either one or the other, right? If anyone is a great baker AND cook, please send me an email because I clearly need to feature you on this site!

    Healthy Fajita Seasoning

    Anyway, we always made really simple meals, particularly on Fridays and Sundays, when we could all sit down together and enjoy them. My mom always bought the McCormick’s fajita seasoning packet. My mom, the nutritionist and RN, fed me MSG while I was in the critical stages of growing up! WAY TO GO, MOM. Thankfully I lived to see another day, but now that I’m managing a migraine disorder I have to be more careful with MSG and additives. If you’ve ever looked at the back of a label, there are hardly any recognizable names in the spice mix other than onion, cumin, chili pepper, and oregano. Who really needs corn syrup solids in their fajitas, anyway?

    Some other fun updates to this recipe to make it a little bit healthier. 

    • Shallots instead of onions
    • No citrus included (but tons of tangy flavor with tart cherry juice - you could also use pomegranate)
    • Pantry spices that you can recognize the names of - no packaged mixes!

    Marinating Flank Steak

    You really don’t have to marinate flank steak a lot time to get more flavor. 20 minutes, while you cut and sauté the vegetables, should do just fine. You don’t even need to put it in the fridge, just leave it out on the counter.  If you have more time, by all means, marinate away…and definitely put it in the fridge. I’ve made this recipe multiple times and while the flavor is always more noticeable if I let it sit overnight, it’s still good either way.

    A cast iron pan will give you the best sear for these, which I think is a very important part for fajitas that aren’t grilled. You still want a little bit of that char on your peppers, shallots, and meat. A non-stick skillet will work fine if that’s all you have as well.

    To find good steak, I recently partnered with ButcherBox to bring some of my readers access to high quality meat without having to drive to a local butcher. It's difficult for me to find vendors that are migraine diet safe, but I really love the mission of this company. Since all the meat is frozen, you don't have to worry about tyramine build up. It comes straight to your door, so one less place to drive (for us dizzy folks!). And they actually carry homemade sausage with simple and limited ingredients. If you try it, let me know how you like it! We've ordered the custom box since I like to pick and choose what I want.

    If you’re not a red meat eater, try subbing out the steak for chicken or even cauliflower for a vegetarian twist.

    A line of packed steak fajitas piled high with flank steak meat, shallots, and peppers on a pan

    More Steak Recipes

    For other recipes like these healthy steak tacos, check out these links.

    Instant Pot Steak Tacos
    Steak Salad with Peaches 
    Flank Steak Tacos

    Quick and easy steak fajita recipe, perfect for a Friday night dinner. These flank steak fajitas are marinated in fresh (migraine safe) spices and cherry juice, which gives it the tart flavor without citrus. #fajitas #steak #migrainediet

    Healthy Steak Fajitas

    A quick and easy recipe that everyone will love, these steak fajitas cook up in no time and use a homemade seasoning that's healthy and MSG-free. Tart cherry juice gives these fajitas a wonderful, tangy flavor. Feel free to sub out chicken or even cauliflower. 
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Low Salt
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 489kcal
    Author: Alicia

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb flank steak, sliced thinly (approx ½ inch) against the grain
    • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon tart cherry juice
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 4 large shallots
    • 2 bell peppers
    • 1 package tortillas * I used central market brand, but Tortillaland has good ones too. Use corn for gluten free.
    • 2-4 tablespoon high heat oil such as avocado or canola
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a large ziplock bag, combine garlic, olive oil, vinegar, cherry juice, cumin, smoked paprika, and sliced steak. Steak should be sliced against the grain, which means to cut it in the opposite direction of where the lines run, not parallel to them. Allow the steak to marinate for at least 20 minutes, up to overnight. If only marinating 20 minutes, leave out on the counter. 
    • Meanwhile, slice your shallots and bell peppers into strips. Heat 1-2 tablespoon of high heat oil in a cast iron or non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add bell pepper and shallots, leaving it to char on one side for at least 1 minute. Then stir around the pan, browning evenly for 4-5 minutes total. 
    • Remove the shallots and bell peppers from the pan and put in an oven safe dish. Wrap tortillas completely in aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place the tortillas and shallot/pepper mixture in the oven to keep warm. 
    • Add 1-2 more tablespoon of high heat oil to your pan and place the sliced steak evenly. Do not touch for at least 1-2 minutes to get a nice char on one side, then stir to evenly brown on the other side - 4-5 minutes total. 
    • Remove everything from the oven and place cooked steak in tortillas with bell peppers and shallots. Some good migraine safe toppings are queso fresco, lettuce, radish, and whipped cottage cheese (for a sour cream substitute). 

    Notes

    • For low carb/Whole30 alternatives, use romaine, butter lettuce cups, or jicama tortillas. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 550mg | Potassium: 642mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1986IU | Vitamin C: 76mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @thedizzycook or tag #thedizzycook!

    Quick and easy msg-free steak fajita recipe, perfect for a Friday night dinner. These flank steak fajitas are marinated in fresh (migraine safe) spices and cherry juice, which gives it the tart flavor without citrus. #fajitas #steak #cleaneating #recipe

     

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    About Alicia

    Alicia is a vestibular migraine advocate and the bestselling author of The Dizzy Cook: Managing Migraine with More Than 90 Comforting Recipes and Lifestyle Tips. Her articles and recipes have been featured by Healthline, Parade, mindbodygreen, Today, Good Morning Texas, the Vestibular Disorders Association, and the American Migraine Foundation. Read More

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. HN says

      January 15, 2022 at 6:14 am

      5 stars
      Really good recipe, but curious how you have calculated this to be 550 mg sodium per serving if there is no salt in the ingredients? Are you including the sodium from a tortilla that is high in sodium?

      Reply
      • Alicia says

        January 16, 2022 at 11:23 am

        I use a program that calculates it for me (I just don't have the time to do it manually) and it always counts it higher than the ingredients I suggest. It uses generic ingredients. I always recommend if people are doing low sodium to just calculate it manually based on what you're using.

        Reply
    2. Ann K says

      April 25, 2021 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe. The marinade was great!

      Reply

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    Meet the Cook! I’m Alicia, cookbook author and recipe developer. I was diagnosed with Chronic Vestibular Migraine in 2016 - a diagnosis that changed my life. I’ve gone from bedridden to extremely active by implementing migraine diet, incorporating key supplements, and making lifestyle changes. The Dizzy Cook is a collection of my delicious recipes that everyone will love, and tips for anyone that struggles with migraine attacks.

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    Meet the Cook! I’m Alicia, cookbook author and recipe developer. I was diagnosed with Chronic Vestibular Migraine in 2016 - a diagnosis that changed my life. I’ve gone from bedridden to extremely active by implementing migraine diet, incorporating key supplements, and making lifestyle changes. The Dizzy Cook is a collection of my delicious recipes that everyone will love, and tips for anyone that struggles with migraine attacks.

    About The Dizzy Cook

    Trending Recipes

    • Creamy Boursin Pasta
    • Beef Stew Recipe without Wine
    • Lazy Lasagna
    • No Tomato Chili (Texas-Style)
    • Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
    • Air Fryer Flank Steak

    Get New Posts via Email

    Subscribe for new recipes, tips, and discounts.

    Healthy New Year Recipes

    • Stir Fry Without Soy Sauce
    • Beef Protein Bowl
    • Mediterranean Baked Halibut
    • Dutch Oven Pot Roast (Wine-Free)
    • Baked Chicken Kabobs
    • Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

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