A colourful, flavorful steak fajita bowl that’s excellent for household meals! With tender marinated flank steak, sautéed peppers and onions, and brilliant cilantro lime rice. They’re straightforward to customise with kid-friendly toppings and full of veggies!
You understand these nights whenever you wish to serve one thing particular however you’re working on empty after a full day? That’s precisely when these steak fajita bowls come to the rescue in my home. I began making these after I realized my children have been extra enthusiastic about dinner once they might construct their very own plates, and truthfully, it made my life a lot simpler too.
One of the best half is watching everybody customise their bowls precisely how they like them. My choosy eater skips the onions, my adventurous one hundreds up on salsa, and my husband at all times goes again for seconds. All of us get what we would like, and I solely need to cook dinner one meal. That’s what I name a household dinner win.
Why Households Love these Steak Fajita Bowls
While you’re juggling homework assist, after-school actions, and the everlasting query of “what’s for dinner,” fajita bowls ship precisely what busy households want.
Construct-Your-Personal Taste
As a substitute of preventing over who doesn’t like what, everybody will get to create their excellent bowl with precisely the toppings they need. My children really feel like they’re making their very own particular meal, which implies manner much less dinner drama and far more precise consuming. Even my most selective eater will strive new issues once they’re accountable for constructing their very own plate.
Veggies That Style Nice
The sautéed bell peppers and onions get fantastically caramelized and tackle all these wonderful steak flavors, in order that they style like a part of the principle dish moderately than a aspect everybody has to choke down. The corn provides pure sweetness that children love, and the cilantro lime rice makes greens really feel like a part of one thing particular moderately than one thing they need to eat. We’re getting a rainbow of vitamins with out anybody feeling like they’re consuming “well being meals.”
Minimal Cleanup Magic
After you cook dinner the steak, you employ the identical pan for the greens, which implies all these scrumptious steak flavors get into the peppers and onions too. The rice cooks individually, however that’s hands-off time you should use to assist with homework or prep the toppings. By the point everybody’s executed consuming, you’ve obtained perhaps two pans and a few bowls to clean as a substitute of a kitchen stuffed with dishes.
Restaurant Flavors on a Household Funds
Flank steak provides you that excellent texture and beefy taste with out the value tag of premium cuts, and the marinade makes even essentially the most reasonably priced steak style like one thing particular. The rice, beans, and greens stretch the meat to feed a household of 4 generously, and leftovers make wonderful lunch wraps or quesadilla filling the subsequent day. You’re getting restaurant-quality flavors for about half what you’d spend on takeout.
Ideas for Greatest Outcomes:
- Marinade time issues – 2 hours is the candy spot for flank steak to absorb taste with out turning into mushy. In a single day is ok should you’re brief on time the day-of.
- Cook dinner steak scorching & quick – Flank steak will get powerful if overcooked. Medium-rare to medium is good.
- Relaxation earlier than slicing – Give the steak at the very least 5 minutes to relaxation so juices redistribute.
- Slice in opposition to the grain – This shortens muscle fibers and retains the meat tender.
- Batch roast veggies – If doubling the recipe, unfold them on a sheet pan and roast at 425°F for 15–20 minutes as a substitute of sautéing in batches.
- Make-ahead rice – Cook dinner rice as much as 2 days forward and reheat with a splash of broth or water.
- Meal prep pleasant – Retailer parts individually, then assemble bowls simply earlier than consuming.
Child Helper Jobs for Steak Fajita Bowls
Ages 4-6: Setting Up the Topping Station
Little ones can prepare all of the toppings in small bowls across the desk, which makes them really feel like they’re working their very own restaurant. They love being accountable for the lime wedges, cilantro, and avocado slices, and it retains them busy and engaged whilst you’re ending up the cooking. This job helps them study totally different elements and will get them excited to strive issues they helped serve.
Ages 7-10: Washing Rice and Prepping Easy Elements
Children this age can rinse the rice till the water runs clear, which is satisfying and teaches them an necessary cooking ability they’ll use for all times. They will additionally assist measure spices for the marinade, shuck corn should you’re utilizing recent, and prepare the sliced greens on plates. These duties assist them perceive how flavors come collectively and provides them possession over components of the meal.
Ages 11+: Managing the Rice and Constructing Expertise
Older children can deal with your complete rice cooking course of from begin to end, which builds their confidence with timing and following multi-step directions. They will additionally assist with slicing greens and studying correct knife security, or take cost of the marinade whilst you prep different elements. By the point they’re youngsters, they’ll make this entire meal independently, which is strictly the type of life ability that serves them nicely later.
Substitutions & Variations
Protein swaps:
- Rooster breast or thighs – Marinate and cook dinner the identical manner, adjusting cooking time.
- Shrimp – Marinate for simply 10–quarter-hour, then sauté 2–3 minutes per aspect.
- Tofu or tempeh – Press tofu to take away moisture, then marinate and pan-sear till golden.
- Portobello mushrooms – Slice thick and grill or sauté for a hearty vegetarian possibility.
Veggie swaps:
- Use zucchini, mushrooms, or broccoli florets if peppers aren’t in season.
- Add roasted candy potato cubes for a fall twist.
- Swap frozen fire-roasted corn for additional smokiness.
Rice swaps:
- Brown rice, farro, or quinoa for a nutty, fiber-rich base.
- Cauliflower rice for low-carb or lighter possibility (sauté briefly to melt).
- Mexican-style rice for a bolder taste profile.
Taste boosts:
- Add a pinch of cayenne or crimson pepper flakes to the marinade for warmth.
- Stir in 1–2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeños to the sautéed greens.
- Drizzle with chipotle crema (mix bitter cream or Greek yogurt with chipotle in adobo).
Steak Fajita Bowls With Cilantro Lime Rice
A colourful, flavorful bowl that’s excellent for household meals, that includes tender marinated flank steak, sautéed bell peppers and onions, and brilliant cilantro lime rice. Simple to customise with kid-friendly toppings and full of hidden veggies!
Servings: 4 servings
Value: Reasonably priced
1 Resealable Plastic Bag or Shallow Dish for Marinating
1 Medium Saucepan with Lid
1 Massive Skillet or Grill Pan
1 Slicing Board and Sharp Knife
-
Make the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk collectively 2 tbsp olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup cilantro.
-
Marinate the Steak: Place flank steak in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour the marinade over it. Seal and refrigerate for at the very least half-hour (or as much as in a single day for greatest taste).
-
Cook dinner the Rice: Rinse rice beneath chilly water till water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, mix rice, water, salt, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Convey to a boil, then cowl, scale back warmth to low, and simmer for quarter-hour. Take away from warmth and let stand lined 5 minutes. Fluff with fork, then stir in cilantro and lime juice.
-
Cook dinner the Steak: Warmth a big skillet or grill pan over excessive warmth. Take away steak from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan and sear steak 4–5 minutes per aspect for medium-rare (inside temp 130–135°F). Regulate time for desired doneness. Switch steak to a plate, tent with foil, and let relaxation 5–10 minutes.
-
Sauté the Veggies: In the identical pan, add the sliced bell peppers, onions, and corn. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and cook dinner over medium-high warmth till softened and barely charred, about 5–7 minutes.
-
Slice the Steak: Reduce steak thinly in opposition to the grain for tenderness.
-
Assemble Bowls: Divide cilantro lime rice amongst 4 bowls. High with sliced steak, sautéed veggies, avocado slices, salsa, and extra cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the aspect.
- For faster prep, marinate steak whereas rice cooks.
- Substitute cauliflower rice for a low-carb possibility.
- Serve toppings individually so children can customise their bowls.
- Leftovers retailer nicely in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 days.