Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls are your new weeknight dinner savior, offering a bright, flavorful, and incredibly simple meal that comes together in minutes and uses readily available ingredients for a satisfying and healthy bowl. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something delicious but don’t have a lot of time to cook, transforming simple ingredients into a vibrant and satisfying meal.
Key Ingredients for Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls
For the Steak:
- 1.5 pounds flank steak or sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Bowls:
- 2 cups cooked rice (your choice of white, brown, or cilantro lime rice)
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese or feta cheese (optional)
- Additional fresh cilantro, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Avocado slices or guacamole (optional)
- Salsa or pico de gallo (optional)
How to Make Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls
Get ready for a flavor explosion that’s impressively simple to achieve! These Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls are designed for maximum taste with minimal fuss, featuring tender, marinated steak alongside fresh, vibrant toppings over fluffy rice that’s ready in under 30 minutes, making them a perfect solution for busy evenings.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Marinate the Steak: In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced steak, olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together until the steak is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. For a quicker marinade, you can simply combine all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag.
- Prepare the Rice and Beans: If you haven’t already, cook your rice according to package directions. While the rice is cooking, rinse and drain your black beans and gather your corn kernels.
- Cook the Steak: Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated steak in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked to your desired doneness. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary to ensure the steak sears properly. Remove the steak from the pan and set aside to rest for a few minutes.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide the cooked rice among your serving bowls. Top each bowl with a generous portion of black beans, corn kernels, chopped red onion, and diced tomatoes.
- Add the Steak and Toppings: Slice the rested steak against the grain into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the sliced steak over the rice and vegetable mixture in each bowl. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese (if using), extra fresh cilantro, and serve with lime wedges and your favorite optional toppings like avocado slices, guacamole, or salsa.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls
You’ll absolutely adore these Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls for their incredibly bright and zesty marinated steak that’s bursting with fresh cilantro and tangy lime, offering a vibrant flavor profile that dances on your palate. Unlike a heavy, complicated meal, this dish is remarkably light yet satisfying, making it a fantastic alternative to a takeout burrito bowl that will save you money and control the ingredients. The combination of savory steak, hearty beans, sweet corn, and fresh produce creates a symphony of textures and tastes that come together beautifully, proving that delicious, wholesome meals can be incredibly easy to make at home.
The convenience of these Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls is undeniable, taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish, making it a perfect go-to for any busy weeknight. Imagine the satisfaction of creating such a delicious and customizable meal without the hassle or expense of dining out; you can adjust the spice level, swap out vegetables, or add your favorite creamy sauce. It’s about enjoying a fresh, flavorful, and balanced dinner that’s as delightful to prepare as it is to eat. Don’t just take our word for it – gather these simple ingredients and whip up your own batch of Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls tonight!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
Once cooled, store any leftover Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls components separately or as assembled bowls in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Keeping components separate, such as the steak, rice, and vegetables, will help maintain their quality and texture.
Reheating:
- Microwave: To reheat assembled bowls, remove any avocado or toppings that brown easily. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
- Stovetop: For best results, especially with the steak and rice, reheat in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of water or broth to the skillet to help loosen the rice and steak.
- Freezing: While not ideal for maintaining the freshest texture of the vegetables and steak, you can freeze components like the cooked rice and marinated steak (before cooking) for future use. Store in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Final Thoughts
These Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls are a testament to how simple ingredients can create an incredibly flavorful and satisfying meal. So go ahead, give this recipe a try and discover your new favorite weeknight dinner – you won’t be disappointed!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Easy Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium bowl, combine the thinly sliced steak, olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together until the steak is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator. For a quicker marinade, you can simply combine all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag.1.5 pounds flank steak or sirloin steak, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- If you haven’t already, cook your rice according to package directions. While the rice is cooking, rinse and drain your black beans and gather your corn kernels.2 cups cooked rice, 1 cup black beans, 1 cup corn kernels
- Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated steak in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked to your desired doneness. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary to ensure the steak sears properly. Remove the steak from the pan and set aside to rest for a few minutes.1.5 pounds flank steak or sirloin steak
- Divide the cooked rice among your serving bowls. Top each bowl with a generous portion of black beans, corn kernels, chopped red onion, and diced tomatoes.2 cups cooked rice, 1 cup black beans, 1 cup corn kernels, 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- Slice the rested steak against the grain into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the sliced steak over the rice and vegetable mixture in each bowl. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese (if using), extra fresh cilantro, and serve with lime wedges and your favorite optional toppings like avocado slices, guacamole, or salsa.1.5 pounds flank steak or sirloin steak, 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese or feta cheese, 1 Additional fresh cilantro, 1 Lime wedges, 1 Avocado slices or guacamole, 1 Salsa or pico de gallo