Description
Cilantro Lime Steak Bowls are a vibrant, fresh, and flavorful dish featuring marinated flank steak seared to perfection and served over lime-infused rice, black beans, charred corn, and colorful toppings like avocado, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cheese. This recipe balances zesty citrus and smoky spices with creamy and crunchy textures, making it a perfect all-in-one bowl meal for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak Marinade
- 1.5 pounds flank steak or skirt steak
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Rice and Beans
- 3 cups cooked white rice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
Vegetables and Toppings
- 1 cup corn
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup pico de gallo or salsa
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- 2 limes, cut into wedges
Dressing
- ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Pour the marinade over the flank steak in a large zip-top bag or shallow dish. Seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, ideally 2-4 hours, or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook rice and prepare beans: Cook 3 cups of white rice according to package instructions. While hot, stir in lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt. In a medium saucepan, warm the black beans with cumin and salt over low heat until heated through.
- Char the corn: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-high heat and char the corn kernels until slightly browned and smoky, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Set aside.
- Prep toppings: Slice the avocado, thinly slice the red onion, halve the cherry tomatoes, and have shredded cheese, salsa or pico de gallo, and fresh cilantro ready for assembly.
- Mix the dressing: Combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
- Cook the steak: Remove steak from marinade and let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Heat a cast-iron skillet, grill pan, or outdoor grill over high heat until smoking hot. Add a small amount of oil, then sear the steak for 3-4 minutes on each side until an instant-read thermometer reaches 130-135°F for medium-rare. Remove from heat and rest steak for 10 minutes.
- Slice the steak: Using a sharp knife, slice the rested steak against the grain at a diagonal into thin strips for tenderness.
- Assemble the bowls: In large serving bowls, layer the lime-cilantro rice as the base. Top with warm black beans, charred corn, sliced steak, avocado slices, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheese. Spoon pico de gallo or salsa on top, drizzle with the prepared lime-cilantro dressing, garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
- You can marinate the steak overnight for deeper flavor but do not exceed 24 hours.
- Flank steak or skirt steak are preferred for their flavor and texture but you may substitute with sirloin or hanger steak.
- For a dairy-free option, use avocado crema or cashew cream instead of sour cream.
- Use cooked rice leftover from the previous day for convenience and better texture.
- Adjust spice levels by varying the chili powder or adding fresh jalapeño slices to the pico de gallo.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: cilantro lime steak bowls, flank steak recipe, lime rice bowl, Mexican steak bowls, grilled steak bowl, healthy steak bowls
