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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    February 29, 2020 by Tiffany 2 Comments

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    How to cook juicy, tender cast-iron skillet flank steak seasoned and seared that tastes as if a top chef cooked it for you. You’ll never want to cook it any other way!

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    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    Have you ever wondered how to cook tender pieces of flank steak? This delicious recipe will have you eating restaurant tasting steak.

    I really wanted steak and fries and I’ve cooked with flank steak before on the grill. I know how tender it can be if you cut against the grain in thin strips.

    This makes for a great camp-fire meal too. If you’re looking for more grill

    Ingredients for Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    • Flank Steak
    • Worcestershire Sauce
    • Seasoned Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Thyme
    • Olive Oil

    This is the smaller of my two cast-iron skillets. If you have a larger one I am sure you could fit all 4 pieces of steak in at once.

    Cooking Steaks in a Cast-Iron Skillet

    What temperature should flank steak be?

    Flank steak is really best at a rare (125-130 degrees Fahrenheit) to medium-rare (130-135 degrees Fahrenheit) temperature.

    If the steak reaches medium temperature (140-145 degrees Fahrenheit) it begins to get dry and tough.

    What part of the cow does flank steak come from?

    Flank steak comes from the cow’s abdominal muscles and is known to be a tough, but lean cut of beef with a thick grain.

    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    How do you make flank steak tender?

    Follow these steps below to learn how to cut flank steak and marinate it so it’s not tough.

    • Marinading flank steak is one of the best ways to tenderize this cut of beef. It helps break down the muscle fibers and collagen.
    • Another way to tenderize the beef is by making small cuts in the beef’s fibers before cooking it. In this recipe, I cut ⅛” diagonal slices into the top of the steak, about ¼” deep.

    How you cut the beef after it cooks is important too.

    • Cutting against the grain and breaking apart the fibers is important. This way, as you take each bite of beef, you are chewing with the grain and it pulls apart easily.
    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    How to Cook Flank Steak on the Stove

    Once your steak is cut down to size and marinated, remove it from the refrigerator to come to room temperature.

    While it does, heat your cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. We want it hot enough before the steak touches the pan so it can brown nicely. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan once it’s hot, and place the steak in the pan.

    Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Then, wrap the steak in foil and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. This gets it to a medium-rare temperature.

    I’ve found, and many would agree, that medium-rare is what you want for a flank steak. If you let it go to a medium temperature the steak gets very tough and chewy.

    To aim for a medium-rare, look to get 130-135 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer. Keep in mind the internal temperature will still rise slightly after we remove it from the pan and it rests in foil.

    What is flank steak good for?

    • Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
    • Salpicón, Shredded Beef Mexican Salad
    • Carne Asada
    • Grilled Marinated Flank Steak with Chimichurri
    • Balsamic Steak Salad
    • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
    • Steak, Potato, and Mushroom Foil Packs
    • Teriyaki Beef Jerky
    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak Sides:

    • Air Fryer French Fries
    • Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
    • Cheesy Potatoes
    • Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Firecracker Brussels Sprouts
    • Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
    • Ultimate Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

    Enjoy!

    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    Cast-Iron Skillet Flank Steak

    How to cook juicy, tender cast-iron skillet flank steak seasoned and seared that tastes as if a top chef cooked it for you. You'll never want to cook it any other way!
    4.77 from 21 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dishes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Cook and Rest Time: 11 minutes
    Total Time: 46 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Author: Tiffany

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½-2 pounds Flank Steak
    • ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Thyme
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil

    Instructions
     

    • If your flank steak is one large piece, cut into 4 equal pieces. To tenderize the meat, cut ⅛” diagonal slices into the top of the steak, about ¼” deep.
    • Mix Worcestershire and seasonings together and coat beef with marinade. Allow to refrigerate for 30 minutes (or overnight.) Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to cooking to allow beef to reach room temperature.
    • Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add steak to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned. Wrap steak in foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. This gets it to a medium-rare temperature.
      Rare internal temperature:
      125-130 degrees Fahrenheit
      Medium-rare internal temperature:
      130-135 degrees Fahrenheit
      Medium internal temperature:
      145 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Cutting against the grain, slice beef into ¼” pieces. Serve with your favorite sides!

    Recommended Products

    Farberware 8″ Chef Knife with Self-Sharpening Sleeve
    Farberware Cutting Board, 11″x14″
    Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet (12.5 Inch)

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn referral fees from products I love and recommend at no extra cost to you.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 278 kcalCarbohydrates: 4 gProtein: 37 gFat: 12 gSaturated Fat: 4 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 6 gCholesterol: 102 mgSodium: 895 mgPotassium: 724 mgFiber: 0.1 gSugar: 2 gVitamin A: 39 IUVitamin C: 3 mgCalcium: 58 mgIron: 4 mg
    « Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
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    Filed Under: Beef, Christmas Recipes, Main Dishes, New Year's Recipes, Summer Recipes, Valentine's Day Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Virgoe

      November 29, 2022 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe- Loved how it turned out!

      Reply
    2. Kimberly G.

      November 19, 2022 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect as written……excellent recipe, thank you for sharing

      Reply

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    About Me

    Welcome, I'm Tiffany! My love for cooking began in the kitchen with my grandmother at the age of 5. Some of the recipes have been passed down to me and others I create as I go. Simply Happenings was created to share quick and delicious meals for your family highlighting air fryer and Instant Pot recipes. Enjoy! Read More…

    • Links in this post/page are Amazon Affiliate links to products I love and recommend. I earn a referral fee at no extra cost to you.

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