Maple Chipotle Flank Steak Tacos
These Maple Chipotle Flank Steak Tacos topped with a zippy coleslaw and avocado are bursting with flavor! The secret is the Maple Chipotle Marinate. Then all of the goodness is tucked inside warm corn tortillas making them Gluten Free, too!
Table of contents
Why We Love Chipotle Steak Tacos
The super-simple Chipotle Flank Steak Marinade with Maple Syrup not only helps to tenderize the beef, but also adds an irresistible sweet and tangy flavor. Flank steak is a cut of beef that really benefits from a good marinade.
To get these delicious tacos on the table all you have to do is whip up the marinade the day before and let the flank steak sit in all of the yumminess overnight to get the best flavor. Then the next day fire up your grill and cook the steak for a few minutes, then slice and serve. Only 45 minutes of hands-on time from start to finish.
Serve them with this Mexican Coleslaw recipe and some Slow Cooker Pinto Beans for a complete Mexican feast!!
Key Ingredients For Healthy Steak Tacos
Chipotle Chilis in Adobo Sauce
These are jalapeños that have been dried and smoked and then put in a tangy tomato sauce with spices. You can find them in the International aisle of your grocery store in small cans usually near the enchilada sauces. They add a sweet, smoky, tangy heat to dishes.
Maple Syrup
The magical flavor of maple syrup is a complex blend of not just sweetness, but slight caramel and vanilla notes. It pairs very well with the smoky tangy heat of the chipotles.
Grass-fed Flank Steak
Grass-fed beef has less total fat and less calories, as much as five times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids and more antioxidants than grain-fed making it a healthier option. Flank steak comes from the abdominal muscle and is generally a less expensive cut that is very flavorful. Make sure to slice it against the grain, which is the direction the muscle fibers run. This cuts those fibers and makes the meat more tender and easier to chew.
Other Ingredients For This Recipe
- 5 tablespoons cider vinegar, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 3 cups finely chopped cabbage
- ½ cup julienne-cut radishes
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 avocado, diced
- 12 corn tortillas, warmed
How To Make Chipotle Flank Steak Marinade with Maple Syrup
Step 1: Mince the chipotles.
Remove 3 chipotle chilis from the can, mince and place in a small bowl.
Step 2: Add the remaining marinade ingredients and whisk.
Add the maple syrup, cider vinegar, and salt to the bowl and whisk to combine.
Step By Step Instructions To Make The Tacos
Step 1: Marinate the flank steak.
Place the flank steak in a large resealable plastic bag, and add the marinade. Re-seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
Step 2: Preheat the grill and cook the steak.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove steak from the marinade and discard any remaining marinade. Oil grill rack and add flank steak and grill the steaks. Let rest 10 minutes.
Step 3: Prepare the slaw.
Whisk the remaining maple syrup, vinegar, and salt and oil in a medium bowl. Add cabbage, radishes and cilantro and toss to combine.
Step 4: Slice the steak and serve.
Slice the flank steak into thin strips, across the grain. Fill tortillas with steak and slaw and top with avocado.
FAQ’s and Expert Tips
This flank steak would be delicious served in quesadillas, enchiladas, lettuce wraps or over a big green salad.
Flank steak is leaner and has an intense meaty flavor making it perfect for tacos. Skirt steak also has good flavor, but tends to have more muscle fibers and is less tender than flank.
It is important to cut steak against the grain. The grain is the direction that the muscle fibers run. Cutting across these fibers shortens them and makes the beef slices more tender and easier to chew.
Serve with pinto beans and Mexican Coleslaw. If you have a few extra minutes, make a batch of this healthy cornbread to go on the side.
More Recipes To Try
- Cod Fish Tacos are a great change of pace for Taco Tuesday!
- These Shrimp Tacos are super flavorful and fast!
- Try making Beef Barbacoa in your Instant pot or slow cooker and use it to make tacos.
- If you’re short on time these Chicken Tacos are ready in only 20 minutes!
- if you’ve been trying to make more plant-based recipes part of your menu and you’re looking for a Veggie Taco recipe, this is the one to try!
- These easy Steak Fajitas are “amazing” “delicious” and “scrumptious!” And they’re ready in 35 minutes flat!
- This Thai Skirt Steak is marinated with lime, coconut and has tons of flavor!
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
PrintMaple Chipotle Flank Steak Tacos
- Total Time: 12 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Yummy gluten-free soft tacos made with maple chipotle marinated flank steak with zippy coleslaw and avocado tucked inside warm corn tortillas
Ingredients
- 3 chipotle chilis in adobo sauce, minced
- 1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, dark or amber
- 5 tablespoons cider vinegar, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 small grass-fed flank steak, about 1 1/2 pounds
- 2 teaspoons canola oil
- 3 cups finely chopped cabbage
- 1/2 cup julienne-cut radishes
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
- 1 avocado, diced
- 12 corn tortillas, warmed
Instructions
- Whisk chipotle, ¼ cup maple syrup, 3 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Place flank steak in a large re-sealable plastic bag, and add chipotle mixture. Re-seal and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Remove steak from the marinade and discard any remaining marinade. Oil grill rack and add flank steak. Grill steaks, 5 to 7 minutes per side for medium rare, 6 to 7 for medium and 8 minutes per side for medium-well. Let rest 10 minutes while preparing slaw.
- Whisk the remaining 2 teaspoons maple syrup, the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and oil in a medium bowl. Add cabbage, radishes and cilantro and toss to combine.
- Slice the flank steak into thin strips, across the grain. Fill tortillas with steak and slaw and top with avocado.
Notes
How To Slice The Flank Steak:
It is important to cut steak against the grain. The grain is the direction that the muscle fibers run. Cutting across these fibers shortens them and makes the beef slices more tender and easier to chew.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 322
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 459 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 19 g
These tacos look absolutely gorgeous. I love the use of coleslaw and avocado along with the meat. Thanks for the recipe!
Omgsh these tacos are delish! I love chipotle and the added cilantro in there tasted incredible. Great recipe!
Oh yeah, these are yummy. My traditional taco eater hubby said, “these are good, and good for you!” Already trying chicken in the marinade and planning to use the slaw recipe this summer for barbecues. Thanks, Katie!
These tacos look ridiculously good. Like, I’m seriously salivating just thinking about how amazing this tastes!
Oh boy. Glad to hear it Chris 😉
I always love sweet and savory! Thanks so much for coming by Samantha, you are too kind.
This is gorgeous..just perfect! I never thought of using ample as a marinade but we do buy the good stuff. I am sooo trying this..the sweet spicy thing is up my alley. And the photography…perfection!
These look so good. I will try your recipe. I just linked my Maple Glazed Chicken Drummettes and tweeted! Thanks.
Glad to hear you are giving this recipe a try. I’m so glad you linked up too.
Aw man, I have tacos slated for lunch today already. I will pin this recipe for next time – looks delicious!
We were just wondering the other day when people would be able to start sugaring. It has been a strange winter for sure – but yesterday I went for a run in a T shirt, so I have hope things will change at some point!
Running in a teeshirt is a good sign for sure:)We did get some sap yesterday, and it should run again this week. I have a feeling it is going to be a short sugaring season this year.
Oh Yum! Maple syrup is one of my favorite sweeteners. So much flavor! These tacos look fantastic!
Thank you Nicole 🙂 I love that it adds flavor, not just sweetness too.
What a great marinade, my husband would love this!
I do think this will make a lot of guys happy, lol. But I have to say I scarfed them up myself too!
just posted a sweet & spicy recipe myself today so I’m glad great minds think alike!! these look absolutely mouthwatering, love it!
Mmm, I’ll have to come over to check it out! Thank you for the compliment Christine;)
Pretty sure my husband would flip out over these! I am a huge sweet and savory fan, so I loved that you put maple syrup in your tacos! Totally making these very very soon.
Me too! I always want to balance things out with a touch of sweetness. My husband did love these btw 😉
What a great post…from the info on maple sugaring to this gorgeous recipe!
Thanks so much Dara, and for participating in the link-up! I love your no-bakes.
Ummm…woah. That Maple Chipotle Marinade just changed my life. I can’t wait to get out there and try it on pretty much everything on the grill! Thanks, Katie!!
I know you will do it snow or no snow. I was out at my grill today in the sideways rain. Its all good.
ZOMG — these look so good, and that marinade could be used in so many different ways, too! I love that you guys do your own sugaring. Fingers crossed that J. gets to use his new rig soon (although I’m crying over the weekend forecast right now).
I can’t believe that the weather changed so fast. The swirling snow this morning was too much. Yes this marinade would be great with lots of other meats.