Instant Pot Steak Fajitas are full of flavor and made incredibly easy thanks to the pressure cooker. These flavorful, tender instant pot fajitas are so incredibly easy to make and so delicious they are absolutely irresistible!
Don't have an Instant Pot? No worries make Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas instead. If steak is not your thing, you may enjoy Instant Pot Carnitas or Instant Pot Chicken Tacos.
Instant Pot Steak Fajitas are one of the easiest, tastiest, and economical ways to make Steak Fajitas.
Steak Fajitas are typically made with grilled strips of steak, peppers, and onions and are especially delicious.
The advantage of making steak fajitas in the pressure cooker is that you can use less expensive cuts of meat and still have delicious results! Plus the process of making steak fajitas in the instant pot is a whole lot easier than grilling fajitas--this recipe for fajitas is almost completely hands-off.
Meat for Steak Fajitas
Skirt steak is what is typically used for traditional fajitas. However, the Instant Pot would overcook the skirt steak. Tougher cuts of meat lend themselves better to being cooked in the pressure cooker--which makes this recipe more affordable.
Choose one of the following cuts of meat:
- Sirloin Steak
- Top Round Steak
- Flank Steak
My favorite is sirloin or flank steak for these fajitas!
How to Make Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
Step One: Thinly Slice Beef
- Slice the cut of beef into thin strips against the grain of the meat. PRO-TIP: if you find it difficult to cut fresh beef, place in freezer for 10 minutes prior to slicing.
Step Two: Season Meat
- Toss meat with Homemade Fajita Seasoning
Step Three: Add Ingredients to Instant Pot
- Place steak in the pressure cooker.
- Add in beef stock (or water or beer).
- Place 1 bag of frozen pepper strips on top of the beef.
Step Four: Pressure Cook Steak Fajitas
- Place lid on the pressure cooker and be sure that vent knob is pointed to sealed.
- Hit Manual or Pressure Cooker and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let pressure release for at least 10 minutes, before doing a quick release of any remaining pressure.
- Add zest and juice of a lime to fajita mixture and mix well.
Step Five: Serve Steak Fajitas
- Serve the fajita meat using a slotted spoon to drain off excess liquid before adding to tortillas.
- Top with guacamole, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, as desired.
A Few Notes on Pressure Cooker Fajitas:
- Steak Fajita meat will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and freeze for up to 3 months.
- I only add in ½ cup extra cooking liquid. As you know from my Instant Pot Basics, you need at least 1 cup of liquid to cook in a pressure cooker. HOWEVER, the juice from the onions and peppers, along with the ½ cup extra added liquid will provide more than enough liquid to cook these Steak Fajitas.
- I use a bag of FROZEN pepper and onion strips because it makes these Instant Pot Steak Fajitas super easy and more economical in winter months when peppers are not in season. You can certainly use fresh onions and peppers if you would like. I would use 2-3 fresh peppers (any color) and 1 large onion cut into strips and saute in the Instant Pot on the saute function in 1 tablespoon oil until soft and tender. Then add in the remaining ingredients and proceed with the recipes.
- Feel free to use water or beer in place in beef stock for the additional added liquid.
- If you want to use FROZEN steak strips, increase the cooking time to 9 minutes instead of 5 minutes.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Ribs
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
- Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches
Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
Ingredients
- 1 pound top round roast or sirloin steak roast
- 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning
- 16 ounce bag frozen pepper and onion strips
- ½ cup beef stock or beer
- 2 limes juice and zest
Instructions
- Slice the beef roast against the grain into thin strips. Season liberally with the taco seasoning and place inside the inner pot of pressure cooker.
- Pour in ½ cup beer or beef stock and add pepper and onion mix on top of beef mixture.
- Seal instant pot, being sure vent knob is pointed to sealed. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Once cooking time is finished let pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes and then, mix in the zest and juice of the limes.
- Serve with a slotted spoon for fajitas or with the cooking liquid over rice or quinoa.
Equipment Needed
Nutrition
Shannon
Hi, I was just curious about the cook time discrepancy?? In the step-by-step portion, it says to pressure cook for 5 minutes, but in the actually recipe below that, it says to cook for 8 minutes. I want to make sure I have the correct time since flank steak is quite expensive where I live. Thanks!!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Shannon! This recipe is to cook for only 5 minutes, 9 if frozen solid. I am not sure where you see 8 minutes. But 5 is perfect 🙂
Judi
Will the time vary if you use fresh peppers and onions as opposed to frozen?
Kristen Chidsey
Not at all Judi 🙂 Enjoy!
Pam Greer
Such a great tip to put the meat in the freezer to get nice slices!! I also love that you can use cheaper meats with the Instant Pot - and how quick these yummy fajitas cook up!
Kristen Chidsey
I am glad that tip helped!
Suzy
Made this for dinner tonight! Everyone loved it.
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!! Love it when dinner is loved by everyone!
Shelley C
There are no tomatoes listed in recipe but they are mentioned in comments. Ingredient list call for half cup of broth but directions only have me put in 1/4 cup. Is this an error, or am I misunderstanding?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Shelley! I am sorry for the confusion. There are no tomatoes in this recipe and the instructions should have read 1/2 cup not 1/4 cup (it is corrected now)
Jackie
Hi, the fajitas sound delicious! I’m using a 6 qt instapot but I don’t think I’ll put tomatoes in this receipe. So I’m thinking I should probably put 1 cup of beer in the instapot?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jackie! Yes, you will need 1 cup liquid for sure, so I would use either beer or stock. Enjoy!
Nil
I used half cup of beer for about 1 pound of flank. Too much in my opinion. Only added onions as far as veggies- the rest was spices
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Nil! That is good to note if you aren't using peppers as well, it may overpower the meat. Great to adjust for personal tastes 🙂
Celena Boudreau
My instant pot directions say to use at least 18 ounces of liquid (more than 2 cups) of liquid to pressure cook. Your recipe barely uses 1 cup. What gives?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Celena! If you have an 8 quart you may need 1 1/2 cups. But the peppers and onions give off excess liquid, making this recipe work.
Jennifer
What size instant pot did you use will this work with an 8?
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely this recipe will work with an 8 quart. All my recipes are designed for the 6 or 8 🙂
Jacqueline DiNuoscio
I see a fajita night in my near future! I love how the Instant Pot makes it so easy!
Kristen Chidsey
Easy indeed
Jenn
YESSS! I have everything I need to make this for dinner tonight! SO HAPPENING!
Kristen Chidsey
WAHOO!!! Enjoy