Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas: Skip the Mexican restaurant and let your slow cooker make your fajitas for your! Steak Fajitas come together with a few simple steps and are served up with all the flavor of a restaurant dish, just minus the smoke!
I love Mexican food but I hate to go to Mexican restaurants.
Why, you ask?
One reason is because I have so many Mexican recipes, like Mexican Lasagna, Pork Carnitas and Mexican Grilled Corn that I can easily make at home.
The other reason is that I come home smelling like I have been on fire! Each and every time a server passes me with a tray of sizzling fajitas, my mouth waters, but my hair and my clothes absorb that smokey smell. I feel like I need to air out my clothes before I can even wash them. Please tell me I am not alone here?
Let me let you in on a little secret–You don’t need a cast iron skillet and smoke alarms going off to prepare delicious fajitas at home. All you need is your slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
A friend called me the other day and asked me for a recipe for Carne Picada in the slow cooker.
I am going to be honest, that I had to look up what Carne Picada meant.
Acccording to Carne picada is Wikipedia, Carne picada is thinly sliced or shredded beef, or spanish for mincemeat. It is typically chuck beef that a butcher has sliced thinly for you to be used in tacos, burritos or fajitas.
While my recipe for slow cooker steak fajitas does not call for carne picada meat, a less expensive piece of steak, like flank steak, london broil, or even a beef chuck roast can easily be used. And after being braised in the slow cooker, the meat essentially falls apart and resembles carne picada–the only difference is YOU get to pick the piece of meat you want to use, not your butcher.
I pointed my friend to this recipe for Crock-Pot Steak Fajitas and she agreed that this is just what she was looking for when she wanted a carne picada recipe.
How to Make Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Fajitas:
With a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, a bag of frozen pepper and onion strips, a taco seasoning, and a flank steak, 10 minutes, and a slow cooker you too can have Steak Fajitas for dinner.
All you do is dump in the ingredients into your crock-pot and easy steak fajitas are nearly complete.
All you need to do is I add in some fresh lime and cilantro to the slow cooker carne picada.
Serve up the tender steak in fresh tortillas with grated cheese, and sour cream be ready for a happy family!
These fajitas are SO simple and because they are slow cooked the recipe results in a juicy, flavorful tender meat perfect for fajitas.
A Few Notes on Slow Cooker Fajitas:
- I love to use a less expensive cut of beef for crock-pot fajitas. But you can certainly use boneless skinless chicken breasts to make slow cooker chicken fajitas if you would prefer. Just shred the chicken using a hand-held mixer before serving–watch that tip in action here.
- It is best to serve the meat using a slotted spoon to drain off excess liquid produced by slow cooking your steak. This will retain all the peppers, onions, steak and flavor but not leave you with a soggy tortilla.
- I use a bag of FROZEN pepper and onion strips because it makes this meal 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.
- If you are gluten-free, you can use gluen-free tortillas to make Gluten-Free Steak Fajitas, or you can serve the steak fajita meat over lettuce for fajita salad or cilantro rice, or even cauliflower rice to keep this dish paleo.
- Steak Fajita meat will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and freeze for up to 3 months.
Let’s Make Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas:
Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
Easy recipe for slow cooker fajitas that results in meat that resembles carna picada. Perfect for serving on tortillas, on a salad, over rice, etc
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak sliced against the grain into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 16 ounce bag frozen pepper and onion strips
- 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro chopped (optional)
- 2 limes juice and zest
For Serving
- tortillas, sour cream, Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, etc
Instructions
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Place the flank steak and pepper and onion mix in slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cumin. Pour tomatoes over top and spread to cover meat.
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Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
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Once cooking time is finished, mix in the zest and juice of the limes and cilantro if using.
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Serve with a slotted spoon for fajitas or with the cooking liquid over rice or quinoa.
For this Fajita Recipe I recommend:
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If you like Crock-Pot Fajitas, you may like:
Honey Lime Chicken Fajitas
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas with Mexican Slaw
Ronda Eagle says
I have just started using my crock pot more and I’m loving all the delicious meals I can coax out of it with just a modicum of attention to cooking time and ingredient. I’m going to add these Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas to my meal plan to try.
Kristen Chidsey says
I LOVE my slow cooker Ronda!
David @ CookingChat says
interesting! not something I would have thought to make in the slow cooker, sounds tasty.
Kristen Chidsey says
Give it a try David–so good!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I’ve never tried making fajitas in the slow cooker before! Can’t wait to try this!
Kristen Chidsey says
I hope you give these a try Jessica. We LOVE them in our family!
Stephanie @ Daily Appetite says
I don’t think I would be able to stay out of the slow cooker! These looks so good.
Kristen Chidsey says
Totally acceptable to sneak a few 🙂
Denise Wright says
Wow this looks so easy. I’m going to have to try it. I usually do chicken because I never knew what kind of beef to use. Flank steak huh? I’ve never tried those frozen pepper either but I’ve always wanted to. Great recipe!
Kristen Chidsey says
Denise, flank steak (or london broil–even cheaper) and frozen pepper strips make this an easy and affordable meal
Lucy says
These fajitas look so yummy! I’ve never cooked flank steak in the slow cooker, but you’ve totally inspired me to try. Love all the spices and fresh cilantro!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Lucy–hope you enjoy them!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
We love flank steak, but I’ve never made it in the slow cooker, great idea, my son loves both steak and tacos, so I will have to try this soon!
Kristen Chidsey says
I hope you do Joy!
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
I buy flank steaks for grilling but have never cooked the strips in a crock. These tacos look super delish.
Kristen Chidsey says
They work great in crock pot too. Or so does a london broil and is cheaper!
Nutmeg Nanny says
I love busting out my slow cooker in the summer. This needs to happen asap!
Kristen Chidsey says
Yes, it does!
nicole says
Can I ask a silly question. I haven’t used this function yet and have read your other article on how to use medium or high (high plus 15m per hour), so I get that. But do I need to leave the lid of venting? So that the pressure doesn’t build up? Can I use my glass lid so I can see what is going on? Its probably a really stupid question but I’ve no idea. I love your site. Thank you so much for all of these articles and may God bless you!
Kristen Chidsey says
Hi Nicole. You can use the glass lid OR you can use your regular Instant Pot Lid (just leave vent knob to venting, not sealed–although the instant pot should never get hot enough to seal anyways) Or you can make this recipe super quickly with my Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
April says
These came out soooooo flavorful and were a big hit with the whole family!
Kristen Chidsey says
I am so happy to hear that April! I love when a meal is a hit with the whole family.
Brandi says
We love fajitas! This recipe is so easy, almost set and forget kind of meal), slow cooker is such a time saver!
Kristen Chidsey says
It is almost TOO easy–which is perfect for busy nights.