Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
This Instant Pot Steak Fajitas recipe is one of the quickest, easiest, and most flavorful dinners you’ll ever make. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have a warm and hearty Mexican-inspired dish packed with seasoned steak and tender vegetables.
This instant pot fajita recipe is a great steak dinner idea! With this set-it-and-forget-it recipe, there’s no need to spend time marinating or tenderizing your beef and no guesswork involved! Simply chop your veggies, brown your meat, mix in the remaining ingredients, and pressure cook everything together for just a few minutes! In no time you’ll have perfectly cooked steak and veggies ready to be loaded onto flour tortillas and topped with your favorite garnishes. Also, try our Beef Empanadas for a delectable experience of silverware-free meals.
We Love This Recipe Because It’s…
- One of the quickest and easiest ways to prepare steak
- A great summertime staple—no need to sweat over a hot oven, stovetop, or grill
- Savory, tender, smoky, spicy, and juicy
- Naturally dairy and egg-free and easily made gluten-free
- Very versatile—serve it over tortillas, chips, rice, or veggies
Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
- 0.75 pounds sirloin tender steak, sliced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into large slices
- 1 orange bell pepper, cut into large slices
- 1 medium red onion, cut into large slices
- 1 (10 ounce) can Mexican style Rotel, undrained
- 1 (1 ounce) packet of taco seasoning
- 12 flour street taco tortillas, warmed
- Lime wedges, optional garnish
- Chopped cilantro, optional garnish
Equipment You’ll Need
These instant pot steak fajitas are a great way for you to enjoy the tender, spicy flavor of traditional fajitas without needing to fire up the grill or turn on the oven. All you’ll need to make this 15-minute dinner is a good chef’s knife, a cutting board, some measuring spoons, a wooden spoon, and of course an instant pot.
How to Make Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
- Using the saute feature on the instant pot, heat the oil to medium heat.
- Add the sliced steak in an even layer and cook until just seared, about 4 minutes, flipping once halfway through. The meat does not need to be fully cooked at this point, just browned.
- At the very end add in the minced garlic, stir, and cook for another 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.
- Cancel the heat on the instant pot and add in the bell peppers, red onion, a can of Rotel, and a packet of taco seasoning. Mix everything together.
- Seal the instant pot with the lid and select the high-pressure setting.
- Cook for 3 minutes and quick-release the steam.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the inside of the steak is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve hot on warmed tortillas with a garnish of lime wedges and chopped cilantro, optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you slice steak before cooking fajitas?
When making traditional grilled fajitas, it is better to slice your steak after cooking. However, since these instant pot fajitas cook for a very short amount of time, it’s better that you pre-slice the meat for this recipe.
How do I get my fajita meat tender?
No need to marinate or hand tenderize your steak for these instant pot fajitas. The high pressure that builds up during the cooking process will ensure that the collagen in your beef melts, turning your steak tender and delicious.
Can I make instant pot fajitas with chicken?
Absolutely! Simply swap out the steak for sliced chicken breast and cook on high for 5 minutes instead of 3. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached at least 160°F before serving.
How to Serve and Store Steak Fajitas
If tacos aren’t your thing, there are tons of other ways that you can eat these instant pot steak fajitas! Serve your seasoned steak over tortilla chips, rice and beans, steamed veggies, or even roasted potatoes. And don’t forget to add your favorite sauces and toppings! Salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, and avocado are a few of my go-to’s.
Any leftover instant pot steak fajitas can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend reheating any chilled fajita meat in a 350°F air fryer or oven until warmed through.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- There are several different ways that you can warm your tortillas, but I recommend heating them in a pan over medium heat.
- You can easily make this dish gluten-free by swapping out the flour tortillas for corn.
- Some electric pressure cookers don’t allow you to cook anything for less than 5 minutes. If this is the case, you’ll just want to make sure you cancel the cooking process and quickly release the pressure after just 3 minutes.
- Like your fajitas on the spicier side? Swap out the regular Rotel for a can of hot Rotel or make sure that you pick up a spicy taco seasoning mix.
More Recipes:
Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
This Instant Pot Steak Fajitas recipe is one of the quickest, easiest, and most flavorful dinners you’ll ever make. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have a warm and hearty Mexican-inspired dish packed with seasoned steak and tender vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
- 0.75 pounds sirloin tender steak, sliced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into large slices
- 1 orange bell pepper, cut into large slices
- 1 medium red onion, cut into large slices
- 1 (10 ounce) can Mexican style Rotel, undrained
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 12 flour street taco tortillas, warmed
- Lime wedges, optional garnish
- Chopped cilantro, optional garnish
- Ingredient Notes
- Steak—Sirloin is my favorite cut to use, but flank, rump, or top cut would also be delicious.
- Bell Peppers—Orange and yellow, sliced thinly.
- Red Onion—Will add a slight bite to this zesty and flavorful dish.
- Rotel—Mexican style chopped tomatoes and green chilis add just the right amount of heat and moisture to your fajitas.
- Taco Seasoning Packet—Or your own blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Garlic—Freshly minced.
- Oil—Vegetable, avocado, sesame, or any other high heat oil will work.
- Flour Tortillas—Street taco size, warmed.
- Garnishes—A squeeze of fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro add a pop of color and freshness to your finished fajitas.
Instructions
- Using the saute feature on the instant pot, heat the oil to medium heat.
- Add in the sliced steak in an even layer and cook until just seared, about 4 minutes, flipping once halfway through. The meat does not need to be fully cooked at this point, just browned.
- At the very end add in the minced garlic, stir and cook for another 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.
- Cancel the heat on the instant pot and add in the bell peppers, red onion, can of Rotel and packet of taco seasoning. Mix everything together.
- Seal the instant pot with the lid and select the high pressure setting.
- Cook for 3 minutes and quick-release the steam.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that the inside of the steak is at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve hot on warmed tortillas with a garnish of lime wedges and chopped cilantro, optional.
- Notes:
- Some instant pots will not allow you to set the time for less than 5 minutes, in that case, set the timer for 5 minutes but cancel the heat and quick-release the steam after 3 minutes. Overcooking the mixture will cause the peppers to become overly soft.
Notes
Equipment You’ll Need
These instant pot steak fajitas are a great way for you to enjoy the tender, spicy flavor of traditional fajitas without needing to fire up the grill or turn on the oven. All you’ll need to make this 15-minute dinner is a good chef’s knife, a cutting board, some measuring spoons, a wooden spoon, and of course an instant pot.
Some instant pots will not allow you to set the time for less than 5 minutes, in that case, set the timer for 5 minutes but cancel the heat and quick-release the steam after 3 minutes. Overcooking the mixture will cause the peppers to become overly soft.
- There are several different ways that you can warm your tortillas, but I recommend heating them in a pan over medium heat.
- You can easily make this dish gluten-free by swapping out the flour tortillas for corn.
- Some electric pressure cookers don’t allow you to cook anything for less than 5 minutes. If this is the case, you’ll just want to make sure you cancel the cooking process and quickly release the pressure after just 3 minutes.
- Like your fajitas on the spicier side? Swap out the regular Rotel for a can of hot Rotel or make sure that you pick up a spicy taco seasoning mix.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 1997Total Fat 53gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 32gCholesterol 184mgSodium 1149mgCarbohydrates 281gFiber 17gSugar 13gProtein 93g
