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A bed of rice is topped with juicy, lightly charred flank steak, toppings like avocado, tomato, and onion, and a creamy yogurt drizzle in this Steak Rice Bowl recipe. Ready in under 40 minutes, they are quick and easy to assemble, making them a great option for a weeknight dinner.
This steak rice bowl is bold, savory, and satisfying. Flank steak is marinated with lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika, then seared until juicy with a lightly charred edge. It’s served over cilantro lime rice to balance the richness with freshness. A spoon of sour cream or Greek yogurt softens the spices, while fresh cilantro adds a clean, herbal finish.
Or, in other words, this steak rice bowl recipe is really good, really flavorful, and really easy to make. Similar to my chicken burrito bowl recipe, these bowls are meant for customization. Skip the toppings you’re not a fan of, add the ones you love, and enjoy. You could even switch up the protein used. These would be amazing with guajillo steak!
Why This Steak Rice Bowl Recipe Is So Good
- Tender, flavorful steak. The flank steak is marinated in lime juice and oil with a combination of garlic, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika to ensure ultimate flavor. The lime juice also helps to keep the steak extra tender. Then, it’s seared until juicy with a lightly charred edge. So good!
- Quick & easy. It takes about 20 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook this steak rice bowl recipe, making it a great option for busy weeknights. They also work great for meal prep.
- Make it your own. While I’ve included my family’s favorite toppings and ingredients, feel free to switch it up. I love that every person can make their own steak rice bowl with their favorite toppings, so everyone gets exactly what they want.
What You’ll Need
Each part of this recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients and spices. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
For the Steak
- Steak – The best steak to use for this recipe in terms of flavor and tenderness is flank steak. Using skirt steak will work too, but it is less tender, still very flavorful! Other possible substitutions are sirloin steak, or flat iron steak.
- Olive oil – The base of the marinade.
- Lime juice – Adds citrus flavor and also helps to tenderize the beef.
- Garlic – I like to use fresh minced garlic. Jarred garlic also works.
- Spices – The steak is seasoned with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
For the Cilantro Lime Rice
- Rice – I used cooked jasmine rice. Basmati or brown rice will also work.
- Olive oil – Butter also works.
- Lime – Lime zest and juice add the citrus flavor to the rice. Remember to zest the lime before squeezing it.
- Cilantro – Cilantro adds the bright earthy flavor to the rice.
- Salt – Add only if needed.
Creamy Yogurt Drizzle
- Sour cream – Greek yogurt also works.
- Lime juice – Adds citrus flavor and helps thin the yogurt.
- Salt – Balances the flavor.
- Water – If needed, you can add a splash of water to thin the drizzle.
- Toppings – Toppings are the best part of these steak rice bowls, in my opinion. Our favorites include diced avocado, chopped tomatoes, sliced red onion, cilantro, and lime wedges. Feel free to add any toppings you prefer.
How To Make Steak Rice Bowls
These rice bowls make such a great weekday lunch because they’re so quick and easy to assemble. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Marinate the steak. Whisk the steak marinade ingredients together. Add the steak and marinate for at least 30 minutes and no more than 8 hours.
- Cook the steak. Heat the skillet over high heat. Sear the steak for 3-4 minutes per side, until nicely charred and cooked to your preferred doneness. Rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.
- Prepare the rice. Fluff warm rice with the olive oil, lime zest and juice, cilantro, and salt. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Make the dressing. Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add water as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Assemble. Add the rice to bowls. Top with the sliced steak and the desired toppings. Finish with a drizzle of the dressing and extra lime juice.
Steak Temperatures for Doneness
The best way to ensure the flank steak is cooked to your desired doneness is with an internal thermometer. For these rice bowls, I recommend cooking the steak to medium.
- 125F – Rare
- 135F – Medium Rare
- 145F – Medium
- 150F – Medium Well
- 160F – Well Done
Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my best tips for making these steak rice bowls.
- Don’t marinate overnight. The longest I recommend marinating the steak in this recipe is 8 hours. Any more than that, such as overnight, and the lime juice will begin to break down the steak and make it tougher instead of tender and flavorful.
- Other steak options. Ribeye, skirt steak or consider using carne asada or chimichurri steak.
- Rest before slicing. To ensure juicy, tender steak it’s important to let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. This gives the juices time to evenly redistribute.
- Use leftover rice. Leftover rice works perfectly in these steak rice bowls. Just warm it back up and add the other ingredients. Also consider using cauliflower lime rice.
- Customize the toppings. Feel free to add guacamole, pico de gallo, white queso dip, pickled jalapenos, corn, black beans, any chopped veggies, queso fresco, or any other toppings you’d like on these.
Proper Storage
- Fridge: Store each element of the rice bowls separately, so that the steak and rice can be reheated later. Everything should stay in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat the steak and rice in the fridge until heated through, then assemble the steak bowls.
Steak Rice Bowl
A bed of rice is topped with juicy, lightly charred flank steak, toppings like avocado, tomato, and onion, and a creamy yogurt drizzle in this Steak Rice Bowl recipe. Ready in under 40 minutes, they are quick and easy to assemble, making them a great option for a weeknight dinner.
Servings: 4 bowls
Ingredients
For the steak
- 1½ pounds flank steak or skirt steak
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Cilantro Lime Rice
- 2 cups jasmine rice cooked
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil or butter
- Zest of 1 lime
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- Salt to taste
Bowl Toppings
- Diced avocado
- Chopped tomatoes
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Creamy Yogurt Drizzle
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice or Greek yogurt
- Pinch of salt
- Splash of water to thin only if needed
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add steak and marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 8 hours for deeper flavor).
- Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over high heat. Sear the steak 3 to 4 minutes per side until nicely charred and cooked to your preferred doneness. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
- Fluff warm rice with olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt. Taste and adjust acidity.
- Then, mix the ingredients for the yogurt drizzle in a small bowl and set it aside.
- Finally, layer rice in bowls, top with sliced steak, and add your favorite toppings. Finish with lime juice and a drizzle of the creamy sauce.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 401mg | Potassium: 709mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 3mg
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3 comments on “Steak Rice Bowl”
Steak was perfect and flavorful!!
So yummy
Glad you liked them Heather!