Sad Fact: Since it has many connective tissues, skirt steak is one of the tougher steaks.
But here’s the twist: it’s one of the most flavorful cuts of meat and has an intensely beefy flavor, so it’s one of the best steaks for grilling!
Luckily, there’s a workaround for its toughness. Our go-to remedies would be to marinate it and cut it against the grain before serving to boost its tenderness.
Here’s another secret that we love to make our skirt steak experience more festive: we serve it with sides—lots of it!
What to serve with skirt steak? Here are our go-to side dishes for skirt steak:
7 Nutritious Sides for a Healthy Twist to Serve with Skirt Steak:
Let’s begin our skirt steak meal with a few fiber-rich sides that can boost your meal’s flavor and its fiber content. Check out our recommendations below:
1. Mexican Corn Salad
Skirt steak is perfect for grilling, and grilled steaks are the best options for the summer season. So if you’re prepping your skirt steak for a summer barbecue party, you shouldn’t miss out on this refreshing and nutritious salad.
The highlight of this salad is corn, which is rich in fiber and nutrients and has a naturally sweet taste that can brighten up your steak meal. (*)
The salad contains cilantro for an earthy and herby taste and jalapeños for a spicy kick. A creamy lime dressing is drizzled over the ingredients to make all the flavors come together.
2. Pineapple Salad
Now, here’s another side that’s perfect for a barbecue party. If you wish to enjoy the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors, serving skirt steak with pineapple salad is the way.
This easy-to-prepare salad is packed with different flavors as it contains refreshing pineapple and cucumber slices, red onions for an intense flavor, bell peppers for a savory and spicy twist, and a simple dressing to make all the flavors come to life.
3. Pepper Couscous
Are you looking for a side dish that’s equally nutritious and delicious? Couscous might just be what you’re looking for. (*)
For a tastier version of the classic couscous, we recommend serving it with roasted vegetables, and our favorite option would be peppers!
Add roasted peppers in different colors to your couscous to inject a bit of spice and, at the same time, add a splash of color to it. You can boost its flavor even further by adding onions and tomatoes.
Pro Tip: Garnish the couscous with Basil leaves for a pop of color and a delicious twist!
4. Charred Radicchio
Stunning may not be the right word to describe salads, but it fits the beautiful Radicchio.
Its purplish-red shade can certainly upgrade the look of your usual salad and steak meal. But that’s not all. You can even turn it into one of the most delicious salads you can ever try with the right ingredients.
With that said, you may want to try our recipe: drizzled with buttermilk and crème dressing and topped off with pears, gorgonzola crumbles, pancetta, and herbs of your choice.
5. Mashed Cauliflower
Do you want to enjoy the creamy texture and rich taste of mashed potatoes minus the carbs? Try mashing cauliflower instead.
Like mashed potatoes, you just need to boil cauliflower and mix it with cheese (instead of milk), butter, and salt and pepper. Then, top it off with fresh parsley for a pop of color.
Pro Tip: We recommend mixing Asiago and cream cheese for a nuttier flavor and creamier texture.
6. Zucchini Panzanella Salad
You may already have served your steak with roasted zucchini at one point, but have you tried serving it with a zucchini Panzanella salad? We bet not!
We just recently discovered this fantastic salad, and it has been our go-to side if we want something light and refreshing yet filling at the same time.
You just need zucchini, cherry tomatoes, green pepper, and mozzarella pearls to make this. Then, mix balsamic vinegar with roasted garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for the delicious dressing.
7. Roasted Artichokes (with a Delicious Sauce)
To boost the artichoke’s nutty flavor, roasting them is the way to go. This cooking method can also give the veggies a nice crisp exterior that would go well with the meaty steak.
And now, here’s the sauce that can elevate the entire dish: lemon aioli. This simple sauce can brighten up the artichoke’s earthy flavor and give it a creamy texture, which contrasts the vegetable’s crisp texture.
If vegetable sides aren’t your thing and you’re more of a carb lover, here are some of the best carb-rich sides that we’ve come across:
Top 4 Carb-rich Sides to Fill You Up to Serve with Skirt Steak:
So are you more of a carbs person than a vegetable one? We get you since we’re carbs people ourselves. Below are some of our favorite starchy sides:
8. Kimchi Fried Rice
How about adding a Korean twist to your steak meal? If so, then say yes to Kimchi fried rice! The sourness and tanginess of kimchi will undoubtedly add a depth of flavor to your meal and provide plenty of health benefits that you just can’t get from other vegetable dishes. (*)
Pro Tip: When making kimchi fried rice, try adding a few teaspoons of mirin or honey for a touch of sweetness. You should also top it off with seaweed flakes to boost umami.
9. Truffle Mac and Cheese
And of course, you shouldn’t forget about pasta! We love serving mac and cheese with our skirt steak. Sometimes, we add truffles to the sauce to make it extra fancy.
Pro Tip: Try adding mustard to balance out the overwhelming cheesiness and richness of the sauce.
10. Smashed Potatoes (with a Special Sauce)
Shy away from the usual roasted potatoes and opt for something different—crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside smashed potatoes!
Serve this with chimichurri sauce to add a bright and herby flavor to your steak and potatoes.
11. Seasoned Shoestring Fries
Steak frites is the go-to combo of steak lovers, so you should give it a try. But instead of serving the usually salt-and-pepper fries with your steak, try to go for a more vibrant seasoning combo—lemon-pepper!
To make this, all you need to do is add grated lemon zest to your seasoning.
If you don’t have time to prep lots of side dishes, here’s one secret we want to share with you: you only need the right sauce to elevate the entire meal. Here are some of your best options:
Top 6 Sauces to Serve with Skirt Steak You’ll Love
Sometimes, the simpler the spread is, the better it will be. So if you want to save on time and effort, just simply go for sauces to top your steak. Check these out:
12. Salsa Verde
Try serving your steak with the ultimate Mexican sauce—Salsa Verde for a Mexican twist on your steak party.
It’s made with roasted tomatoes for a tangy flavor, lime juice for a citrusy twist, and jalapeños for that extra kick.
This sauce has a bright color and a vibrant flavor that will undoubtedly add a refreshing touch to your steak.
13. Summer Relish
And for the ultimate summery taste, try topping your steak with Summer relish. This simple sauce is made with different summer vegetables—all finely chopped and stored in a jar.
These are cooked in a broth made of salt, water, vinegar, and celery seeds so that it can add a sour, salty, and refreshing taste to your meal.
14. Classic Peppercorn Sauce
If you want a hassle-free steak meal, go for the classic peppercorn sauce. But if you know us well, you’re aware that we love adding a twist to our recipes so that this classic peppercorn sauce would be anything but simple.
You just need red wine vinegar, chicken stock, and a few peppercorns for this peppercorn sauce. But since we love serving our steaks with a thick and creamy sauce, here’s one hack that we want to share: add a few tablespoons of double cream before letting it simmer.
15. Mushroom Sauce
Mushroom and steak are just a match made in heaven, so it makes sense that you serve your steak with mushroom sauce. But, of course, the best type of mushroom to use would be chestnut mushrooms.
Pro Tip: In addition to double cream, we recommend adding a few tablespoons of brandy and wholegrain mustard to make it extra flavorful.
16. Blue Cheese Sauce
Since we’re already talking about creamy sauces, let us go for something cheesy and creamy at the same time.
Blue cheese may not be the first cheese that would come to mind when you think about steak, but this sauce will change your mind.
In addition to adding a creamy twist to your steak, it also brings a salty, sharp, pungent, and mildly sweet taste to your meal.
The Bottom Line
Skirt steak may be challenging, but its rich flavor makes up for its toughness. You can also easily solve this issue by marinating the meat and cutting it against the grain.
But here’s an even better suggestion: serve it with the right sides!
What to serve with skirt steak? We’ve covered all the bases in this list—from the filling to the nutritious sides and the delicious sauces.
Let us know which of our recommendations you liked in the comment section!
