Flank steak is a flavorful cut of meat from the cow’s hindquarter. Flank steak is boneless, and you can cook it easily and in various ways. It’s a perfect cut of meat that can be used for fajitas, stir-fries, or grilled on its own.
One of the most popular flank steak dishes is the London broil. Broiling marinated meat turns tough cuts of meat into tender steaks.
Several foods make a good flank steak substitute. The best substitutes are other cuts of beef that match the texture and flavor profile of flank steak. However, there are some excellent non-beef and vegetarian alternatives that you should try too.
Best Substitute for Flank Steak: Beef Skirt Steak
The best substitute for flank steak is beef skirt steak. Many people confuse these two cuts of meat because they look similar. However, beef skirt steak is longer and contains more fat than flank steak which makes it tender and juicy.
Flank steak and skirt steak come from the cow’s belly, and both cuts feature a prominent grain. You should cut against the grain to ensure the meat stays tender.
Beef skirt steak and flank steak benefit from being marinated, and both cuts are tough when they are overcooked. Skirt steak is tender enough to slice after grilling for a short time and is excellent in stir-fries, fajitas, and on its own with vegetables.
Other Flank Steak Substitutes, Alternatives, and Replacements
Beef skirt steak is the best substitute for flank steak, but beef skirt steak is not always easy to find. Here is a list of other foods you can use in place of flank steak.
Meat Substitutes
Beef Hanger Steak
Beef hanger steak is a good substitute for flank steak. Beef hanger steak is cut from near the cow’s rib, close to the flank. As a result, beef hanger steak has a similar taste to flank steak.
Beef hanger steak is an extended thin cut of meat. Its proportions are similar to both flank steak and beef skirt. Hanger steak has a noticeable marbling, which gives the cut an excellent juicy flavor.
Beef hangers are expensive because each cow only has one hanger. It’s often called the “Butcher Cut” because butchers traditionally kept it for themselves.
Beef hanger steak is a delicious cut of meat that has a great flavor profile. It’s a delicious flank steak substitute for fajitas, stir-fries, and rice bowl dishes. However, it also works well when marinated, grilled, and served with seasonal vegetables.
Top Round
Top round steak is a good flank steak substitute. It’s a lean, low-fat steak that is often used to make London broil.
The top round contains a lot of muscle and is cut from the hindquarters of the cow. This area is well-exercised and has very little fat. As a result, the top round needs to be well marinated before it is used as a grilled steak.
Top round is tougher than flank steak, and many people slow cook this cut to tenderize the muscle. Top round is often used in stir-fries and casseroles. It also works well in a sandwich or in beef chili. Overall, the top round has a delicious, rich beef taste.
Tri-tip
Tri-tip is an affordable cut that you can use in place of flank steak. Tri-tip gets its name from its triangular shape. The cut is boneless, has good fat and meat marbling, and works well whole or sliced.
Tri-tip is cut from the sirloin and near the flank. Because of this, tri-tip has a trimmable fatty edge. You can easily remove this fat, but cooking the steak with the fat makes the steak juicy and tender.
Tri-tip is a versatile cut of meat. It’s used in Santa Maria-style barbecue, where it’s roasted over a red oak fire. Tri-tip can be used as a flank state substitute in dishes like pot roasts, stews, stir-fries, and Mexican dishes. Tri-tip is also tender enough to be used for slow-cooked dishes.
Flat Iron Steak
Flat iron steak is an excellent alternative to flank steak because it’s a tasty and tender cut from the cow’s shoulder. Flat iron steaks have become very popular in recent years, thanks to their great flavor and versatility.
Flat iron works well when grilled or seared in a pan. But it can also be used in slow-cooked dishes, like stews and soups. However, you should cook it carefully. When flat iron is overcooked, it can become very tough to eat.
A flat iron can stand in from flank steak in several ways because flat iron steak has a great beef flavor that works in fajitas, sandwiches, and stir-fries.
Flap Steak
Flap steak is a good substitute for flank steak. Flap steak is thin and lean and is also cut from the cow’s belly.
Flap steak has a coarse grain with loose muscle fibers. You can tenderize it with a good marinade, but it also cooks well on a high heat grill. You should cook flap steak carefully because it’s chewy when undercooked and tough if overcooked.
Flap steak is also known as Bavette steak and has a milder taste than flank steak. You can use flap steak in various recipes, like fajitas, stir-fries, grilled with vegetables, and more.
Beef Fajita Strips
Beef fajita strips are available in most supermarkets and are a good alternative to flank steak. Beef fajita strips come pre-cut, and they are ideal for fajitas and stir-fries. Many outlets sell beef fajita strips ready-marinated and frozen for convenience.
Beef fajita strips are thin and fatty, which makes them great for frying. Try using beef fajita strips in Mexican dishes like Carne Asada and Beef Tacos.
Most grocery store-bought beef fajita strips use a mix of flank and skirt steak. Because of this, beef fajita strips are a great option if you want to reduce prep time.
Chicken Breast
Chicken breast is a great flank steak substitute for people who don’t eat red meat or beef. Chicken is a healthy high-protein white meat with a versatile flavor and texture and is a kitchen staple in many countries.
Chicken breast works well in place of flank steak in many dishes. It’s excellent in Mexican dishes like burritos, fajitas, and tacos when thinly sliced. Even though both types of meat have different taste profiles, you can substitute chicken breast for flank steak in most recipes.
You should cook chicken breast carefully. Overcooked chicken breast is dry and chewy, and undercooked chicken breast can cause food poisoning.
Vegan Steaks
Vegan steaks are widely available in grocery stores and supermarkets and don’t have the same taste or texture as flank steak, but vegan steaks are delicious with the proper seasoning.
There are several different brands of vegan steak on the market. The quality of vegan steaks varies greatly, so you might have to try a few brands to find one that you like. Vegan steaks are made from several different sources, like seitan, mushroom, chickpeas, and tofu.
Vegan steaks work in most flank steak recipes. You can slice vegan steaks for tacos and fajitas. Additionally, you can grill vegan steak and serve it with seasonal vegetables.
Portobello Mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms have a tasty, meaty texture, and many people also use them in place of beef burgers.
Portobello mushrooms absorb marinades very well. Additionally, they have large average caps of around five to six inches. These qualities, alongside their earthy flavor, make them a good flank steak alternative.
You can use portobello mushrooms s a flank steak alternative in enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas. They are also deliciously grilled and served with vegetables.
Tofu
Tofu is a versatile meat-free alternative to flank steak. Tofu, also known as bean curd, comes from condensed soy milk. Tofu is widely available in most grocery stores and supermarkets across the country.
Tofu can taste bland. However, it absorbs marinades well and can be added to various recipes. Tofu is delicious when well seasoned and marinated. Additionally, you should press tofu to remove moisture to alter its texture.
Tofu can be used in place of flank steak in fajitas, tacos, and quesadillas. Tofu is sold packaged in blocks that you can cut into strips or cubes and is high in protein and fat but low in calories. It’s an excellent healthy alternative to flank steak.
