One of my favorites signs on my back porch has the saying, “celebrate everything”. Nothing is truer in life, and it’s those celebrations – whether big or small – that make some of the best memories. In Texas, we share a border with Mexico and our cultures have melded together in many wonderful ways. My favorite is in the form of Mexican food.

Authentic Mexican food has slowly been reinvented in Texas to what we now call “Tex-Mex.” Our version has the addition of a lot more cheese and guacamole than they serve south of the border!

This Sunday, May 5th, marks Mexico’s celebration of Cinco de Mayo and Mexico’s victory over the French Empire. Cinco de Mayo is a great reason to eat Mexican food, and I love to celebrate everything, so it’s time to cook Tex-Mex. This means grilled Certified Hereford Beef fajitas with all the sides at my house!

Skirt steak is a unique cut of meat known for its flavor. When at your grocer’s meat counter, look for a lean, triangular cut of beef that has long strands of fat running through it. This fat will help keep the meat juicy as it cooks and provide a depth of flavor as you grill. Cut any excess membrane off the back of the skirt steak before grilling. This allows your fajitas to be fork tender once they are cooked. Skirt steak fajitas using The Ranch Kitchen’s simple marinade may soon become your favorite Tex-Mex meal!

I created this simple lime marinade with a few traditional Mexican spices that you probably already have in your pantry. The lime juice both marinates and lightly flavors the meat. Certified Hereford Beef is already naturally flavorful, so I never want to mask the taste with soy or Worcestershire sauce. This super easy marinade is my go-to recipe!

To create The Ranch Kitchen’s Mojito Lime Fajitas, you’ll first mix and prepare your marinade. Squeeze the juice of three to four limes in a large Ziploc baggie or non-metallic bowl. Add 1 tablespoon each of chili powder and ground cumin into the lime juice. Add in 4 – 6 cloves of fresh, minced garlic, mix well and place in the bag.

Seal and gently massage the skirt steak with the seasonings. Allow the meat to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

While your meat is marinating, cut up several onions and colorful bell peppers. Oil and lightly season the veggies with garlic salt and pepper before placing them in foil packet. Add 6 cubes of ice into the packet, which you will grill along side your skirt steak.



After your meat has marinated for at least 30 minutes, you are ready to grill! Since fajitas are a thin cut of beef, they will cook quickly over an open flame, in your oven or on your stovetop.

If you are grilling over an open flame, sear the skirt steak for three minutes on each side. On our new RecTec grill and smoker, I cooked the meat over oiled foil for 30 minutes and then seared the beef on each side for three minutes directly on the grill grates.



After taking the skirt steak off the grill, allow the meat to sit for five minutes and then slice against the grain of the beef. If the meat is still slightly pink in the center, you’ll have a perfect slice of fajita!



Immediately serve the sliced skirt steak in a warmed flour or corn tortilla topped with grilled bell peppers, pico de gallo, sour cream and shredded cheese of your choice. If you are looking for a great pico de gallo recipe, check this one out! Whole or refried pinto beans are also great to serve alongside fajitas. Check out my recipe for “Slap Your Momma Pinto Beans” that are made from a can of Bush’s Pinto Beans and taste just like our favorite Mexican restaurant’s beans.



If you are watching your calories, simply don’t use the tortilla and eat your fajitas with all the toppings.

To finish off your meal, you’ll have to try my favorite Rancharita – Jalapeno Margarita that tops off this perfect Cinco de Mayo celebration. The addition of the jalapeno in this margarita is the perfect combination of spicy and will leave you wanting more than one!

So, as May 5th comes around this weekend, why not celebrate Cinco de Mayo? It gives you a great reason to grill up some Certified Hereford Beef steak fajitas!

Alise Nolan
The Ranch Kitchen



Looking for more Cinco De Mayo recipes? Check out our Certified Hereford Beef recipe library!