Steak Salad
This Steak Salad is hearty enough to serve as the full meal, and has tons of flavor. Steak is pan seared and sliced thinly, then paired with queso fresco, avocado, tomatoes, and a fresh Cilantro Lime Dressing. It is SO satisfying and made in 20 minutes!
If you are not into light, skimpy salads, this filling steak salad is for you. It is built as a true meal with well seasoned steak, plenty of protein, and bold flavors that actually satisfy, making it a great option for lunch or dinner.
Something like a California Cobb Salad or this steak salad works great, where there’s a good mix of protein, greens, vegetables, cheese, and a great dressing to tie it all together. It certainly qualifies as a dinner salad.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Steak (1 Ib, about 1 inch thick sliced) – Sirloin, New York strip, or ribeye for the best balance of flavor and tenderness. Budget friendly options include flank or skirt steak. If using flank or skirt, slice very thin against the grain after cooking. (pan seared steak, Carne Asada, Grilled Ribeye, or Grilled Flank Steak)
Mixed Greens (about 6 cups) – A romaine and arugula mix adds great crunch and a slightly peppery bite. Spring mix works well as an easy substitute.
Queso Fresco (4 oz, Crumbled) – Mild and creamy, which pairs perfectly with steak. Feta or cotija are good substitutes if queso fresco is hard to find.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes (1 cup halved) – Sweet and juicy varieties work best. Diced Roma tomatoes are a solid substitute
Pepitas (1/4 cup) – Toasted pepitas add crunch and a nutty flavor. Toast in a dry skillet for 3 to 4 minutes until fragrant. Sliced almonds are an easy substitute.
Avocado (1 large) – Ripe but not mushy, diced into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. You can also swap in a scoop of homemade Guacamole if you have it on hand.
Red Onion (1/4 cup, thinly sliced) – Adds sharpness and contrast. If the flavor is too strong, soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes before using.
Cilantro Lime Dressing – This is the HERO! Use the homemade dressing included in the recipe card. In a pinch, a quick balsamic vinaigrette also works well.
Tips for Best Results
Make sure the greens are very dry – Wash and dry the salad greens well in advance, then keep chilled in the fridge with paper towels to wick away any moisture. Nothing ruins a salad more than wet greens, because it totally waters down the dressing.
Use the freshest ingredients – Most people don’t realize how quickly fresh produce loses its flavor as it sits in the fridge. Try to make your grocery trip pretty close to actually making this.
Use room temperature steak – The best steak for your salad will be a piece of beef that’s freshly made, but this is also a great place to use leftover steak. If you’re using leftovers, try to pull the cooked beef from the fridge 30-60 minutes beforehand and let it warm up to room temperature. This will ensure the most juicy steak. If you slice it first, it will warm up faster.
Best Cuts for Steak Salad
| Cut | Cost | Texture | Ideal Doneness | Slicing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Sirloin | $–$$ | Lean and versatile | Medium rare | Slice thin across the grain |
| New York Strip | $$ | Tender with good chew | Medium rare to medium | Slice thin |
| Ribeye | $$–$$$ | Rich and well marbled | Medium rare | Trim large fat pockets, then slice thin |
| Flat Iron | $$ | Very tender | Medium rare | Slice thin |
| Flank or Skirt | $–$$ | Flavorful but fibrous | Medium rare only | Freeze 10 minutes, then slice paper thin against the grain |
| Filet Mignon | $$$ | Extremely tender | Medium rare | Slice thin, less beefy flavor |
Do you need to season the beef?
Because the cilantro lime dressing is so flavorful, adding a spice rub or flavoring to the steak is not necessary. You can certainly sear the steak plain with some salt and pepper. However, you may add extra seasoning if you enjoy it. I have a pre-mixed mole seasoning that I like putting on the beef sometimes, and that flavor profile fits in nicely here.
Here is a detailed post I have on Pan Seared Steak with complete instructions and step-by-step photos, so you can sear any piece of beef like a boss. You could also do a Grilled Ribeye or Grilled Flank Steak.
For the steak salad dressing, I’m using my Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing:
This homemade dressing has absolutely incredible flavor, and all you have to do to make it is blend up fresh cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, greek yogurt, olive oil, salt and black pepper. It’s really easy and so delicious!
Other Options for Dressing
The Cilantro Lime Dressing with the Queso Fresco is incredible paired with the steak. However, if you don’t enjoy cilantro or prefer another flavor profile, you may use a Balsamic Vinaigrette and replace the queso fresco with crumbled blue cheese, feta cheese, or goat cheese, which goes better with balsamic vinegar.
If you prefer a more lemon juice and dijon mustard based dressing, try Lemon Vinaigrette. This Basil Vinaigrette would also work well with the beef.
Then it’s just a matter of putting all the ingredients together for your fresh salad.
This is one of my top 3 favorite salads, and I really hope you give it a try.
Serving Suggestions
Sides: Siracha Garlic Bread, Green Beans, Smashed Potatoes
Drinks: Sauvignon Blanc, Mexican Lager
Recipe Tips and FAQ
Once a salad is dressed, it won’t keep well for very long. I recommend not storing for more than a day, and know that the greens will be slightly wilted. If you think you might have leftovers, keep the greens and dressing separate, each in an airtight container, and the salad will keep for at least 2 days.
Not recommended.
Tried this recipe? Leave a rating and comment below — I’d love to hear how it turned out! Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!
Steak Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces top sirloin steak *
- 5 ounce package mixed greens
- 2 ounces queso fresco crumbled**
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup sliced red onion
- 1 avocado cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/4 cup Cilantro Lime Dressing
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Start by searing the steak per these instructions for How to Sear a Steak or grill your beef with the method in Grilled Ribeye or Grilled Flank Steak. Spice the steak if you wish, but it's not required. I have a mole seasoning I like to rub on the outside of the steak, but you can also just do salt and pepper since there's so much flavor in the salad. For 12 ounces of steak, I recommend 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, assuming you're not adding seasoning that already includes salt.
- Once the steak has been seared, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
- In a large bowl, toss to combine the remaining ingredients.
- Taste and see if it needs more dressing or any adjustments. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
14 Comments on “Steak Salad”
Fabulous salad that is bursting with so much flavor!! We used leftover filet mignon from dinner last night. The Cilantro Dressing is well worth a little bit of time to make it from scratch. We’ll be making this again and highly recommend the recipe. Thank you!!
So delicious & easy to make. I used my leftover grilled T-bone steak from last night’s dinner. The cilantro Dressing is amazing. So fresh & flavorful. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
I used some of a bottle of Briannas Home Style Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing because I was in a hurry and didn’t want to make the home made dressing. The meat was quick and easy to cook based on the great directions listed. I love this recipe. The pepitas added a great touch. My kids loved the salad too. I will definitely keep this recipe. Thank you.
Made this for dinner tonight only used NY strip. It was amazing and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tried it today for the first time. Really delicious. And, you are right, the cilantro lime dressing is a must! Looking forward to finding more yummy recipes on your site!
This is my favorite thing to order in a restaurant. I love your dressing recipe on this one!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! It was a hit in my house!
I love a good steak salad. And that dressing is awesome!
I also love top sirloin for salads…the best!
A stunning salad and a delicious dressing.
A hearty salad my husband loves.
Can’t wait to try the dressing, sounds amazing
Please do Video cooking demonstrations along with written recipes.
Thank you.
I saw Magical 1-Ingredient Ice Cream –using bananas only.
It’s not on this website?
I like your simple quick easy step recipes.
Hi Suzie, thanks for the request. Regarding my Youtube channel, yes some of the recipes there are not present on here and vice versa. In those cases, the recipe is in the description box of the Youtube video.