30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (2024)

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30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (1)

By Taryn Pire

Published Apr 20, 2021

You went overboard for your first barbecue of the year and bought more steak than you and your guests could possibly eat. Whether you grilled it all already or still have a few raw cuts, there are plenty of ways to turn your leftovers into something delicious. Here, 30 leftover steak recipes that do your favorite summer main justice, from flank steak tacos to beef stroganoff.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 15-minute Skillet Pepper Steak

Weeknight dinners don’t get any easier—or faster. Even better, this takeout favorite clocks in at fewer than 230 calories per serving. Serve with white rice.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Flank Steak Tacos With Cucumber Salsa

Who knew a meal this filling could also be so refreshing? Chalk that up to the cucumber-scallion salsa that’s made with lime juice, jalapeño and fresh cilantro. Don’t forget the chips and guac.

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Dana Carpender/The Keto for One Cookbook

3. Keto Steak And Blue Cheese Salad For One

You’re only six basic ingredients away from this satiating solo meal. Don’t sweat it if you have additional mouths to feed: The recipe is a cinch to double (or quadruple).

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Laura Wing-Kamoosi

4. Mini Steak Sliders

Whether you’re at a softball picnic or a Super Bowl party, sliders are an easy win. These sammies, piled high with thin-sliced leftover steak, white cheddar cheese and some essential condiments, come together in about 15 minutes.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Steak Stir-fry

Fresh produce + flank steak + pantry staples = the easiest dinner of all time. The recipe calls for bell peppers, onion and carrots, but feel free to add whatever veggies you have, like broccoli or bok choy.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Easy 30-minute Beef Stroganoff

Buttery noodles, tender mushrooms, melt-in-your-mouth tenderloin—this dish is comfort food at its finest. What really takes it over the top is a generous dose of sour cream and lots of fresh herbs.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Thai Beef Bowls With Rice Noodles

If your local Thai takeout spot is your happy place, you need this 30-minute dish in your rotation. Think chewy rice vermicelli, zingy stir-fried beef in a spicy marinade and all the fresh snap peas, lettuce and herbs.

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8. Grilled Carne Asada Tacos With Boursin Cheese

The meat’s flavor comes from the marinade, so this is a great recipe for using up leftover raw steak. The apple cider vinegar in it will help tenderize the meat before its cooked to boot.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Skillet Steak With Asparagus And Potatoes

If you have a whole sirloin or strip steak on your hands (or in your freezer) that you’re hoping to devour before it goes bad, look no further than this one-pan masterpiece. Don’t even get us started on the lemon-herb sauce.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10. Steak Skewers With Chimichurri Sauce

Don’t pack the grill away just yet—the barbecue’s guest of honor is about to be reborn. Skewer cubed beef tenderloin alongside hunks of red onion and the plumpest cherry tomatoes you can find, then char them to perfection.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

11. Beef Flatbread With Herb Sauce

Sure, it may look like a communal appetizer. But we’ve been known to inhale it single-handedly for dinner from time to time. The recipe calls for ground beef, but we’re betting it tastes just as heavenly topped with thin-sliced or cubed steak.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Classic Stuffed Peppers

Speaking of substituting steak for ground beef, these savory, cheesy pockets of goodness are due for an upgrade. Feel free to swap marinara sauce for pesto or chimichurri.

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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Skillet Fajitas

The recipe calls for chicken cutlets, but feel free to give this classic a beefy makeover. Just sear the steak on both sides before letting it cook to completion in the oven with the veggies.

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14. Steak Fried Rice

Aka the easiest way to use up leftover protein and veggies. Clean out your crisper drawer or freezer by tossing in peas, carrots, baby corn, bell peppers, scallions and whatever else you have on hand.

15. Steak Sandwich With Caramelized Onions And Brie

Behold, the fanciest lunch of all time. The recipe calls for sweet, sticky fig jam, but we just might swap in our easy homemade onion jam instead.

16. 4-ingredient Creamy Vodka Steak Pasta

Brace yourself for oodles of zoodles topped with buttery steak and your go-to jarred vodka sauce. (If you want to go the extra mile and whip up your own sauce, our recipe is pretty damn flawless.)

17. Steak Burrito Bowls

This beauty is low-carb and keto-, Whole30- and Paleo-friendly, thanks to cilantro cauliflower rice. Crown it with all the fixings, like sliced avocado, grilled corn, fresh pico de gallo or even mango salsa.

18. Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteak

Come on, it’s plain ingenious. Think thin-sliced sirloin, onion, bell peppers and mushrooms in a savory marinade, enrobed in from-scratch provolone cheese sauce. Serve it over rice or pasta or keep it old school by piling the mix onto hoagie rolls.

19. Grilled Steakhouse Pizza

Our favorite barbecue magic trick come summer? Grilled pizza. The grates are just what the crust needs to turn bubbly, crisp and golden brown. Then, it’s prime for topping with grilled Portobello mushrooms, steak, arugula and crumbled gorgonzola.

20. Greek Steak Salad French Bread With Soft Boiled Eggs And Feta

It’s basically the most elegant open-faced sandwich on earth. Serve it to your guests by the slice or cut the bread underneath for easy lifting, then let them choose their own toppings, charcuterie style.

21. Steak Nachos

You say party starter, we say Taco Tuesday dinner. This dish has plenty of protein from the beans and steak to keep you full, plus all the drool-worthy fixings.

22. Steak Fajita Stuffed Baked Potatoes With Avocado Chipotle Crema

Forget the sour cream and bacon bits. Steak, veggies and cheese take these cuties straight into entrée territory. Oh, and you’ll want to straight-up bathe in the Greek yogurt crema.

23. Beef Satay

The marinade is next-level flavorful, consisting of dry-roasted peanuts, brown sugar, lemongrass, curry powder, ginger, soy sauce and lime. But we’re *extra* excited about the spicy peanut dipping sauce.

24. Spicy Sriracha Steak And Eggs

When this brunch beauty hits the table, it’s a good morning indeed. The key is a Thai-inspired marinade, made with fish sauce, chile garlic sauce, lime, ginger and honey. Let the steak soak it up while you make coffee.

25. Parmesan Pecorino Steak Flatbread

Sharp, savory and oh so simple. Picture skillet-seared flank steak, baby arugula and red onion atop a layer of cheesy lemon-garlic sauce. Better yet, since it starts with store-bought pizza dough, it’ll only take you 35 minutes from start to finish.

26. Sweet Potato Fry Steak Salad With Blue Cheese Butter

Any salad starring sweet potato fries is our kind of salad. Blue cheese tends to be pretty divisive, so if you’re not down with its funky flavor, swap it for grated Parmesan or garlic instead.

27. Kabab Chenjeh (grilled Saffron Beef Kebab)

This authentic recipe hails from Darya, a restaurant in West L.A.’s Little Persia. It’s as simple as blending the marinade, letting the beef sit as long as your patience can stand and grilling it to perfection. Serve it over long-grain rice or wrap it in warm lavosh.

28. Greek Steak And Pesto Salad Gyros

Basil-pine nut pesto. Fresh olive tapenade. Homemade pita. Uber flavorful flank steak. Any questions?

29. Mongolian Beef

All you need to pull this ridiculously simple dinner off is 15 minutes and a handful of pantry staples. Serve the meat over white rice and top it generously with toasted sesame seeds for a pretty finishing touch.

30. Steak And Cheese Quesadillas

Leftovers have never looked so darn drool worthy. In addition to the usual suspects like guac and sour cream, serve them with steak sauce for an extra punch of bold flavor.

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Taryn Pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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30 Leftover Steak Recipes That Will Do Any Cut of Beef Justice (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with tough steak that's already cooked? ›

Only do this if your steak is nearly unsalvageable but too wasteful to throw away. Cut it into 1-inch pieces, toss into the food processor with a drizzle of olive oil and turn it into a semi-pureed beef filling. You can use it in pies, add it to pasta sauces, or turn it into savory dumplings.

How long does leftover steak last in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Is it better to reheat steak in the oven or microwave? ›

A steak can be zapped in the microwave, but you risk making your steak extremely dry, bordering on a rubbery texture. Fortunately, there are several ways to reheat leftover steak without drying it out, including on the stove, in the oven, sous vide, air fryer, and more.

What is the best way to reheat leftover steak? ›

Leave it on its rack on the counter as you preheat your oven. Bake at a low temperature. Heat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit—the lower, gentler temperature will help reheat the steak from the inside out while maintaining the juices. Reheat the steak for about 20 minutes.

How do you reheat tough steak to make it tender? ›

Preheat your oven to 275° and place a wire cooling rack over a large baking sheet. Cooking your steak on a cooling rack allows the hot air to circulate around the steak, giving you more evenly heated meat. Place your steak on top of the cooling rack and warm in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 110°.

How do you tenderize a steak that is already cooked? ›

Simmering in a little bit of liquid or broth is a great way to tenderize. Acidity can also be your friend here. A little bit of vinegar and lemon juice in the liquid can help you tenderize the meat.

Can you eat steak after 7 days in fridge? ›

For raw ground meats, poultry, seafood and variety meats (liver, tongue, chitterlings, etc.), refrigerate them only 1 to 2 days before either cooking or freezing. Beef, veal, lamb and pork roasts, steaks and chops may be kept 3 to 5 days.

Can I freeze a cooked steak? ›

Generally, leftover steaks are safe in the fridge for about three days, given that you used the right techniques to store them. If you don't think you'll eat them in that amount of time, you can always place them in the freezer instead.

Can you eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

How do you reheat steak and keep it medium rare? ›

Reheating Means Recooking

For rare, that's 120 to 130 F. For medium rare, it's 130 to 135 F. And for medium, 135 to 145 F. So if you want to reheat a medium-rare steak, and you still want it to be medium-rare, you need to heat it so the internal temperature stays below 130 F.

How long to microwave leftover steak? ›

Putting leftover steak in the microwave for an arbitrary amount of time may dry it out or cause the fat to become tough. Instead, use a damp towel to cover it, and cook the steak in 30-second increments for 90 seconds to two minutes, until it's done to your taste.

Why does reheated steak taste better? ›

Occurrence of warmed-over flavor

This process is aided by the release of iron from iron-containing proteins in the meat, including myoglobin and hemoglobin. The iron is released by the heat of cooking, or by mechanical grinding. The free iron then acts as a catalyst, or promoter, of oxidation reactions.

How long to reheat steak in oven at 350? ›

Place the steak in the oven and let it reheat slowly, until the steak reaches about 100°F — the time will vary depending on how thick the steak is, but plan on this taking about 20 to 30 minutes.

Can I reheat steak in an air fryer? ›

An air fryer works amazing for reheating steak. I'd NEVER use a microwave. 1 minute at 50% power heats up a steak really well.

How long is leftover steak good for? ›

Leftover steak is safe to eat after three to four days in the refrigerator—any longer and you could catch a foodborne illness from bacteria growth.

How do you soften tough steak? ›

Marinate: Marinating your steak in acids or enzymes breaks down the fibers and tenderizes the steak. To marinate the meat in an acidic solution, add lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, or buttermilk to your marinade and let the steak soak in it for thirty minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the cut.

How do you make a tough steak good? ›

As you can see, there are many ways to turn a tough piece of meat into a tender one. Among the most practical for home cooks are salt, thoughtful knife cuts to shorten muscle fibers and increase surface area, pounding and massaging to break up tough muscle tissue, and the correct application of heat.

How do you get rid of chewy steak? ›

Tenderize the steak: Use a meat tenderizer to break down the muscle fibers in the steak. You can also use a marinade that contains acidic ingredients like vinegar or citrus juice, which can help to break down the connective tissues. Cook the steak to the right temperature: Overcooking can make a steak tough and chewy.

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