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This recipe for steak bites mini taco boats uses beef marinated in beer, which is cooked to perfection in a cast iron skillet, then topped with barbecue sauce. Every bite is full of flavour.
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5 from 4 votes

Steak Bites Mini Taco Boats

This taco recipe uses steak marinated in beer, then cooked to perfection in a cast iron skillet, and topped with Barbecue Sauce. It's Tex-Mex in mini form. Every bite is full of flavour.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Tacos
Author: Kim Beaulieu

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds strip loin steak
  • ¾ cup beer divided
  • 1 Vidalia onion sliced thinly
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 jar roasted red peppers
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup BBQ Sauce use your favourite
  • 1 head lettuce shredded
  • 2 cups Tex-Mex cheese
  • ½ cup salsa
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 to 2 packages of Old El Paso Mini Taco Boats
  • 1 bunch cilantro or parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut steak into small cubes. Place in a container and add ½ cup beer. Marinate for 30 to 60 minutes, maximum. Strip Loin is pretty tender so it doesn't require much time.
  • In a large cast iron pan start to caramelize the onions in butter and oil. They take the longest so start them first. Cook the over medium low heat until they start to turn brown. This can take about 30 to 40 minutes if you go low and slow the whole time. Add more oil or butter if needed at any point. Move them around with a wooden spoon when needed. Once the onions are golden brown transfer them to a plate. Keep the heat on and place the skillet back on the heat, pour ¼ cup of beer into the pan and turn the heat up to medium. Deglaze the pan by scraping the bits of yummy goodness off the bottom of the pan. Allow liquid to reduce a bit, takes about 5 minute for that little bit of liquid. Pour the liquid over the onions and set aside.
  • In the same pan add the steak and cook over medium heat until the edges are brown and gorgeous. You can add a little bit of olive oil or butter to help if you like.
  • Add the onions back to the pan and also the roasted red peppers. Move around to mix. Now pour in the barbecue sauce. Cook just until it coats the meat perfectly and thickens just slightly. It should only take a few minutes.
  • Toss some of the steak bites mixture in the bottom of each mini boat.
  • Top each taco boat with all your favourite toppings.
  • Serve with a big old game day loving smile!

Notes

Recipe created by Cravings of a Lunatic
If you substitute the beef for tougher cuts you can marinate longer. Flank, skirt, sirloin and round can marinate for longer, up to 24 hours. Striploin needs very little marinating so I only marinated mine for a short time. It's okay to swap the meat, just adjust accordingly.
If you don't want to take the time to caramelize the onions that's okay. This works well with cooked or raw onions. If you don't caramelize the onions it will cut your cooking time down dramatically.