This loaded Steak Salad recipe makes for a heart yet healthy lunch or dinner. The combination of lean and tender flank steak with crisp romaine greens, grilled corn, fresh vegetables, and tangy balsamic dressing delivers an explosion of satisfying flavors and textures in every bite!
What’s in this Flank Steak Salad recipe?
Perfectly cooked flank steak over crispy Romaine, cherry tomatoes, ripe avocados, tangy red onions, summer corn, and Greek feta is complemented by the most delicious balsamic dressing.
- Steak: Flank steak is a versatile, flavorful, and budget-friendly cut of lean meat. Because it has less fat than other cuts of beef, the steak marinade adds tenderness.
- Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil, with its lower acidity and strong, fruity flavor, is perfect for the marinade and the salad dressing.
- Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar gives the rich, dark, and slightly syrupy vinegar its characteristic sweet and tangy flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds depth of flavor and a distinct savory taste.
- Garlic: Adds depth to the marinade.
- Spices: Red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper are all the spices this salad needs for a well-balanced and memorable flavor.
- Honey: This adds sweetness to the steak salad dressing.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard adds unique flavor and tanginess to the dressing.
- Corn: Fresh corn on the cob is a summertime favorite that adds the perfect flavor and color accent to this salad.
- Lettuce: I love using crispy and hearty romaine for this salad, but you can use another type if you prefer.
- Tomatoes: Juicy and bright cherry tomatoes add so much flavor to this salad!
- Avocado: Sliced avocado adds a fresh and creamy element. You could swap this for guacamole instead!
- Onion: Red onion adds a nice bite and it’s less pungent than white onions.
- Feta Cheese: Crumbly, tangy feta cheese is a low-fat and healthy cheese that adds texture and flavor without overpowering the salad.
Pro Tip: Of all the ingredients in this recipe, be sure your avocados are perfectly ripe! A good creamy avocado without any hint of mushiness or bitterness will make or break this salad.
Grilled Steak Salad Variations
The marinated and grilled flank steak makes the most delicious topping for this hearty and vibrant salad. But you can easily change out the protein, or skip the meat and this becomes a vegetarian-friendly recipe. Replace the steak with grilled salmon, grilled chicken breast, shrimp, or crispy tofu. Or use a different steak recipe to throw on top, like carne asada steak!
The best steak for this salad, in my opinion, is flank steak. It’s a great all-purpose cut! You can also use New York strip steak or sirloin.
Yes! Marinating the steak allows the flavors to penetrate deeply, leading to a tastier, more tender cut of meat. I recommend at least 2 hours, but you can marinate it overnight if you prefer.
You sure can! I used a grill pan as an easy indoor option, but an outdoor grill also works for this recipe!
This salad is super versatile! Try it with ranch dressing, Italian dressing, sweet and spicy dressing, or honey mustard dressing!
You sure can! I love romaine because it is crisp and holds up to the dressing. Iceberg lettuce is also a great crisp lettuce with a mild flavor. A spring mix would also work well, adding a bit of variation in texture and flavor.
I do not recommend freezing salad! However, you can freeze the cooked steak for up to 3 months! Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Store and Reheat
I recommend preparing this steak salad recipe fresh for the best taste, but you can store ingredients separately before tossing everything together.
Store leftover steak, salad, and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to assemble. The steak will keep well for up to 5 days, while the greens and vegetables will keep well for 3-5 days. The dressing will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Assemble the salads just before serving. The steak can be added cold or hot to the salads. If serving hot, reheat the steak in the microwave or in a frying pan set over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This steak salad makes a completely healthy meal on its own, but it would also go nicely with some homemade breadsticks or my Pull Apart Cheese Bread. For an extra festive complement to this already colorful meal, serve it with Sweet Tea Sangria! This is one of my favorite summer salads and goes well with the rest of your summer grilling recipes!
Steak Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Steak
- 1 pound flank steak
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 6 tablespoons olive oil (¼ cup + 2 tablespoons)
For the Salad
- 2 ears corn shucked
- 4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 large avocados sliced
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
For the Steak
- Whisk the olive oil, balsamic, soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes together.¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Place the flank steak in a Ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the meat. Toss to coat and mariate in the fridge for 2 hours.1 pound flank steak
For the Dressing
- While the steak marinades, make the dressing. Whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, dijon salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Slowly pour in the olive oil while whisking. Continue to whisk until combined. Set aside.¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, Freshly ground black pepper, 6 tablespoons olive oil
For Assembly
- Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the steak for 3-4 minutes per side or to your desired doneness.
- Set it aside on a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes.
- While the steak rests, grill the corn on all sides until charred. Once it is cool enough to handle, cut off the cob.2 ears corn
- Once rested, slice the steak into strips.
- Assemble the salad by arranging the romaine, tomatoes, avocado, corn, onion, and steak on a platter or individual serving plates. Drizzle with dressing and top with feta. Enjoy!4 cups shredded romaine lettuce, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 2 large avocados, ½ red onion, ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Feel free to swap out the flank steak for NY strip or sirloin.
- Feel free to switch up the dressing or toppings for this salad to suit your tastes.
- For a gluten-free salad, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
- Let the steak come to room temperature before cooking.
- Let the steak rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing to lock in the juices.
- Slice the steak across the grain for the most tender steak.
- Steak Temperature Guide
- For rare steak: 125-130°F
- For medium-rare steak: 130-140°F
- For medium steak: 140-150°F
- For medium-well steak: 150-160°F
- For well-done steak: 160-165°F
Nutrition Information
More Hearty Salads We Love
- Grilled Shrimp Salad
- Grilled Peach Salad
- Green Goddess Salad
- Ahi Tuna Salad Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Cobb Salad
- Tequila Lime Salmon Salad
- See all of our Salad Recipes!
