Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce

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This Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce is a winning combination for lovers of chipotle peppers. These smoky little jalapeños in adobo sauce are magical and I have many uses for them. Flank steak is ideal for grilling but with this marinade and the chipotle honey sauce, it is next level. Perfect for summer entertaining!

A board with slices of Grilled Flank Steak and bell peppers with lime wedges and cilantro.

I've got several ways to serve this recipe but when corn is in season it's one of two recipes; corn with feta and lime or grilled corn with chipotle butter. It's a short season so you've got to have your favourite corn recipes lined up!

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Ingredients
Substitutions
Variations
Get The Tools
Storage
Top Tip
Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce
Frequently Asked Question

Ingredients

I love the vibrant flavours of Mexico and the American Southwest. Chipotle chiles are the secret ingredient in this recipe and if they're new for you, you're in for a culinary adventure.

flank steak
lime juice
cilantro
garlic
chipotle chiles in adobo sauce - check the ingredient list for gluten free
honey
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
Dijon mustard
cumin

See recipe card for exact amounts.

Substitutions

Chipotle Chilies in Adobo Sauce - While there is no substitution for chipotle chilies they started out as jalapeños. If you must, substitute with plain jalapeño chiles and add chipotle powder or a smoked paprika to get the smoky flavour similar to that of the chipotles.

Variations

Having a few different ways to serve the main part of a meal takes the pressure off of coming up with different meals day after day. Here are a few ways I serve this flank steak depending on what's in season, what I feel like and who's eating with me.

Straight up with a steak knife and grilled vegetables.
Thin slices of juicy steak folded into homemade corn tortillas with your favourite taco fillings, raw or cooked vegetables and avocado slices.
Sliced steak on top of a salad like this Avocado Orange Salad.
In late summer serve this steak with Mexican rice and corn on the cob (with chipotle butter or feta and lime).
When you've got ripe avocados, guacamole with tequila or avocado chipotle sauce are a bonus to any of the above serving ideas.

Get The Tools

Slowly invest in the exact cooking tools you want and over time you'll be glad you did.

Everyone needs a barbecue and they all get the job done: road trip standup BBQ, moderately priced backyard BBQ, a nice Broil King and you can pay as much as you want for all the features I'm not even aware of.
Good quality marinating containers such as Tupperware, I have 2 sizes. Glass containers with plastic lids are also popular and both will serve you for decades. Make the investment and quit throwing away plastic bags.
Tortilla press to make the tortillas; cast iron or ceramic.

Storage

Marinated Flank Steak - Since flank steak is always a large piece of meat plan accordingly. Using my Prep Once, Eat Twice strategy I cut the meat in half before marinating. One piece will be for dinner and the other half will go right into the freezer. It marinates as it freezes and again as it thaws.

Chipotle Honey Sauce - If no one contaminates the sauce (clean utensils only) it will keep in the fridge for weeks so just label it right away. After you run out of flank steak drizzle it over grilled vegetables, rice or potato wedges, tacos, steak or chicken.

Top Tip

All of my recipe use chipotle chiles with adobo sauce finely chopped. For convenience I puree the whole can when I open it. Transfer all of it to a clean 1-cup Mason jar and use a clean utensil every time you take some from the jar. It will last in the fridge for months, but try and use them more often.

Use the following measurement as a guide and adjust to your heat preference.

2-3 teaspoons pureed chipotles in adobo sauce = 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce

A ladle of Chipotle Honey Sauce ready to go on a plate of grilled flank steak and vegetables.

Frequently Asked Question

What can I make with chipotle chiles in adobo sauce?

These smoked jalapenos and the vinegar based tomato sauce are what give chipotle mayo that irresistible taste. Try this Avocado Chipotle Sauce as a dip with chips, jicama sticks or even with grilled shrimp. For a more substantial dish try Braised Beef Short Ribs in Coffee Ancho Chile Sauce. For more ideas check out this post, Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce vs Chipotle Chile Powder.