What if you don’t have a flank steak? You can always find some substitutes to use in your favorite recipes!
The entire article is all about 10 different substitutes for flank steak that will provide creative and delicious alternatives.
These substitutes range from classic favorites like pork chops and chicken breast to more exotic dishes such as lamb or duck recipes added into it for extra excitement (think: pepper).
11 Cheaper Substitutes for Flank Steak
1. HANGER STEAK- An Excellent Flank steak Substitution
The hanger steak is a relatively thin cut of beef from the lower hindquarters. It is taken perpendicularly to the spine and can be cooked as steak or braised whole, then sliced before service.
The hanger steak has recently gained attention due to its high level of marbling (intramuscular fat). This makes the hanger steak a tender, juicy, and flavorful cut of meat that is perfect for grilling, pan-frying, or broiling.
2. TRI-TIP STEAK- Flank Steak Substitute
One of the substitutes for flank steak is Tri-Tip Steak. It has similar but somewhat different characteristics than flank.
The shape and size are almost identical to flank steak except, it’s thicker on one end than on the other with two distinct sides that both have abundant marbling within its lean cuts, which makes this an excellent choice for grilling or roasting.
3. SKIRT STEAK Similar to Flank Steck
A Skirt Steak is another option for Flank Steak. It is long, thin, and tapered, and it is snipped from the diaphragm muscle.
Skirt Steak can be grilled or pan-fried but should not be cooked past medium-rare because it quickly becomes tough.
4. Try SIRLOIN TIP Place of Flank steak for Grilling
Another Alternative to Flank Steak is a Sirloin Tip. It can be used in many dishes that call for sliced meat.
A sirloin tip roast or steak is cut from the bottom sirloin subprimal boneless beef chuck, making this an excellent grill choice.
5. LONDON BROIL – Boneless subtitute to Flank Steak
The London Broil is a boneless top round steak that has been cut across the grain into thin strips, making it perfect for grilling or broiling.
London Broil is one of the substitutes for flank steak, and it can be used in dishes like fajitas.
6. BRISKET – A Good Alternative to Flank steak in Soup
Brisket is an alternative to the Flank Steak with the same shape, but it’s thicker than either of them, so it can be cut into cubes for kabobs or sliced thin against the grain in stir-fry dishes.
Brisket is the substitution for flank steak can also be used in dishes like beef stew.
7. FLAP MEAT
Flap Meat is an alternative to Flank Steak with the same shape, but it’s thicker than either of them so that it can be cut into cubes for kabobs.
8. TOP ROUND- A Versetile Flank steak Replacement
Top Round meat is an excellent choice for people looking for a healthy, high-quality cut of meat. It is a flavorful and versatile cut that can be used in various dishes.
Top Round has a slightly beefy flavor and a tender texture. And the cut of beef is taken from between the leg and the shoulder, which is an area that does very little work (unlike the upper hindquarters).
9. FLAT IRON STEAK- Flavorful Alternative for Flank Steck
Flat iron steak is a tender, flavorful cut of beef that comes from the shoulder area. It’s best grilled or pan-seared and can also be braised or roasted.
This cut is sometimes called a “butterfly steak” because it’s thin and relatively wide. The term “flat iron” actually refers to a large, flat, triangular-shaped piece of meat in the chuck section.
Like other cuts from the chuck, it’s flavorful but tough. The “flat iron” steak is cut from layers of muscle or connective tissue running through this part of the shoulder and has excellent marbling and flavor.
10. GROUND BEEF– A Decent Replacement for Flack Steck
Ground beef is a great substitution for flank steak in this recipe. The flavors are similar, and the texture is nearly identical. Plus, ground beef is often much more affordable than flank steak.
In a 7.2-quart slow cooker, add the beef broth, egg noodles, sauerkraut, carrot, onion, and garlic. Stir to combine, then place the ground beef on top of the mixture, being sure to submerge in liquid. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Before serving, shred the beef with two forks. Serve over crushed potatoes or egg noodles and garnish as desired.
11. Vegan steak Substitution for Flank Steak with Wild Arugula Salad
The vegan steak, while not perfect, remained quite flavorful and textural while partnered with a spicy mustard-based marinade.
I treated it like a typical flank steak using ground wild arugula, cooking it quickly at high flame and slicing it thinly against the grain to serve. It was definitely one of my more successful experiments!
Read More- Easiest Substitutes for Salt Pork
Wrap up- Flank Steak Substitutes
The substitutes are a fun way to explore new food. We hope this list helps spark some creativity in the kitchen and mealtime.
If you’re scanning for some creative ideas on what to do with your flank steak, look no further than 25 recipes that are sure to have everyone in your family drooling!
You can never go wrong when trying out different ways of cooking meat, so don’t be afraid if you’re not an expert yet.
Try one or two and examine how they turn out before deciding which ones work best for you! Happy cooking- it’s always fun exploring new flavors and dishes.
FAQs- Relates To Flank steak & Its Alternatives
Q1. What cut is most similar to flank steak?
The flank steak, also known as fajita steak, is a long and flat cut that comes from the abdominal muscles of a cow. It’s highly lean meat with a few tough fibers running through it.
The most similar cut to flank steak would be the skirt steak.
Skirt steak is derived from diaphragm muscles and is slightly shorter and broader than flank steak. It also contains fatter, but it’s much more tender than flank steak.
Q2. What’s more tender than flank steak?
Skirt steak has a more robust beefy flavor than flank and can be cooked to rare or medium-rare for the most tender texture.
It’s not as tender and should only be cooked rare or medium-rare to achieve the right texture. During cooking process yields amazing results with minimal chewing required by your taste buds!
Q3.Is flank steak the same as chuck steak?
Chuck steak is a cut of meat from the shoulder of beef cattle. It is a relatively tough cut but has a good flavor. In the United States, chuck steak is often used to make hamburgers and steak sandwiches.
Whereas, The flank steak comes from the abdominal muscles of a steer. Flank refers explicitly to a cut that lies on the underside of an animal, starting at the rib section and ending at the hip.