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• My Instant Pot Steak Fajitas Are A Quick, Tuesday Night Win
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Instant Pot Fajitas
• My Recipe Tips
• Instant Pot Fajitas Recipe card
• Serving Ideas
• Recipe Reviews

My Instant Pot Steak Fajitas Are A Quick, Tuesday Night Win

I got an Instant Pot as a gift a few years ago, back when it was all over the internet and everyone I knew was trying one. Like most people, I started with the usual soups and stews, but after a while, I wanted to branch out. One Tuesday night, I was craving something Mexican but didn’t want tacos , so I decided to try making Instant Pot fajitas . I didn’t expect them to turn out this good, but they’ve been a regular in our dinner rotation ever since. Here’s why we keep this Instant Pot steak fajitas recipe repeat… and you should too:

• Juicy flavorful steak, tender veggies – After testing a few different cook times, I found the sweet spot for steak that’s tender, veggies that stay crisp-tender, and bold, zesty flavor in every bite.
• Hands-off and fast – These Instant Pot steak fajitas take just 15 minutes, but the real win is how little I have to do while they cook. I still love my stovetop fajitas , but this version is my go-to when I want something fresh without hovering over the stove.
• One pot, no mess – You sear the steak and pressure cook everything in the same pot, which not only saves time but means there’s just one thing to clean when dinner’s done.

These are perfect for busy weeknights. Make them with me!

“Made this for the first time and it was delicious! I used your fajita spice mix recipe for this. Highly recommend both recipes! Will be making this again!” –Lynda

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my Instant Pot steak fajitas recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Skirt Steak – I usually go with skirt steak because it’s super flavorful and gets really tender when you slice it thinly against the grain. Flank steak works just as well if that’s what you have. You could also totally swap the steak for chicken — just slice it thin, or make Instant Pot shredded chicken fajitas instead.
• Fajita Seasoning – I make my own fajita seasoing with chili powder, garlic powder, onion poweder, paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and salt. It’s quick to mix and way fresher than store-bought, but if you have one you like, that works too.
• Avocado Oil – This is what I used to sear the steak, but olive oil or really any neutral cooking oil will do the job here.
• Bell Peppers – I used orange bell peppers because that’s what I had in the fridge, but any color works. Red and yellow are a little sweeter, green has more of a bite, but use whatever combo you like or need to use up.
• Onion – I usually grab a yellow onion for this because it gets sweet when it cooks, but white or red onion would also work fine.
• Beef Bone Broth – The Instant Pot needs liquid to come to pressure. I used bone broth for extra richness, but chicken broth , veggie broth, or even water will work in a pinch.
• Lime Juice – A splash at the end brightens up all the savory flavors and gives it that classic fajita tang.

How To Make Instant Pot Fajitas

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Season the steak. Toss the sliced steak with fajita seasoning until evenly coated.
2. Sear. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté on high heat, add the oil, and sear the steak in batches until browned on both sides. Return all the steak to the pot.

1. Add veggies and liquid. I layer in the peppers and onions, sprinkle with more fajita seasoning, and pour in the broth and lime juice.
2. Pressure cook. Seal the lid, set the pressure cooker to high for a short cook time, then use Quick Release valve to release the pressure right away. Enjoy your Instant Pot fajitas!

My Recipe Tips

• Slice against the grain. This makes the steak more tender. Look for the lines running through the meat and cut across them, not in the same direction.
• Some fajita seasonings have a meat tenderizer in them, which works fast, sometimes too fast. If that’s the case, don’t let it sit on the steak too long or it’ll turn mushy.
• Brown the steak in batches. I know it’s tempting to throw it all in at once, but if you crowd the pot, the steak steams instead of browns. Just do it in a couple rounds so you get that nice sear. It’s worth the extra minute.
• Use quick release right away. A lot of meat recipes call for natural release, but not this one. Skirt and flank steak are thin, so letting them sit under pressure will overcook them. Quick release keeps them tender, not tough.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 lb Skirt steak (or flank steak; sliced thinly against the grain) ▢
• 2 tbsp Fajita seasoning (divided) ▢
• 1 tbsp Avocado oil ▢
• 2 large Bell peppers (sliced into thin strips) ▢
• 1 medium Onion (sliced into thin half moons) ▢
• 1/2 cup Beef bone broth (or any broth of choice) ▢
• 2 tbsp Lime juice ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Toss the steak in a tablespoon of fajita seasoning.
2. Press the “Saute” button on the Instant Pot and adjust temperature to “More” (by pressing “Saute” repeatedly until the screen says “More”). Add a tablespoon of oil and half the steak in a single layer. Saute for about 1-2 minutes per side, not to cook through but just to brown the steak. Remove and repeat with the remaining steak. Add the steak that was cooked from the first batch back to the pot.
3. Add the vegetables and sprinkle with remaining fajita seasoning. Stir vegetables if needed to coat in seasoning. Add the broth and lime juice.
4. Close the lid and close the vent to the Sealing position. Press the “Manual” button and set to 2 minutes on High pressure. Use the Quick Release to release pressure immediately.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 lb steak fajitas + 3/4 cup vegetables, or 1/4 entire recipe

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, biggest flavor, and make your Instant Pot fajitas turn out just right every time.
• Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for a few days. I like using them to make a quick Mexican-style omelette the next morning.
• Meal prep: You can slice the steak and veggies ahead of time, but honestly, this recipe comes together so fast it’s easiest to just make it fresh.
• Reheat: A hot skillet brings back the best texture, but the microwave works too. I wouldn’t bother using the Instant Pot again — it’s overkill.
• Freeze: Fajitas will freeze for a month or two, but they’re way better fresh, and luckily, they don’t take long to make anyway.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Instant Pot Fajitas

Serving Ideas

I usually serve these Instant Pot steak fajitas in almond flour tortillas (or use any warm tortillas), lettuce wraps, or just as a bowl. When I go the bowl route, I pair them with cauliflower lime rice for something light and fresh.

I like to garnish them with sliced jalapenos, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream. But there are so many other ways to top them — try guacamole , shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, pico de gallo, or your favorite salsa. I especially love them with tomatillo avocado salsa verde for extra flavor.

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Instant Pot Fajitas

Make juicy, flavorful Instant Pot steak fajitas in under 30 minutes with tender steak, peppers, and onions all cooked fast in one pot.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/instant-pot-steak-fajitas-recipe/

Ingredients

• 1 lb Skirt steak (or flank steak; sliced thinly against the grain)
• 2 tbsp Fajita seasoning (divided)
• 1 tbsp Avocado oil
• 2 large Bell peppers (sliced into thin strips)
• 1 medium Onion (sliced into thin half moons)
• 1/2 cup Beef bone broth (or any broth of choice)
• 2 tbsp Lime juice

Instructions

1. Toss the steak in a tablespoon of fajita seasoning.
2. Press the “Saute” button on the Instant Pot and adjust temperature to “More” (by pressing “Saute” repeatedly until the screen says “More”). Add a tablespoon of oil and half the steak in a single layer. Saute for about 1-2 minutes per side, not to cook through but just to brown the steak. Remove and repeat with the remaining steak. Add the steak that was cooked from the first batch back to the pot.
3. Add the vegetables and sprinkle with remaining fajita seasoning. Stir vegetables if needed to coat in seasoning. Add the broth and lime juice.
4. Close the lid and close the vent to the Sealing position. Press the “Manual” button and set to 2 minutes on High pressure. Use the Quick Release to release pressure immediately.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 lb steak fajitas + 3/4 cup vegetables, or 1/4 entire recipe

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture, biggest flavor, and make your Instant Pot fajitas turn out just right every time.
• Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for a few days. I like using them to make a quick Mexican-style omelette the next morning.
• Meal prep: You can slice the steak and veggies ahead of time, but honestly, this recipe comes together so fast it’s easiest to just make it fresh.
• Reheat: A hot skillet brings back the best texture, but the microwave works too. I wouldn’t bother using the Instant Pot again – it’s overkill.
• Freeze: Fajitas will freeze for a month or two, but they’re way better fresh, and luckily, they don’t take long to make anyway.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)