overhead photo of steak and sweet potato bowls with avocado cilantro drizzle

Spring is in the air and the recipe for Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls with Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle perfectly celebrates the season. Not only is it fresh, colorful, and full of bright flavor, but it’s healthy and gluten-free to boot.

This complete meal in a bowl is just as fun to look at as it is to eat!

sliced steak and sweet potato bowls over rice

Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls

Throw-everything-into-a-bowl-and-eat-it type meals are my absolute favorite and this one is quickly moving to the top of the list. Fluffy rice is topped with seared, marinated steak, roasted sweet potatoes, baby arugula, and creamy avocado then finished with a drizzle of luscious and velvety Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle which, ok, is just a fancy name for blended guacamole.

Tell everyone you slaved over it though – it’ll be our little secret. ;)

This dish has one foot in the season that shall not be named on account of the hearty meat and potatoes vibe, but the other firmly into spring – color! greens! guac! – so it’s totally perfect for this time of year. Heck, we’re looking at a week of 60s ahead of us so I might just take the steak outdoors to the grill the next time I this dish. A girl can dream, anyway!

slice of medium rare steak in a bowl with sweet potatoes and avocado

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How to Make This Recipe

Start by making the steak marinade. This marinade is actually my go to for steak and chicken – it’s super good and flavors the meat quickly so you don’t need to marinate very long. To a gallon-sized Ziplock bag, squish together:

  • Gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using traditional soy sauce)
  • Oil 
  • Honey
  • Crushed garlic cloves
  • Red chili pepper flakes
  • Ground ginger

Next get your steak all trimmed up. I use flank steak but you can use whatever steak you love or have on hand. A sirloin, strip, or ribeye would all be tasty in here.

Add the steak to marinade then stash in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or up to 6 hours. If you’re making dinner on the fly, a 30 minute soak is ok too.

When it’s time to cook, heat an 11″ or 12″ cast iron skillet over heat that’s just a touch below high. When the skillet is hot, add enough high heat cooking oil to thinly cover the bottom, then add the steak. Make sure your vent fan is turned to high!

Sear the steaks for 2 minutes per side for medium-rare. If you like your steak medium or medium-well, remove the skillet from the heat then let the steak continue to cook from the residual heat of the skillet. FYI: If your steak is too large to fit in the skillet, just slice it in half and sear in batches.

Last step is to transfer the steak to a cutting board then let rest for a minimum of 7 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain.

Grilled flank steak on a cutting board

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 425 degrees then add chopped sweet potato to a nonstick sprayed baking sheet. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil then season with garlic salt and pepper and toss with your fingers to coat. Spread the sweet potatoes out into an even layer then roast for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and tender, stirring with a spatula halfway through. These little bites are like CRACK. So good!

Last step is to make the Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle (aka guacamole sauce). To a food processor or blender add:

  • Avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Lime juice
  • Garlic clove

Pulse to chop the ingredients then add 2 Tablespoons water and process until smooth, adding up to 2 more Tablespoons water if necessary to get the drizzle to a creamy but not runny consistency. Taste then add more lime juice, salt, and/or pepper if necessary.

ingredients for avocado cilantro drizzle in a food processor

Assembly time! Scoop cooked rice into bowls (I started the rice when I stirred the sweet potatoes halfway through their cooking time,) then top with the sliced steak, sweet potatoes, fresh baby arugula or baby spinach, and that irresistable Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle. CAN YOU SAY YUM!? I hope you love this fresh and healthy, yet hearty gluten-free dinner recipe! Enjoy!

avocado slices over rice with steak and sweet potatoes

Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls with Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle

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5/5 (7 REVIEWS)

Description

Meat and potatoes just got an upgrade! Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls with Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle are healthy, filling, and gluten-free and dairy-free, too!

Ingredients

serves 3-4

  • 1-1/4lb flank steak (or your favorite steak)
  • 1/2 large avocado, thinly sliced (other half will be used in sauce)
  • 1 large sweet potato (1lb,) peeled then chopped into 1" cubes
  • 1-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • garlic salt and pepper
  • 2 cups baby arugula or baby spinach
  • cooked rice, for serving
  • For the steak marinade:
    • 1/4 cup gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using traditional soy sauce)
    • 2 Tablespoons high heat cooking oil
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 4 crushed garlic cloves (not chopped garlic - it will burn)
    • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more or less)
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • For the Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle:
    • 1/2 large avocado
    • 1/4 cup packed cilantro
    • 1-1/2 Tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 clove garlic
    • salt and pepper
    • 2-4 Tablespoons water

Directions

  1. Add steak marinade ingredients to a gallon Ziplock bag then squish to combine. Slice flank steak in half if too large to fit inside an 11" or 12" cast iron skillet, then add to marinade and refrigerate for 1-6 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 degrees then spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Add sweet potatoes then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss with fingers to coat then spread potatoes into an even layer and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and tender, stirring with a spatula halfway through.
  3. Heat the 11" or 12" (or larger) cast iron skillet over heat that's just a touch below high. Add enough high heat cooking oil to create a very thin layer on the bottom of the skillet then, when it begins to smoke, add the steak (add just 1 piece if you cut it in half.) Be careful as the oil might spit a bit, and turn the fan up, too! Let steak sear for 2 minutes on each side for medium-rare, then transfer to a cutting board and repeat with second piece of steak. If you prefer your steak medium or medium-well, add both pieces of steak back into the skillet off the heat then let the residual heat of the skillet continue to cook the steak for severalminutes. Let steak sit for a minimum of 7 minutes on the cutting board before slicing into thin strips against the grain.
  4. Add all ingredients for the Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle except water to a small food processor or blender then pulse until roughly chopped. Add 2 Tablespoons water then process until smooth, adding up to 2 more Tablespoons water to get the sauce to a smooth but not runny consistency. Taste then add more salt and pepper, or lime juice if necessary.
  5. Scoop rice into bowls then top with sliced steak, roasted sweet potatoes, sliced avocado, and baby arugula or baby spinach. Top with Avocado-Cilantro Drizzle then serve.

Notes

Inspired by MyRecipes

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photo collage of steak and sweet potato bowls