Carne Asada Recipe (2024)

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BY Karina | 16 Comments

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Carne Asada prepared with a deliciously easy and authenticmarinade just in time for your Cinco De Mayo menu planning!

Juicy, tender grilled flank or skirt steakfull of incredible Mexican flavours makes this homemade Carne Asada recipe better than any restaurant! Perfect for stuffing tacos, burritos, salads, nachos…or serve it with Avocado slices and the best Pico De Gallo!

Carne Asada Recipe (1)

Authentic Carne Asada Marinade

The most crucial thing about a good Carne Asada is the marinade. A really good marinade not only tenderises your meat but adds incredible flavour with every bite. Most carne asada marinades on the inter-webs call for so many ingredients, but we find a simple marinade yields the best result. You want the flavour of your beef to shine through, right? YES.

Our citrusy/garlicky marinade is so easy and full of ingredients you quite possibly already have in your kitchen.We marinate ours for a good 2-3 hours before cooking, but for the BEST and most flavourful result, marinate your steak overnight! You will go crazy for the melt-like-butter results.

  • Lime juice — freshly squeezed, please!
  • Garlic — minced or crushed.
  • Ground cumin
  • Dried oregano

That’s IT! Nothing complicated, and possibly the best combination to soak into your beef!

Carne Asada Recipe (2)

Best cut of beef for Carne Asada

In Central and South America, we call pretty much any barbecued or grilled meat asado (or carne asada). The BEST cuts for the Mexican version of the dish we all know and love are eitherskirt steak or flank steak. Personally, I prefer skirt steak (pictured). It’s more tender and flavourful than flank and can be cooked well done (for those who prefer well) without getting tough and chewy.Flank steak is a leaner cut and is better cooked rare — medium.

Carne Asada Recipe (3)

Barbecue, grill or skillet!

Yes, I said it! Although Asado is always barbecued in our part of the world, we also cheat sometimes and use grill pans or well-seasoned cast iron skillets over stove top!Make sure you heat your pan/skillet over high heat, get it smoking hot, then add your meat to sear first (you will need to turn the vent on to reduce the amount of smoke about to hit your kitchen)! Then, lower the heat to finish cooking.

Carne Asada Recipe (4)

As pictured above, the best direction to slice your steak is against the grain — meaning through the lines you see on top of the steak.

So tender and juicy!Serve with Pico De Gallo, Guacamole or avocado slices, or stuff into Tacos!

Looking for more Mexican recipes? Try these!

Steak fajitas| Crispy Pork Carnitas| Fajita Salad | Shrimp & Mexican Corn Foil Packets (Elotes)

Carne Asada Recipe (5)

Carne Asada Recipe

Author: Karina

Carne Asada prepared with a deliciously easy and authentic marinade just in time for your Cinco De Mayo menu planning! Juicy and tender grilled flank or skirt steak full of incredible Mexican flavours makes this homemade Carne Asada recipe better than any restaurant! Perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos...

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Prep: 2 hours hrs

Cook: 8 minutes mins

Total: 2 hours hrs 8 minutes mins

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound (500g) skirt or flank steak*

Instructions

  • Whisk all of the ingredients together in a large shallow bowl or plastic container. Add the meat, rotating to evenly coat, and cover with plastic wrap (or lid if using container).

  • Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

  • Heat barbecue (or grill) on high heat.Note that lean flank steak is best cooked rare, while skirt steak can be cooked well without losing moisture or flavor because it has more fat marbling.Remove the flank steak from the marinade, and discard excess marinade. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side, or until desired doneness is reached.

  • Transfer to a plate and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.

  • To serve, slice against the grain into thin strips.

Notes

*Flank steak is best cooked rare or medium, while skirt steak can be cooked well.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bb504 says

    Carne Asada Recipe (12)
    Made this for dinner last night, and it was delicious. I marinated overnight in a zip lock bag, then grilled 4 min each side. Turned out perfect.

    Reply

  2. Caroline verner says

    Please send me the marinade recipe ?

    Reply

    • Karina says

      Hi! I’m so sorry about this. It seems to be a technical issue and we are working on it right now. Hopefully we will have all recipes up again soon! Thank you for your patience! Karina X

      Reply

  3. Diana says

    Where is the receipe?

    Reply

    • Karina says

      Hi! I’m so sorry about this. It seems to be a technical issue on mobile only and we are working on it right now. The recipes are on desktop if you need them urgently! Hopefully we will have all recipes up again soon! Thank you for your patience! Karina X

      Reply

  4. Amy says

    Carne Asada Recipe (13)
    Excellent recipe, my family loved it! It was so easy too!

    Reply

    • Karina says

      That is great to hear! Thank you so much for sharing! I am so glad that everyone enjoyed it! XO

      Reply

  5. Casie Stockard says

    I was wondering if this could be a freezer meal? Place steak and marinade in a freezer bag and thaw when ready to cook?

    Reply

    • Karina says

      Yes! That is a great idea! You are able to make so many fun recipes with this carne aside! Enjoy!

      Reply

  6. Kate says

    Oh gosh, it looks delicious!! And I agree that your photos are great!

    Reply

    • Karina says

      AWE! Thank you so much! That is really nice of you! I am glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you for following along with me!

      Reply

  7. Jerardo Silva says

    Carne Asada Recipe (14)
    Do you have recipes for agua de peppino,agua de apio

    Reply

  8. Jojo says

    It calls for fresh garlic and garlic powder? Can I just use the fresh garlic and leave the garlic powder out and if so, should I then increase the fresh garlic with an extra clove?

    Reply

    • Karina says

      Yes, that sounds like a great idea! Hope it works out just how you like it! Thanks so much for following along with me!

      Reply

  9. Amanda says

    I am literally sitting here with my pen and paper trying to come up with a menu for Cinco de Mayo and this is *perfect*! We’re having friends over so I think I’ll do some black beans and rice on the side, maybe a salad, and definitely guac, salsa, and all the chips!

    Thanks and have a great one!

    P.S. I made your baked chicken with honey mustard sauce last night and just finished the leftovers for lunch. So good and so easy! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Jan says

    This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it! Your pics are awesome! ??❤️

    Reply

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Carne Asada Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is used for carne asada? ›

Best cut of beef for Carne Asada

The BEST cuts for the Mexican version of the dish we all know and love are either skirt steak or flank steak. Personally, I prefer skirt steak (pictured). It's more tender and flavourful than flank and can be cooked well done (for those who prefer well) without getting tough and chewy.

What is carne asada seasoning made of? ›

Ingredients. Salt, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Spices, Onion, Sugar, Rice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Lime Juice, Paprika Extractives (Color), Red Pepper, Lime Oil, Natural Flavor.

What goes with carne asada? ›

We love serving these carne asada tacos with cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, or avocado rice. You can also serve with quinoa, or low carb cauliflower rice. Salads: salad is always a win and a great way to stretch your street tacos if you're serving a crowd.

What meat is closest to carne asada? ›

Skirt steak is the cut of choice for carne asada throughout Southern California and it's my favorite too. But if you can't find it, you can substitute flap, flank, hanger, or top round (London broil). Skirt is the flattest of the cuts, so it doesn't take long to marinate or cook.

What makes carne asada tough? ›

Cut the marinated grilled steak against the grain to ensure that every bite of carne asada is tender and juicy. Skirt steak and even flank steak can be tough if they're not marinated and cut thinly against the grain.

Is there a difference between carne asada and asada? ›

Carne Asada – Asada (or asado) means “roasted” in Spanish. Carne asada is a spicy, marinated grilled steak that's cut into strips. This is the meat that goes into burritos and tacos. Pollo Asado – Pollo means “chicken” in Spanish, which means that pollo asado is grilled, marinated chicken.

How do you use McCormick carne asada seasoning? ›

1 Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add steak; cook and stir 2 minutes or until no longer pink. 2 Stir in Seasoning Mix and water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 1 to 2 minutes or until desired doneness.

Is carne asada healthy or unhealthy? ›

Key Takeaway: While there are risks to eating grilled red meat like carne asada, it can still be part of a healthy meal in the context of your overall balanced diet. Carne asada is a good source of iron, and zinc. Pair with corn tortillas, plenty of veggies, and beans for a balanced meal.

Do Mexicans eat carne asada? ›

What Is Carne Asada? Let's start with the basics—carne asada is a traditional Mexican dish composed of marinated skirt steak or flank steak that has been grilled and thinly sliced. The term carne asada in Spanish translates to roasted or grilled meat in English.

What drink goes with carne asada? ›

Richer, grilled red meat dishes like carne asada burritos and barbacoa depend on spice levels, but a lightweight Malbec that is prominently fruity and refreshing is a safe bet. Any juicy blends with a decent amount of sweetness and soft tannins will do (too much complexity is wasted on a numb spiced-out tongue!)

What are carne asada ingredients? ›

What is a good substitute for carne asada? ›

Seitan is the closest in texture and flavor but soy curls have a closer texture to carne asada than TVP (soya).

What is a thin carne asada called? ›

In my experience, flap meat is usually used for carne asada. It's thin, cooked well done, and usually just eaten with our hands by tearing the pieces of beef (unless being chopped up for tacos, burritos, etc). What is this? Skirt steak- this is the clear winner in my book, specifically outside skirt steak.

What is flank steak called at the grocery store? ›

Whether you know it by its proper name or have seen it referred to as “London broil” at the grocery store or in certain restaurants, the lean flank steak delivers a strong beefy flavor and, when prepared and sliced properly, an unforgettable texture that sets it apart from other cuts.

Is skirt steak better than flank steak for carne asada? ›

Skirt and flank steaks are especially tough, so it's especially important to cut against the grain of the meat. They're used for similar dishes. Since both pieces of meat contain a similar beef flavor, they can be used interchangeably (such as with steak fajitas, London broil, steak salad, or carne asada tacos).

What is the difference between ground beef and carne asada? ›

Carne asada is meat that has been marinated and grilled. So, technically if you marinate and grill some ground beef you would have carne asada.

What kind of meat is carne asada at Chipotle? ›

Chipotle's carne asada is always made with skirt steak, ensuring that it's consistently juicy and tender. It's then cut into thin slices rather than cubes.

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