• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Best Beef Recipes logo
  • Home
  • Find A Recipe
  • Holiday Beef Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About Best Beef Recipes
  • Follow Us!

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Beef Grilling Recipes

    Carne Asada Recipe

    Published: Aug 1, 2023 Modified: Aug 1, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

    Share

    Share
    Pin114
    Tweet
    Email

    This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

    Jump to Recipe

    My Carne Asada Recipe is a guaranteed family favorite that comes together in just 10 minutes after marinating! Serve carne asada beef in tacos, over rice, or simply as-is with a side dish. Enjoy!

    two carne asada tacos in a taco holder
    Jump to:
    • What is Carne Asada?
    • Carne Asada Steak
    • Carne Asada Marinade
    • Seasoning for Steak Tacos
    • How to Cook Carne Asada
    • Tips for Grilled Carne Asada
    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Tacos de Carne Asada Toppings
    • Carne Asada Recipes FAQs
    • Sauce for Carne Asada Taco
    • Cheese for Carne Asada Tacos
    • Taco Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    What is Carne Asada?

    Carne Asada is a grilled Mexican steak recipe consisting of thin steak marinated in citrus juice and garlic. It's seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and cumin, then grilled and sliced thinly. In the case of this carne asada recipe, orange juice is also used in the marinade for additional flavor.

    Carne Asada Steak

    The first time I tried grilled carne asada steak at my favorite Mexican restaurant, I knew I had to recreate it at home. The flavors are unlike any other steak recipe, combining a zesty citrus marinade with a simple-but-powerful seasoning and the perfect grill char. Oh, it is irresistible!

    Sliced thinly, carne asada meat is perfect over rice, in carne asada tacos, burritos, fajitas, or as-is with a side of grilled Mexican corn, tortilla chips and avocado salsa. You really can't go wrong!

    Best of all, you can marinate the steak 2 hours before dinner and grill it up in just 10 minutes when you're ready to sit down and eat. It's quick, easy, and beyond satisfying - so you can even make it on your busiest weeknights!

    carne asada beef on a plate with taco toppings

    Carne Asada Marinade

    • Lime juice
    • Orange juice
    • Minced garlic
    • Carne asada seasoning (see below)

    The best marinade for carne asada beef combines lime and orange juice with minced garlic and simple seasoning. This creates a perfectly tender steak you can easily slice thinly to serve in tacos, over rice, or however, you like it best!

    Seasoning for Steak Tacos

    • Cumin
    • Kosher Salt
    • Black Pepper

    Aside from the carne asada marinade, all you need to season the beef is cumin, salt, and pepper. My simple Carne Asada Seasoning is closely inspired by traditional Mexican recipes in order to complement the beef!

    How to Cook Carne Asada

    1. Trim excess fat from steak. If you prefer, cut the steak into slightly smaller lengths to make it easier to grill.
    2. Add orange juice, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper to a resealable plastic bag large enough to fit the steak. You can also use a large air-tight container as long as the meat is submerged in the liquid.
    3. Add the meat to the marinade and toss to coat, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but less than 8.
      Marinating carne asada beef for tacos
    4. When ready to cook, remove the steak from the refrigerator a few minutes early and bring it to room temperature while you preheat your grill (about 30 minutes).
    5. Grill for a few minutes on each side until cooked through according to your preferred degree of doneness as read on a meat thermometer. You can do this on an outdoor grill or in a grill pan on the stove.
      cooking steak in a skillet
    6. Let your steak rest for about 5-10 minutes, then serve in thin slices by cutting against the grain using a sharp knife.
      sliced steak on a cutting board with a knife and green onions
    7. Serve in flour tortillas and top with your preferred taco toppings, such as radishes, cilantro, spring onions, and avocado slices.

    Use any leftover carne asada beef for Steak Nachos!

    Tips for Grilled Carne Asada

    • For perfectly cooked steak, pull your beef off of the heat 5 degrees below your preferred degree of doneness and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Take a look at my Steak Temperature Chart for more info.
    • Always use a meat thermometer when checking if your beef is done.
    • You don't need a grill to make this recipe. You can also use a cast iron skillet on the stove.

    Carne Asada Tacos

    Make your carne asada beef into tacos easily by pan-frying tortillas, then filling them with beef. Top them with your favorite taco toppings, or serve as part of a tacos bar by placing the meat at the center of the table surrounded by toppings.

    You can also pan-fry the tacos as I do with my Birria Tacos recipe. Give it a try if you want to try something new!

    carne asada beef on a plate with taco toppigns next to a plate of tortillas

    Tacos de Carne Asada Toppings

    • Thinly sliced radishes
    • Grilled spring onions
    • Cilantro
    • Avocado slices or guacamole
    • Sour cream or Mexican crema
    • Mexican cheese or Cotija Cheese
    • Refried Beans
    • Fresh lime juice or lemon juice
    • Lime wedges
    • Salsa or pico de gallo
    • Lettuce

    Pair these easy grilled beef tacos with all your usual favorite taco toppings, or try something new! Carne asada beef pairs amazingly well with radishes and grilled spring onions.

    While I'm cooking the beef, I like to add the spring onions to the pan and let them char a little before removing them to slice for topping. Enjoy a fun Taco Tuesday!

    Carne Asada Recipes FAQs

    What cut of meat is used for carne asada?

    Flank steak or skirt steak is the best cuts of meat to use for carne asada. They are thin steaks perfect for slicing for tacos or enjoying in fajitas, quesadillas, over rice, and more.

    What are carne asada tacos made of?

    Carne asada tacos use thin steak, lime and orange juice, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper to make the marinated carne asada beef. Then, enjoy the beef in flour or corn tortillas with your preferred taco toppings, such as tomatoes, avocado, spring onions, cilantro, and even radishes.

    Can you use taco seasoning for carne asada?

    Simple cumin, salt, and pepper are all you need for seasoning carne asada. I do not recommend using taco seasoning for carne asada, as it includes many seasoning ingredients that may overpower the natural flavor of the steak and the marinade. Simple is best for carne asada.

    What goes on with carne asada tacos?

    Pair carne asada tacos with taco toppings like salsa, Mexican crema or sour cream, radishes, chiles, and crumbled Mexican cheeses like cotija or queso fresco. My family loves these easy street tacos with fresh slices of avocado.

    Sauce for Carne Asada Taco

    The best sauce for steak tacos is my Avocado Crema recipe. The garlic and lime flavors in this tangy crema make it a perfect pair with Mexican-inspired taco recipes like this one. For a more simple sauce, simply pair it with sour cream or crème fraîche.

    Cheese for Carne Asada Tacos

    Pick a cheese you know you will like with your tacos; otherwise, use queso fresco or cotija! These crumbly Mexican cheeses are the perfect choice for pairing with carne asada beef and have just the right amount of creaminess to complement the tangy and bright flavors of the citrus.

    Taco Recipes

    • Birria Tacos
    • Barbacoa Tacos
    • Crockpot Taco Meat
    • Taco Seasoning
    • All my favorite Beef Taco Recipes!

    If you love this dish, you are sure to love my Garlic Guajillo Steak - give it a try!

    carne asada beef on a plate next to tortillas

    Try more of the best beef cuts according to your needs and budget by following my guide on the Best Cuts of Beef and our Popular Beef Dishes!

    📌 Pin it for later!

    Did you enjoy this page? Save it on Pinterest for later!

    Share

    Pin

    📋 Recipe

    two carne asada tacos in a taco holder
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Carne Asada Recipe

    My Carne Asada Recipe is a guaranteed favorite that comes together in just 10 minutes after marinating! Enjoy carne asada beef in tacos, over rice, or simply as-is.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Marinating Time2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: carne asada recipe, carne asada tacos, grilled carne asada, how to cook carne asada
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • Grill or grill pan
    • Meat thermometer
    • Sharp knife
    • Cutting board

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. skirt steak or flank steak, or top sirloin
    • 2 Tablespoons lime juice from 1 whole fresh lime
    • ¼ cup orange juice
    • 3 cloves garlic minced large cloves; use 3 if they're small
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper

    See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!

    Instructions

    • Trim any excess fat from the steak and, if you prefer, cut into slightly smaller lengths to make it easier to grill.
      carne asada taco ingredients on a blue platter
    • Put the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper in a freezer bag big enough to hold the meat, or container that allows the meat to lay coated in the marinade. Add the meat and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinate at least 2 hours, but less than 8.
      marinating steak
    • When ready to cook, remove from refrigerator a few minutes early to come to room temperature and preheat grill. Grill for a few minutes on each side until cooked through.
      grilling steak in a cast iron skillet
    • Let your steak rest for about 5-10 minutes, then serve in thin slices by cutting against the grain using a sharp knife.
      sliced steak on a cutting board
    • Serve in tortillas and top with your preferred taco toppings, such as radishes, cilantro, spring onions, and avocado slices.
      two carne asada tacos in a taco holder

    Notes

    • Note: Nutrition calculation does not include tortillas.
    • For perfectly cooked steak, pull your beef off of the heat 5 degrees below your preferred degree of doneness and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Take a look at my Steak Temperature Chart for more info.
    • Always use a meat thermometer when checking if your beef is done.
    • Grill on high for best results (around 500°F). You don't need a grill to make this recipe. You can also use a cast iron skillet on the stove or in the oven under the broiler.
    • You can marinate the beef in a large plastic bag for easy clean up or in a bowl.
    • Cooking time is an estimate and depends on the thickness of your cut of beef. Use a meat thermometer for best results.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 483mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 2.8mg
    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Isabel Laessig
    Isabel Laessig
    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me
    Isabel Laessig
    Latest posts by Isabel Laessig (see all)
    • Meatloaf Temps - September 22, 2023
    • London Broil on the Grill - September 16, 2023
    • Steak Seasoning - September 16, 2023

    Share

    Share
    Pin114
    Tweet
    Email
    « How to Cook Wagyu Steak
    Ropa Vieja Recipe »

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a comment or question - we love to hear from you! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok
    Isabel smiling with a stack of ribs

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Welcome to my beef-obsessed recipe website!

    About Me

    Best Beef Dinner Ideas

    • Beef chuck roast with potatoes and carrots
      Chuck Roast in the Oven
    • close up of burger seasoning inside of a brown dish
      Our Famous Burger Seasoning
    • Two air fried steaks on an offwhite plate, cut partially into slices to show the medium rare middle and topped with garlic butter
      Air Fryer Steak
    • Beef birria tacos on a white platter
      Birria Tacos
    • smoked brisket sliced with red gravy
      Smoked Brisket Recipe
    • Two slices of prime rib roast on a cutting board
      Boneless Rib Roast

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Our Brands

    Best Beef Recipes | Sunday Supper Movement | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Best Beef Recipes
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI
    • Sign up for our Newsletter!
    Sunday Supper Logo

    Best Beef Recipes is part of the Sunday Supper Media publishing family.

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright ©2019-2023 Best Beef Recipes, All Rights Reserved.