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Home ยป Main Dishes ยป Carne Asada

Carne Asada

Published: May 19, 2021 by Justin Coit

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Marinated with fresh ingredients and a blend of spices and then grilled to perfection, this Carne Asada will melt in your mouth. Packed with flavor, you will be making this on repeat all summer on the grill as the steak is tender, tasty, and you can serve it in various ways.

Overhead view of a sliced carne asada on a cutting board surrounded by cilantro leaves and lime wedges.
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Pinterest image of an angled view of sliced carne asada with one piece in focus.
Pinterest image of sliced carne asada with one piece in focus.
Pinterest image of the overhead view of a large carne asada, sliced, on a butcher block.
Pinterest image of a piece of flank steak on a grill with tongs lifting it.
Pinterest image of a piece of flank steak being held with a pair of tongs on a grill.
Pinterest image of the overhead view of sliced carne asada beside cilantro leaves and lime wedges.

In Spanish, carne asada is loosely translated to โ€œgrilled meat.โ€ The cut of meat can be anything from tenderloin to skirt steak or my favorite cuts: flank steak and sirloin tip! This carne asada uses flank steak and is packed with fresh, bold, and bright flavors thanks to the citrus, herbs, and spices in the marinade. 

While marinades for carne asada vary from region to region in Latin America, with some areas not using a marinade at all, it's hard to determine what is an "authentic" marinade. However, I find mine to be pretty close to what I'm served at my local Mexican restaurant and is made with everyday ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.  

Key Ingredients You Need

Ingredients needed to make carne asada.
  • Lime โ€” You must use fresh lime for the marinade. The preservatives in bottled lime juice just wonโ€™t do this recipe justice as you lose a lot of the bright, fresh flavor from the limes.
  • Spices โ€” I lean on pantry staple spices for this recipe. Keep in mind that spices lose their flavor over time, so make sure they are not past their prime for the best tasting carne asada. 
  • Olive oil โ€” Olive oil helps keep the acidic flavors from the lime and orange juice from dominating. If you prefer to use a different oil, make sure it is a neutral-tasting oil to avoid overpowering the other ingredients. Sesame oil, for example, would take over the marinade, unlike canola or vegetable oil. 

How to Make Carne Asada

Set of two photos showing marinade ingredients being placed in a bowl and then mixed together.

Step 1: In a bowl, add olive oil, garlic cloves, limes juice, orange juice, jalapeno, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper. You can include the lime and orange peels as well.

Step 2: Whisk together all ingredients until everything is evenly combined.

Set of two photos showing marinade added to a bag with the meat and then mixed to coat.

Step 3: Place the meat and marinade into a ziplock bag and seal it up, removing as much air as possible from the bag.

Step 4: Using your hands, mix it around until evenly coated. 

Set of two photos showing the bag of meat being transferred to the fridge and then cooked on the grill.

Step 5: Place in fridge and let marinate for 2-4 hours.

Step 6: Once finished marinating, cook on a grill or pan according to preferred doneness over high heat.

Close up of flank steak being grilled.

Tips For This Recipe

  • Do not over-marinate the flank steak. The acid in the marinade will cause the meat to break down too much. 2 to 4 hours is the ideal time.
  • To get more of the marinadeโ€™s flavor into the steak, you can use a fork and pierce the meat a bit.
  • Before you grill the steak, bring it close to room temperature to allow for even cooking. Cold steak may grill unevenly.
  • Let the carne asada rest before cutting it. Doing so allows the juices inside the steak to redistribute, leaving it juicy and moist.   
  • When cutting meat, always cut against the grain for tender pieces. See which way the muscle fibers are running down the steak and cut parallel to it.
  • If you do not have flank, sirloin tip is my second go-to. Alternatively, skirt or flat iron steak works as well. 
  • Add a little more heat to this by adding ancho chili powder or chipotle seasoning to the marinade. 
Close up photo of a slice of carne asada in focus, highlighting the piece being medium-rare.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I cook it?

I recommend using a meat thermometer to determine how long to cook your carne asada as time will vary based on the size and temperature of your grill. Here is approximately the temperature that you should cook your steak.
For a rare steak: 125F
For a medium-rare steak: 135F
For a medium steak: 145F
For a medium-well steak: 155F

How do I store leftovers?

You can place any uncut carne asada in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Itโ€™s best to leave it uncut, so it doesnโ€™t dry out when you reheat. You can freeze cooked carne asada as well. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

What can I serve it with?

You can use this recipe in tacos, burritos, rice bowls, salads, on top of fries, or just on its own with some roasted vegetables. I like to serve with some guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, sliced jalapeรฑos, mango salsa, sliced radishes, shredded lettuce, pickled onions, Mexican rice, refried beans, sliced avocados, lime crema, chimichurri sauce, diced red onions, and corn salsa.


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If youโ€™ve tried this recipe, then donโ€™t forget to leave me a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

Overhead view of a carne asada sliced against the grain.
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Carne Asada

Marinated with fresh ingredients and a blend of spices and then grilled to perfection, this Carne Asada will melt in your mouth. Packed with flavor, you will be making this on repeat all summer on the grill as the steak is tender, tasty, and you can serve it in various ways.
Prep Time2 hours hrs
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 276kcal
Author: Justin Coit

Ingredients

  • 1ยฝ lbs flank steak or sirloin tip
  • โ…“ olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 3 limes juiced optional to add in the peel of the lime to marinade as well
  • 1 orange juiced optional to cut up the peel and add to marinade as well
  • 1 medium jalapeno diced
  • โ…“ cup cilantro
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black Pepper

Instructions

  • In a medium mixing bowl whisk together all ingredients (minus the steak) until everything is evenly combined.
  • Place steak and marinade into a ziplock bag and mix it around until everything is evenly coated. Place in fridge and let marinate for 2-4 hours.
  • Once marinated, cook steak on a grill or pan according to preferred doneness over high heat.

Notes

  • Do not over-marinate the flank steak. The acid in the marinade will cause the meat to break down too much. 2 to 4 hours is the ideal time.
  • To get more of the marinadeโ€™s flavor into the steak, you can use a fork and pierce the meat a bit.
  • Before you grill the steak, bring it close to room temperature to allow for even cooking. Cold steak may grill unevenly.
  • Let the it rest before cutting it. Doing so allows the juices inside the steak to redistribute, leaving it juicy and moist.ย ย ย 
  • When cutting meat, always cut against the grain for tender pieces. See which way the muscle fibers are running down the steak and cut parallel to it.
  • If you do not have flank, sirloin tip is my second go-to. Alternatively, skirt or flat iron steak works as well.ย 
  • Add a little more heat to this by adding ancho chili powder or chipotle seasoning to the marinade.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 1264mg | Potassium: 750mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 4mg
*Nutrition Disclaimer
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Hi, Iโ€™m Justin. By day I'm a commercial director and photographer but in my free time, I make deliciously clean comfort food for my family and friends.

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