This easy carne asada recipe is juicy and tender from a simple marinade full of authentic Mexican-inspired flavors! Grilled to perfection, it’s full of fresh, citrus taste with a perfect smoky char.
Want more easy steak recipes? Try this grilled flank steak, grilled steak kabobs and this easy steak marinade!
Table of Contents
Best Ever Grilled Carne Asada
If you were to ask me for a compiled list of the best Mexican recipes, this carne asada steak would be right up there with slow cooker carnitas, flank steak tacos, and Mexican street corn.
All it takes to make this easy carne asada recipe is to marinate the steak with a vibrant citrus carne asada marinade, then pop it onto a sizzling hot grill. While I love this beef birria recipe, there is just something about grilling steak for carne asada tacos!
Carne Asada Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Olive oil: Using oil in the marinade helps to bring all the ingredients together in a cohesive liquid. It also helps to keep the meat moist.
- Citrus juices: Freshly squeezed lime juice and orange juice. The acidity will help to break down the fibers in the meat tenderizing it while permeating delicious flavors.
- White vinegar: This also helps break down the meat.
- Minced jalapeno: For spice! Use more or less of the seeds depending on how spicy you want it. Or remove them completely.
- Crushed garlic: An aromatic that adds another layer of flavor. Garlic has a way of making everything better.
- Fresh cilantro: A vibrant fresh herb popular in Mexican dishes. It helps to lighten and brighten up the marinade.
- Spices: Chili powder and cumin. A combination of smoky, spicy, and earthy spices.
- Salt & pepper: For added seasoning. You may want to have extra to sprinkle just before grilling.
- Flank steak: It’s a leaner cut of beef so it does well with a longer marinating time.
Carne Asada Marinade
The marinade ingredients are an important part of making any authentic carne asada recipe!
Zesty citrus juices and white vinegar tenderize the beef for extra juicy results. Jalapeno, cilantro and garlic give it bold, fresh taste while cumin and chili powder add to the savory flavor.
Give the meat plenty of time to marinade. I recommended one hour minimum up to 8 hours not to exceed a maximum of 12 hours. Marinating too long can cause the citrus and acid to start breaking down the meat too much, causing mushy meat and tough chewy textures.
How to Make Carne Asada
- Combine the marinade. I use a gallon-sized zip-top bag to add and mix my marinade instead of a bowl which takes up room in the fridge. Combine all the ingredients of the marinate and seal it and give it a little shake to mix it up.
- Marinate the steak. Add the steak to the bag and press out excess air then seal. You can either marinate it at room temperature for at least 1-2 hours or in the fridge for up to 12 hours. Discard the marinade, do not reuse.
- Grill the meat. Bring the meat to room temperature for 30 minutes. You never want to place cold meat onto a hot grill. Remove the steak from the bag and pat it dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Place steak on preheated grill for 7-10 minutes for medium.
- Rest, slice, and serve. Remove the carne asada from the heat and place it onto a serving platter or cutting board. It will continue to cook for a bit as it sits. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes and then slice against the grain before serving.
How Long to Grill
How long to grill your carne asada meat is determined by how you like your steak cooked. It’s important to use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. Try 7-10 minutes for medium-rare, but follow the guidelines below for your desired results:
- Medium-Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium-Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Expert Tips
- Best cut of beef for carne asada: Sirloin steak is best but flank steak is most common. If using skirt steak I would recommend cooking it to medium rare as it does have more fibers and connective tissues than leaner flank steak.
- To make it even more tender. Pound the steak in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or a rolling pin to tenderize it and even out the thickness for even cooking.
- Clean the grill grates well before adding the meat. You can even brush them off once the grill is hot, anything stuck will come off easier.
- Cut against the grain. Once it’s had a chance to sit and redistribute the juices, slice along the muscle fibers into thin strips. Shortening them helps to make sure each bite is buttery and not chewy.
Recipe FAQs
Technically, carne asada means grilled meat, which could mean a lot of things I suppose, but when we think of this Mexican-inspired dish, a deliciously flavorful marinated flank or skirt steak comes to mind. It’s great on its own, but when sliced, the pieces are tender enough to fit into tacos, burritos or salad bowls.
You can. Make the marinade 3 days ahead of time, but don’t add the meat any earlier than 12 hours from grill time. What I like to do is marinate it in the morning so it’s ready to grill by dinner time.
No grill? no problem! As much as I love heating up the backyard grill, this is absolutely doable inside on the stove-top using a cast iron grill pan. It’s also great for when it’s cold outside.
Certainly. This is slightly different than learning how to cook steak in the oven using a cast-iron skillet, but it’s another great option.
Preheat the broiler and place the grate on the upper middle rack. Broil the steak on a baking sheet, flipping halfway until cooked to desired doneness. Once again, use an instant-read thermometer to determine when it’s ready.
Serving Suggestions
There are plenty of ways to put this easy carne asada recipe to good use!
- Side dishes: Enjoy it as is with a side of Mexican rice and refried beans or black beans and rice.
- Garnish: Drizzle some salsa verde, chimichurri, or pico de gallo overtop or make a homemade cilantro lime crema.
- Tacos: You can also add slices to corn tortillas or homemade flour tortillas for a steak taco recipe, quesadillas, or burritos with some fresh guacamole and other favorite toppings.
- Salad: Chop up the meat and add them to nachos, or make a steak salad with crispy tortilla strips for lunch!
Storing
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: You can also freeze leftovers. Cool completely then add to a freezer bag or container and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Want more easy grilling recipes? Try Sirloin steak, steak and potato foil packs, and grilled teriyaki burger this grilling season!
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Carne Asada Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 limes , juiced
- ½ cup orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 jalapeno , minced and seeded (for less
- 4 cloves garlic , crushed
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more for grilling
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more for grilling
- 2 pounds flank steak
Instructions
- In a gallon-size zip-top bag, add the olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, vinegar, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Seal and mix together.
- Add the steak and press out any excess air before sealing. Marinate at room temperature at least 2 hours or in the refrigerator up to 12 hours. Set out 30 minutes before grilling.
- Remove the steak from the marinade and pat the steak dry with paper towel. Season each side with kosher salt and pepper.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place steak on the grill and cook 7 to 10 minutes for medium, or until a digital thermometer reads 140°. You can also cook to your desired doneness. See notes for cooking temperatures.
- Let rest 5 to 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
Notes
- Medium Rare (130°-140°F)
- Medium (140°-150°F)
- Medium Well (150°-160°F)
- Well (Over 160°F)
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 4th of July, Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Grilling, Low Carb, Mexican, Nut-Free, Whole 30
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This carne asada was a perfect blend of smoky and delicious! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Jess :)
My husband made this for us yesterday and we loved it! My mother in law was raving about it and we printed her the recipe!
My family has been begging me to make carne asada and I’m so glad I found your recipe! It turned out perfect and they’ve already asked me to make it again!!!
This is my husband’s favorite! I made it last night and he said it was better than any restaurant! Thank you!
We finally opened up the grill this weekend and made this recipe – so good! The steak was flavorful, tender, and juicy!
To put it simply, I’m obsessed with this recipe and CAN’T STOP MAKING IT!!