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    Home > Blog > Beef > Carne Asada Recipe

    This post is sponsored by Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Thank you for supporting our sponsors! It helps us keep going!

    Carne Asada Recipe

    by Jenny Park · Published: Aug 3, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    This easy Carne Asada Recipe produces an incredibly flavorful dish. It only takes a few minutes to mix up the marinade and to grill up! The hardest part is waiting for the beef to soak up all the flavor from the marinade!
    Carne Asada on a cutting board with limes and cilantro on the side.
    Carne Asada on a cutting board with limes and cilantro on the side.
    Freshly grilled and sliced Carne Asada on a cutting board with some taco fixings around it.

    I’ve loved Carne Asada for as long as I can remember. I love how tender, juicy and flavorful the marinated beef is and how can be eaten in a variety of ways, from tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas, in a bowl over beans and rice, there are endless ways to enjoy this delicious marinated beef.

    The carne asada recipe we have for you today is so easy and really provides a ridiculous amount of flavor to the skirt steak. Not only is this recipe simple and delicious, but it cooks up in no time at all!

    What is Carne Asada?

    It’s thin slices of (or chopped) marinated and grilled beef, most typically made with skirt or flank steak. We use skirt steak in our recipe because it’s thinner and not quite as fibrous as flank steak.

    Ingredients

    Carne Asada beef ready for marinade on a cutting board.
    Ingredients for carne asada  marinade shot overhead.

    Process

    1. Combine all marinade ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
    2. Place meat into a baking dish pour marinade mixture/paste over meat.
    Marinade ingredients in a glass bowl for carne asada.
    Skirt steak in a shallow baking dish with marinade poured all over it.
    1. Cover with plastic wrap and allow meat to marinate for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
    2. Heat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Brush with vegetable oil.
    3. Grill meat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper.
    Marinated skirt steak in a shallow baking dish overhead.
    Grilled carne asada skirt steaks.
    1. Transfer meat onto a cutting board and rest, 5 to 7 minutes. Slice into strips or chop into bite sized pieces and serve.
    Jump to Recipe
    Carne Asada recipe cut up  on a cutting board with lime wedges and a knife.

    Tools You Will Need

    • cutting board
    • knife
    • mixing bowl
    • whisk
    • 9″ x 13″ baking dish
    • grill pan
    • tongs
    Lodge cast iron grill pan.
    Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan



    If you don’t have access to a grill, or you just have some bad weather and don’t want to stand outside in the rain to grill, no problem! That is exactly why we love this Lodge Cast Iron Grill pan! It’s inexpensive and works great on the stove.

    Best Cuts of Beef to Use for Carne Asada

    Our favorite cut of beef for our recipe is skirt steak. It’s flavorful, absorbs the marinade well and cooks up quickly.

    Flank steak, similar to skirt steak but thicker, is another cut of beef that would be great to use. We also like using flap meat, as it’s similar to skirt steak and cooks up just as quickly.

    What is Mexican Oregano?

    Mexican oregano is an herb indigenous to Mexico with a strong woodsy and earthy flavor. It’s actually a different species of plant entirely from Mediterranean Oregano, which is from the mint family. If you’re unable to find Mexican oregano, you can substitute with Mediterranean oregano although the flavor just won’t be quite as sharp.

    Jump to Recipe

    Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions for Our Carne Asada Recipe

    Make Ahead

    The beef can be marinated up to 2 days ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You don’t want to marinate for more than 2 days as the marinade will begin to break the meat down too much, creating an unappealing texture.

    Freezing

    Place the marinated steak into a resealable bag, removing as much excess air before sealing. Place meat, laying at flat as possible in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, place the frozen bag of carne asada onto a plate and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Tips and Tricks for Success

    • It’s important that the beef has marinated for several hours, although overnight is best. This will ensure the beef has tenderized and the flavor maximized.
    • The grill, skillet or grill pan being used should be hot before adding the carne. The carne asada should only be cooked on both sides for a few minutes to avoid overcooking, which will result in a tough texture.

    More Carne Asada Recipes You Will Love

    • Torta
    • Asada Fries
    • Nachos

    Tips and Tricks for Success

    • It’s important that the carne asada has marinated for several hours, although overnight is best, to help tenderize the meat and to maximize flavor.
    Click here for our Beef Recipe Collection!

    Check out roundup of Our Best Grill Recipes!

    Carne Asada up close freshly sliced with cilantro, tortillas, and lime wedges on the side.
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    Carne Asada recipe on a cutting board with ingredients on the side.

    Carne Asada Recipe

    5 from 32 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    This easy Carne Asada Recipe produces an incredibly flavorful dish. It only takes a few minutes to mix up the marinade and to grill up! The hardest part is waiting for the beef to soak up all the flavor from the marinade!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    marinating time: 12 hrs
    Total Time: 12 hrs 15 mins
    Servings: 4

      INGREDIENTS  

    Marinade

    • 5 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
    • 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 3 tbsp white vinegar
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp smoked paprika
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • 1 tsp white pepper
    • 1 tsp black pepper
    • 1 tsp Mexican Oregano Italian oregano is okay
    • 1½ limes juiced or 1 Mexican orange,juiced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced

    Beef

    • 1 pound skirt steak
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Place all marinade ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
    • Place meat into a baking dish pour marinade mixture/paste over meat.
    • Cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate and allow meat to marinate for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
    • Heat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Brush with vegetable oil.
    • Grill meat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper.
    • Transfer meat onto a cutting board and rest, 5 to 7 minutes. Chop into bite sized pieces and serve.

      NOTES  


    • Best Cuts of Meat to Use for Carne Asada

      Our favorite cut of beef for our recipe is skirt steak. It’s flavorful, absorbs the marinade well and cooks up quickly.
      Flank steak, similar to skirt steak but thicker, is another cut of beef that would be great to use. We also like using flap meat, as it’s similar to skirt steak and cooks up just as quickly.

      What is Mexican Oregano?

      Mexican oregano is an herb indigenous to Mexico with a strong woodsy and earthy flavor. It’s actually a different species of plant entirely from Mediterranean Oregano, which is from the mint family. If you’re unable to find Mexican oregano, you can substitute with Mediterranean oregano although the flavor just won’t be quite as sharp.

      Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions for Our Carne Asada Recipe

      Make Ahead

      The beef can be marinated up to 2 days ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You don’t want to marinate for more than 2 days as the marinade will begin to break the meat down too much, creating an unappealing texture.

      Freezing

      Place the marinated steak into a resealable bag, removing as much excess air before sealing. Place meat, laying at flat as possible in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, place the frozen bag of carne asada onto a plate and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

      Tips and Tricks for Success

      • It’s important that the beef has marinated for several hours, although overnight is best, to help tenderize the meat and to maximize flavor.
      • The grill, skillet or grill pan being used should be hot before adding the carne. The carne asada should only be cooked on both sides for a few minutes to avoid overcooking, which will result in a tough texture.
    Calories: 420kcal Carbohydrates: 7g Protein: 26g Fat: 33g Saturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 71mg Sodium: 756mg Potassium: 426mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 446IU Vitamin C: 8mg Calcium: 30mg Iron: 3mg
    CUISINE: Mexican
    KEYWORD: Beef, mexican beef
    COURSE: dinner, Main Course, main dish

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    • A Carne Asada Burrito bowl with forks on the side and half an avocado.Carne Asada Burrito Bowl

    August 3, 2021 / 21 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Pico De Gallo
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    Reader Interactions

    August 3, 2021 / 21 Comments

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




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    1. Chris David

      August 16, 2022 at 12:46 am

      5 stars
      Its really a nice recipe and mouth watering

      Reply
    2. Chris David

      July 18, 2022 at 11:17 pm

      Really nice recipe. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Dave

      July 28, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      I made this the other night and it was FANTASTIC

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        July 29, 2021 at 10:09 am

        So happy you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    4. Emily T

      August 20, 2020 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      This was sooooo good. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Emma

      August 15, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      This dry rub is so good. I think I’m gonna try it on chicken! Do you think that would be good?

      Reply
    6. Annie

      August 11, 2020 at 9:34 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for the first time for my in-laws on father’s day and it was such a hit! I’ve made this 3 or 4 times since then! Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
    7. Susan

      August 11, 2020 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a KEEPER! Lots of ingredients, but so easy to make and the carne has so much flavor!! YUM

      Reply
    8. Dennis Yannakos

      August 07, 2020 at 1:06 am

      5 stars
      The texture is so moist, it’s so tasty!

      Reply
    9. Allison

      August 05, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      This was so flavorful. I can’t wait to make again

      Reply
    10. Anne

      August 01, 2020 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter and I both LOVE this recipe. It was so easy and fun for us to make on taco night!

      Reply
    11. Sarah

      August 01, 2020 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      I never knew carne asada was so easy to make! This is going on rotation in my house now! Thank you!

      Reply
    12. Aubrey

      July 31, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      Love the flavor of the meat. Thank you!

      Reply
    13. Debbie

      July 26, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      5 stars
      Best carne asada recipe, hands down!

      Reply
    14. Joan

      July 26, 2020 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      My favorite carne asada recipe! I’ve been making your carne asada torta for a few years now, and I’m happy to see a stand along recipe for the carne asada now!

      Reply
    15. Christine

      July 26, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never made carne asada before, but I’m so glad i tried it out! This recipe was so simple and the meat turned out delicious! So flavorful!

      Reply
    16. Mike

      July 22, 2020 at 9:07 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic! Will make this again and again for my family!

      Reply
    17. Jordan

      July 22, 2020 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      This carne asada is SO GOOD. Simple and made enough for leftovers!

      Reply
    18. Sally

      July 21, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for dinner tonight using a frozen piece of flank steak I had. Even marinated it overnight while it was thawing. It is absolutely delicious! I’ll be adding this to the dinner rotation – thank you!

      Reply
    19. Ashely M

      July 21, 2020 at 7:11 am

      5 stars
      Made this last night and it was super tasty. Thanks!

      Reply
    20. Diana Limon

      July 20, 2020 at 11:08 pm

      The grilled shrimp and steak and all the sides looks delicious 😋 I’ll have to try it exactly!!

      Reply

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