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.

Process

Combine all marinade ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
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.

Cover with plastic wrap 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.

Marinated skirt steak in a shallow baking dish overhead.

Transfer meat onto a cutting board and rest, 5 to 7 minutes. Slice into strips or chop into bite sized pieces and serve.

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Carne Asada recipe cut up on a cutting board with lime wedges and a knife.

Tools You Will Need

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.

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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.