Name: Carne Asada Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 140 min
Ingredients: 1 lb skirt steak (or flank steak (top sirloin also works). We recommend Certified Angus Beef® brand.); juice of 1 lime; 1/4 cup orange juice; 2 cloves garlic ((large, 3 if smaller)); 1/4 tsp cumin; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper

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Make our Carne Asada recipe at home that’s perfect for taco night! A simple inspired Mexican marinade with lime and orange juice tenderizes and adds great flavor with so little effort to this grilled flank steak recipe.

Carne Asada thinly sliced on a wooden plate with grilled green onions, half a lime and pico de gallo in a little bowl

What is carne asada?

Carne asada is traditionally a street food originating from Mexico. Its name translates to grilled meat, or grilled beef, in Spanish. Carne Asada tacos are especially well known and delicious.

The beef flavor comes through with a simple and flavorful Mexican marinade of orange and lime juice, enhancing its flavor and helping tenderize it and keep it juicy.

Ingredients for carne asada recipe set out on cutting board: steak, lime, garlic, orange juice, and spices

Mexican Carne Asada Marinade

While you’ll find many recipes with steak require a long list of ingredients. Most traditional Mexican recipes keep it pretty minimal, using citrus juice, garlic, and simple seasoning. We’ve done the same with the simple Skirt Steak marinade in this recipe, so those are our recommendations for how to season carne asada.

You can add some minced jalepeno if you want a bit of heat, or just add it with your toppings later. Simple Carne Asada seasoning works best!

What ingredients do I need for Carne Asada?

You need only a few easy ingredients for this simple steak recipe:

1 lb. beef skirt steak or flank steak (top sirloin also fine)
Juice from 1 lime
¼ cup orange juice
¼ tsp cumin
2 cloves garlic (large, 3 if smaller)
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Marinated flank steak makes for an easy and delicious Carne Asada recipe.

Slicing steak across the grain for authentic carne asada reecipe

What cut of steak is best for Carne Asada?

You should use a flavorful and tender cut for Carne Asada beef. Usually, Carne Asada is made from beef skirt steak. You could also use flank steak or sirloin flap meat which are also tender cuts packed with flavor. For example, we love Rick Bayless recipes, and he uses flank steak for his authentic Carne Asada.

No matter which cut you use for Carne Asada steak, you should always cut against the grain. Find the direction of the grain and cut across it. Cutting through the fiber of the grain makes the meat more tender and comfortable to chew through.

How to Make Carne Asada

This is a simple steak recipe that’s easy to make and perfect for a quick and delicious dinner. It just requires a little time to marinate, and then grilling is done in a flash.

How to Grill Skirt Steak perfectly

Trim any excess fat from the steak and, if you prefer, cut into slightly smaller lengths to make it easier to grill.
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 flat.
Mix the marinade ingredients, add the meat and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinade at least 2 hours but less than 8.
When ready to cook, remove from the refrigerator a few minutes early and allow it to come to room temperature while you preheat the grill to high.
Grill for a few minutes on each side until cooked through.
Serve in thin slices, being sure to cut across the grain.

Slices of beef with pico de gallo and grilled green onion in a taco shell for carne asada tacos

What side dishes should I serve with Carne Asada?

Traditionally, you serve a Carne Asada recipe with grilled green onions; just put them on the grill whole when you are cooking the meat, and peel off the outer charred layer as you serve.

Carne asada tacos are also common, with pico de gallo as a topping, or salsa verde. If you want to mix things up, you could try serving it with this Elote Recipe (Elotes Mexicanos) or Peach Mango Salsa. You can also step away from traditional and make it into a taco bowl with, for example, beans, rice and guacamole, similar to this Carne Picada recipe, or use it to top a Fresh Vegetable Salad.

However you enjoy our carne asada recipe, you’re in for a delicious treat. Skirt Steak Recipes are easy to prepare, and with fantastic flavor, it’s a versatile cut and one of our favorite Mexican Recipes.

Looking for more taco toppings to try? You’ll love these:

Want more summer grilling recipes? Give these a try:

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