If you're looking for an authentic Carne Asada recipe - this is it! Grilled Carne Asada tastes better and looks more beautiful than it has a right to, if you judge a meal by the amount of effort it takes. And it's a sensory pleasure before it even touches the grill! As you squeeze fresh orange, lime and lemon juices for the marinade, then whisk in cilantro, garlic and jalapeño, the aroma that floats up to your nose is nothing short of heavenly.
Then the steak cooks hot and fast, on your table in about 20 minutes, complete with gorgeous grill marks and a perfectly pink and tender interior.
To make this, we started with a recipe from Tyler Florence and switched it up to make it our own: swapping in apple cider vinegar, reducing the oil a bit and adding a third citrus flavor (lemon) and some cumin. Adding lemon juice to the mix happened by chance. I'd just finished a batch of homemade tonic water which left us with a slew of lemons, limes and oranges, flesh and juice intact, sans zest. And I love the citrus trifecta - now I may always use making tonic water as an excuse to make Carne Asada!
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FAQ
The literal translation of the term means Carne (flesh, meat or beef) and Asada (roast, broiled, grilled), typically translated to 'Grilled Meat' and most often is seared in some way for that signature charred flavor (which you can get with a grill pan too using my recipe for Carne Asada in the oven.)
There are several cuts of beef used to make Carne Asada including sirloin and tenderloin, but most recipes call for either flank steak or skirt steak. I've tried both and definitely prefer outside skirt steak for its flavor and texture. Either way you'll want to thinly slice the steak across the grain before serving for maximum tenderness!
Carne Asada Marinade
Carne Asada marinade is an essential part of making this recipe authentic! Zesty, fresh citrus juices (lime juice, orange juice, and lemon juice) and apple cider vinegar tenderize the beef, while fresh cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper season it to perfection. It's important to give the meat plenty of time to marinate, a minimum of 1 hour and up to 8 hours, to soak up all of the delicious flavors!
How to Make Carne Asada
Combine all marinade ingredients in a large, glass baking dish. Add raw skirt steak or flank steak, turning to coat and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours (any longer will start to break down the meat).
How Long to Grill?
Grill the steak over a medium-high flame for 7 to 10 minutes until it reaches 130°F for medium rare, 10 to 12 minutes until it reaches 140°F for medium. (The steak will continue to cook once you've removed it from the grill.) Transfer steak to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
How to Serve
With summer in full swing, you may have plans to BBQ with friends and family. Grilled Carne Asada is perfect - but be sure you make plenty (or make Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas to go with it!) Serve it on its own, or with warm tortillas, fresh pico de gallo and all the toppings for Carne Asada Tacos, Carne Asada Burritos, Carne Asada Quesadillas, or as the main attraction in big, crunchy Carne Asada Steak Salads, Carne Asada Nachos or Carne Asada Fries.
Recipe Video
Carne Asada Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds skirt steak trimmed of excess fat
Carne Asada Marinade
- 1 jalapeño seeded and minced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves chopped
- juice of 1 orange
- juice of 1 lime
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large glass baking dish whisk together Carne Asada marinade ingredients (jalapeño through black pepper) until combined. Add skirt steak in a single layer, turning to coat with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but no longer than 8 hours (longer will begin to break down the meat).
- When you're ready to grill: preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Grill steaks for 7 to 10 minutes per side, turning once for medium-rare. Remove steaks and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
- Slice thinly across the grain and serve.
Notes
- Ask your butcher or grocery meat counter for 'outside skirt steak' for the most flavorful and juicy results.
- Note that the longer you marinate the skirt steak, the more tender and flavorful it will be come. But be sure to grill it within 8 hours to maintain the texture of the meat.
My 13 year old son made this for his social studies class. This was so delicious we went out and bought everything again to make it the following weekend! Perfect amount of heat, and the marinade was perfect. Highly recommend!
I love to hear that, Meghan!! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!
Can you use a flank steak for this recipe? It's what I have in the freezer.
Yes, absolutely!
Love this marinade! Thank you
My pleasure, Mel! So glad you're enjoying it!
I think the key is less is more. I marinated for about 3 hours and that was good. Very good marinade and this will be in the grilling rotation..
So glad you're enjoying the recipe, Don!
STOP HERE!! This is an excellent recipe!!! Did 2 limes and half of a lemon. Other then that I followed the recipe. My skirt steak was only a half pound. I marinated it for one and a half hours. I felt like I was eating an expensive steak. Thank you for this recipe ❤️
aww...my pleasure, Marisa! So glad you're enjoyed this and thanks so much for coming back to let me know.
This recipe is so easy! I've now made it into a mainstay. I get lazy and put everything in the food processor. Sometimes I forget ingredients and it still tastes great.
I use a gallon food bag and try to take as much air away as possible.
I use flap steak and when I'm too lazy to grill, I'll finish it in a cast iron. Someone else in the comment section also heats theirs in the oven, puts over high heat to sear, and finishes off in the oven. It's great as well.
I cut up, serve with tortillas, caramelized onions, peppers, guacamole and sour cream. It's also great in quesadillas!
Thanks!!
I love this, Sue! Thank you for all of your cooking notes - so glad you're enjoying this recipe!
Marinade was very tasty & easy to put together. Next time will probably marinate the full 8 hours to try and tenderize meat as much as possible (we left it in 3-4 hrs and meat was still a little tough, possibly because it was a little thicker than normal).
So glad you enjoyed this, Quinn! Thank you for your cooking notes.
This is my go to marinade, it is easy, you usually have most of the ingredients and it taste wonderful. Many people of asked me for the recipe.
I'm so happy to hear this, Mary! Thank you for letting me know.
Love this recipe, made it for dinner and wish I had taken a photo as it’s all gone!!! It was so flavorful, I did add a few more garlic cloves, we like garlic! Other than that, the recipe is 100% fantastic as is. 🙂
I'm so glad to hear this, Debbie! Thank you for coming back to let me know!
Great recipe. My boys ate it up!! I took some liberties...
1/2 cup of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce instead of the jalapeño, 1 T brown sugar and 7 cloves garlic.
I cooked it in a cast iron skillet I had in the oven at 500. Took it out and placed on stove top on high. 2 T olive oil then seared 2 min a side. (Lots of smoke...boys had fun, opening doors to let it out at -10 in Northern MN). I put it back in oven still at 500 until instant read thermometer read 130. Then rested covered w tin foil 5 min. Delicious!!! I forgot to save marinade that wasn't tainted with raw meat, to mix in end game. Boys were licking the marinade bowl.
Than oh s again for the recipe!!!!
Highly recommend.
haha...thanks so much. Glad you and your boys enjoyed this and made it your own!
This was outstanding and packs great flavor. I only changed 1 thing. I reduced the amount of apple cider vinegar to 1 tbsp. These remind me of when I lived in
OB in Socal. Love this thanks for sharing.
So glad this was a hit, Beth! Thank you for coming back to let me know!
Hi Marissa. My son requested carne asada a couple of days ago, and I remembered seeing this here. Made it last night and it was fantastic! I made extra marinade and for my younger vegetarian son, I tossed it with onion, zucchini and peppers and sautéed it. Delicious. Your recipes are always spot on. 🙂 Valentina
You're so kind, Valentina, thank you. I'm so glad this was a hit with you and your family and what a great idea to use the marinade for veggies!