How to cook carne asada for tacos

• Serves: 6
• Prep Time:  30 min
• Cook Time:  20 min
• Calories: 500

Nothing more and nothing less than the very best carne asada tacos recipe we could possibly create! Juicy steak, corn tortillas and fresh guacamole make for one killer dinner—just add margaritas.

These Beefy, Flavorful Carne Asada Tacos are As Deluxe As Taco Night Gets

We love tacos of all kinds, but carne asada tacos are definitely the best of the best. Particularly when summer rolls around and we just want to make every meal on the grill, carne asada calls to us. As deluxe as it feels to put grilled steak in a taco, there’s nothing really fancy or fussy about this recipe—it’s ultimately quite simple. Just plan ahead a little—the steak needs at least an hour to marinate—and the rest comes together unbelievably fast.

What Exactly Is Carne Asada?

Carne asada means “grilled beef”, but more specifically in this context it usually refers to steak—often skirt steak (which you can use here) or a similarly lean, inexpensive cut of beef—that’s marinated and then grilled. Carne asada is all about the pure, beefy flavor of those lean cuts and the absolute heaven that is a classic carne asada marinade. Our carne asada recipe gives the steak a nice long bath in a combination of:

• Lime juice

• Orange juice

• Olive oil

• Garlic cloves

• Oregano

• Chili powder

• Cumin

• Black pepper

• Cayenne pepper

How Do You Cut Carne Asada for Tacos?

Because we use lean cuts of beef for making carne asada tacos, you run the risk of winding up with tough steak—though the citrusy marinade sure helps to ensure tenderization. When cutting the steak for your carne asada tacos, though, be sure slice the steak against the grain so that every bite of steak is tender and easy to chew—if you cut with the grain (i.e. the way the muscle fibers are aligned) you’ll wind up with relatively tough steak pieces, no matter how thinly you’ve sliced them.

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Our Carne Asada Taco Recipe

Carne asada tacos are mostly about assembly, and they’re almost always delicious. Just be sure to buy a great steak and give it enough time in the marinade—the rest will fall into place. Here’s everything you’ll need to make our quick and easy carne asada recipe:

• For the carne asada: flank steak (or skirt steak), oranges, limes, olive oil, oregano, cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt.

• For the guacamole: Garlic, black pepper, avocado, jalapeño, red onion, limes

• Everything else: corn tortillas, onions, cilantro

What to Serve With Carne Asada Tacos

Carne asada tacos really are a full meal all of their own. They tick all the boxes—protein, veggies and some carbs. But it’s nice to add some side dishes, particularly if you’re serving a big crowd. Here are a few of our favorite things to serve with these easy carne asada tacos:

• Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips

• Mexican Street Corn Salad with Chipotle Crema

• Pico De Gallo with Cabbage

• Queso Fundido

Tools You’ll Need

• A grill!

• Mixing bowls

• Tongs are handy

• Sharp knife

• Citrus juicer

Carne Asada Night, Here We Come!

With this easy carne asada recipe under your belt, dinner is a cinch! Whether you’re feeding your family or the whole family (or the whole neighborhood), it’s a crowd-pleaser. Try the recipe, and then let us know how you like it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

Carne Asada Tacos

Originally published: May 12, 2021

• Serves: 6
• Prep Time:  30 min
• Cook Time:  20 min
• Calories: 500

Method

1. Make the carne asada. Let it rest before cutting it (against the grain) into bite-size pieces.
2. Prepare the toppings. While the steak is cooking, chop the onions, roughly chop the cilantro, prepare the guacamole and warm or toast the tortillas.
3. Assemble the tacos. Fill the warm tortillas with chopped steak, raw onion, cilantro and guacamole.

• Calories500
• Protein35 g
• Carbohydrates27 g
• Total Fat21 g
• Dietary Fiber4 g
• Cholesterol100 mg
• sodium617 mg
• Total Sugars4 g

Any questions?

Need to change up some ingredients? Unsure about a step in the method? Click the Ask a Question button above. We’re here for you.

• Jess

  That is such a bummer, Jess! It very well could have been the quality of the meat. It shouldn't be super chewy.

• jenn

How long should you cook carne asada on the stove?

Do you cook carne asada on high or low heat?

Do you put oil in the pan when cooking carne asada?