This quick and easy carne asada is simply fantastic! Marinate the meat the night before, grill it hot and fast, and use it in tacos, salads, or rice bowls in no time.
What is carne asada made of?
When translated from Spanish to English, carne asada means “cooked beef or grilled beef.” Typically, it is made with beef steaks marinated in a flavorful mixture, grilled on high heat, then chopped up for tacos.
What steaks are use for carne asada?
The best steak to use for this easy carne asada recipe includes flat steaks like skirt, flank, and hanger steaks. They are more forgiving with longer marinating times, hold their flavor well, and cook quickly. However, you can use any beef steak that is less than 1″ thick. Thinner, chewier flat steaks benefit from the acidity of a good marinade. If you’d prefer not to use alcohol in the marinade, substitute it with additional lime juice.
Ingredients:
- Skirt steak (about 2-3 pounds)
- Carne Asada Marinade
Marinating times:
- Skirt Steaks: You can marinate skirt steaks for up to 24 hours, but no longer than that. For this carne asada recipe, I would recommend marinating for 8-12 hours.
- Hanger Steaks: 2-4 hours
- Flank Steaks: 4-12 hours
- Flat-Iron Steaks: 6-24 hours
- Sirloin Flap-Meat: 4-12 hours
How to make carne asada
- Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Place skirt steak in a bag and pour the mixture on top. Make sure all of the meat is well coated. Seal bag and place into the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
- Preheat the grill to high heat (450 degrees F).
- Remove the skirt steak from the bag and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. If steaks are thicker, cook for 3-5 minutes per side.
- Place cooked steaks onto a cutting board and cut them into strips. Serve in tacos, salads, and taco bowls.
- Store leftover carne asada in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Ways to use Carne Asada:
There is so much you can do including, serving it sliced with rice and beans. Also you have the option to chop up the meat, and use it in tacos, nachos, or salads. Another great idea is to serve this easy grilled steak on cheese fries or use it as a filling for burritos and wraps. The options are limitless! Get creative and enjoy this recipe!
Easy Carne Asada
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds skirt steak (the thinner the better)
- 2-3 cups Carne Asada Marinade (use 1 cup marinade per 1 pound of meat)
Instructions
- Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Place skirt steak in a bag and pour the mixture on top. Make sure all of the meat is well coated. Seal bag and place into the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.
- Preheat the grill to high heat (450 degrees F).
- Remove the skirt steak from the bag and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. If steaks are thicker, cook for 4-5 minutes per side.
- Place cooked steaks onto a cutting board and chop them into small bite sized pieces. Serve in tacos, salads, and taco bowls.
- Store leftover carne asada in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Nutrition
Also, try our Best Salmon Tacos!
