This Mexican Carne Asada Marinade Recipe has been one of my secret recipes, until now! The marinade makes an amazingly flavorful and tender Carne Asada. Use leftovers to make California burritos, then use this marinade to make smoked Traeger carne asada!
Don't take this the wrong way, but you haven't had good carne asada until you've had it in San Diego. The fact that we are neighbors with Mexico means we are spoiled with amazing Mexican food! This includes delicious options like Mexican Breakfast Burritos, carne asada tacos, and a San Diego original, the California burrito!
There is a reason why this carne asada marinade is one of my most popular recipes. People can't get enough of this succulent carne asada thanks to this amazing marinade!
You can build an entire Mexican feast around this authentic carne asada recipe! Start with some ceviche de camaron to wet your guests appetites, then work your way to carne asada tacos served with fire roasted salsa, and these sweet and tangy tamarind margaritas!
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🧐 Why This Recipe Works
- This Mexican Carne Asada Marinade is the first step in making all the delicious food mentioned above. It has the perfect blend of ingredients and spices and the taste is incredible!
- You can marinade the steak the night before and toss it on the grill when you're ready to eat!
- If you don't have a grill, you can cook it in a hot cast iron skillet instead or even broil it in the oven.
- Leftovers can be used in so many recipes. Nachos, carne asada quesadillas, burritos, and tacos are just a few options!
If you're in a hurry and don't have time to marinate the meat, try my Mexican carne asada seasoning instead!
🛒 What Goes into This Recipe
🔖 Recipe Ingredient And Substitutions
- Flank or Skirt Steak: The best cuts of beef to use for making Carne Asada are flank and skirt steak. Both cuts of meat come in long strips. Flank steak is usually thicker and a lot leaner. Skirt, on the other hand, has a lot of marbling, which makes it perfect for this recipe.
- Onion & Garlic: If you don't have fresh onion and garlic, add 1 teaspoon of powdered onion and 1 teaspoon of powdered garlic instead.
- Vinegar: I prefer using red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar in the marinade, but distilled vinegar may be substituted.
- Citrus: Either lemon juice or lime juice can be used in the marinade. I also like to add some orange juice. Although you can use bottled juice, fresh is always best, if available.
🥩 How to Make Carne Asada Marinade
Step 1: Whisk all the marinade ingredients into a bowl.
Step 2: Add flank or skirt steak and marinade to a large Ziplock bag and seal. Allow the meat to marinate for 4 or more hours, or preferably overnight.
Step 3: Barbecue your marinated steak using high heat until charred on the surface and cooked to medium-rare or medium. You don't want to overcook the meat.
Step 4: Remove carne asada from the grill and allow to rest for a few minutes.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Slice the carne asada against the grain and serve with warm corn tortillas, guacamole (or sliced avocados), pico de gallo, lime wedges, salsa, and sour cream.
You can also use the diced carne asada to make California burritos (my personal favorite), Mexican rice bowls, carne asada fries, carne asada quesadillas!
If you're looking for another steak marinade option, be sure to check out this yummy steak marinade recipe from Kita at GirlCarnavore.com
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
The two cuts of meat that are most often used to make Carne Asada are flank steak and skirt steak. Of the two, I prefer skirt steak. The two cuts have a lot in common.
First, they are located next to each other on a cow's body. Additionally, both cuts are lean and fibrous. As a result, both flank steak and skirt steak do well being marinated in this Mexican Carne Asada marinade.
Carne Asada is best when cooked using high heat, for a short period of time, or to medium-rare. Finally, the cooked meat should be cut across the grain. Following these steps will ensure the Carne Asada is tender, delicious, and full of flavor!
Carne Asada can be served in so many ways. Let's take a look at some of the possibilities. When served in restaurants, Carne Asada is often served with Mexican rice and chipotle chorizo beans.
Additionally, if you're doing Keto, or are on a low-carb diet, you can slice the Carne Asada meat and serve it over a salad, or wrap it in a low-carb tortilla with some creamy cilantro lime sauce. Another delicious option would be to serve it diced, over nachos. Or, my favorite option, use it to make Carne Asada Quesadillas!
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- The best meat for making carne asada is skirt steak or flank steak.
- Use approximately ¾ teaspoon salt, for each pound of meat.
- Marinate the steak for a minimum of 4 hours, or preferably, overnight.
- Instead of discarding the leftover marinade, use it to marinate some boneless chicken to make pollo asada (chicken asada) the following day.
- Serve leftover carne asada diced over Instant Pot Mexican rice!
🌶 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Mexican Carne Asada Marinade
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Skirt steak
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 medium lime or lemon (juiced)
- 2 Tbsps orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 Tbsps red wine vinegar
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 medium Serrano pepper (diced)
- 2 tsps salt
- 2 tsps chili powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk all the marinade ingredients into a bowl.
- Add flank or skirt steak and marinade to a large Ziplock bag and seal. Allow the meat to marinate for 4 or more hours, or preferably overnight.
- Barbecue your marinated steak using high heat until charred on the surface and cooked to medium-rare or medium. You don't want to overcook the meat.
- Remove carne asada from the grill and allow to rest for a few minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Slice the carne asada against the grain and serve with warm corn tortillas, guacamole (or sliced avocados), pico de gallo, lime wedges, salsa, and sour cream.
Notes
- The best meat for making carne asada is skirt steak or flank steak.
- Use approximately ¾ teaspoon salt, for each pound of meat.
- Marinate the steak for a minimum of 4 hours, or preferably, overnight.
- Instead of discarding the leftover marinade, use it to marinate some boneless chicken to make pollo asada (chicken asada) the following day.
- Serve leftover carne asada diced over Instant Pot Mexican rice!
Kelly Methey says
This recipe is the best, so easy and tasty. I so miss good Mexican food and this sure helps my longings! You can make so many dishes starting with this recipe. Thank you Hilda for another fantastic recipe!
Madison says
Hi! What if you don’t have vinegar on hand but have everything else? Is vinegar needed? Is there a replacement?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Madison,
Just increase the amount of lemon/lime juice by 2 tablespoons.
David says
I used this marinade to slow cook my carne Asada for a change in pace and during rainy season.
Hilda Sterner says
Hi David,
That sounds very interesting, I haven't tried that yet. It might come in handy now that winter is setting in here in Montana. Thanks for the tip!
Nicole B. says
Very easy and delicious! I marinaded enough for more than one meal and vacuum packed the rest after it was marinated and put in freezer for later. We sliced it up and made tacos that were to die for!! Will definitely make this again!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Nicole, thanks so much for the review. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Melody says
Can this be used on a pork rump roast?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Melody, I've never tried this marinade on a roast, but I'm sure it would taste good. It just wouldn't be considered "carne asada."
Vanessa C. says
Hi! It says to grill the meat however I don’t have a grill at the moment 🙁 any other suggestions for how to cook it? Cast iron maybe?
Hilda Sterner says
Definitely, a hot cast iron to the rescue!
Vanessa Cruz says
GREAT! 😄
Bilkis says
Hi Hilda ! loved the steak marinade recipe which I included in my file for keeps, it came out delicious, tender with the best spices which are always available. Made steak rolls next day with left overs.
Thank you for sharing.
From South Africa
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Bilkis,
Wow, all the way from South Africa! Sometimes I forget the far reach of the internet. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the marinade and appreciate that you came back to review the recipe. Take care!
Lisa C. says
Definitely the best Carne asada recipe I have had! Used it last night on flank steak. Love, love love it ❤️
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for stopping by and leaving a review. ❤️
Eileen says
I’ve been looking for ages for a carne asada recipe that I like, and I love this one! So good!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Eileen,
What a compliment. I really appreciate that. Thank you so much for your comment!❤️
Paul Bojanac says
From Cali love Carn Asada live in Pittsburgh now so thanks for the recipe 🤙
HildaSterner says
I understand, being from San Diego and now living in Montana, enjoy!
Basti says
Hey, what are 2 T ? Does it mean Cups or Spoons?
HildaSterner says
Hi Basti,
T stands for Tablespoons and tsp. stands for teaspoons.
Basti says
Many Thanks. I‘ve just tried the marinade and it was very good!
HildaSterner says
Thank you!