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, carne asada quesadillas, 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 You'll Love This Recipe
- 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
🔖 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.
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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 ranchera, green tomato 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
If you love this Mexican carne asada marinade recipe, check out these other great Mexican dishes!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe
Mexican Carne Asada Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds skirt steak
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 medium lime (juiced)
- 2 tablespoon orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- ¼ cup cilantro (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 medium serrano pepper (diced)
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoon 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!
Brian Manns says
I have it marinating for the day will see
how good it is.. Smells great and I'm very hopeful
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Brian, can't wait to hear what you think!
Boo says
Do not like to use soy sauce nor Worcestershire sauce, not even low sodium types. Please, what else can I use in its place, vinegar, apple cider vinegar, wine, orange juice/lime juice ? This recipe looks good except for those ingredients. I keep seeing either or both sauces on Pinterest marinade recipes. Do not like the overly saltiness taste of either, I do not remember Mom nor Granny ever using these sauces, sadly, do not have their recipes. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank You
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Boo, you can add an equal amount of broth, beer, tequila, or water, but you may need to increase the salt in the recipe. Traditional carne asada does not include soy sauce but it sure gives it a wonderful flavor!
Allyson says
This is absolutely delicious! A family favorite!!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Allyson, I agree with you, it's one of our family's favs too! Thanks for coming back and reviewing the recipe.
Amy says
Currently marinating the steak. I live in San Diego, but moved here recently from LA and am struggling to find as good Mexican food as the taco trucks in LA. Everywhere puts guacamole on their tacos 🙁 and there are not really any taco trucks here. Any restaurant recommendations? I like street tacos, thank you 😊
Nena Sterner says
Hi Amy! Yeah, people down here love their guacamole haha. Have you tried Tacos El Gordo yet? I don't think their carne asada tacos come with guacamole, I could be wrong though! Either way, I guess you could always ask for them without it haha but their tacos are legendary! Adalbertos on El Cajon Blvd is another one I'm 90% sure doesn't put any guacamole on their street tacos!
Jason says
Have made this so so many times! We use beef in this recipe, but also have tried checked too, delicious! Thank you!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Jason! I'm about to try it on elk, can't wait!
Boo says
Soy sauce ? We never use soy sauce, had my doubts, used low sodium soy sauce, it worked. Was tasty and full of flavor. Because it was easy and quick, I say ok, as long as it brings people to try carne asada, they can get creative. I did add a sprinkle of toasted cumin. Thankd for sharing.
Katherine Wilson says
This was a fantastic recipe! Yummy and my whole family loved it. Highly recommended.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Katherine! I'm glad your family enjoyed it. If you don't mind, I'd love a star rating! 🙂
Terry says
This is sooooo GOOD!!!!! The entire family loved it! I wouldn't change a thing.Definitely making this on a regular basis.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Terry, I'm happy to hear that. Enjoy!
Sil says
I was curious if this would work with boneless pork country ribs. Have you ever tried this marinade with pork? Love the recipe. I got many compliments on the taste!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Sil,
I have tried it with chicken and pork and both are delicious!
Lydia says
This is my go-to carne asada marinade! Its so juicy & flavorful! I was just wondering though, if it's possible, to blend all the marinade ingredients together in a blender? Would that be ok?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Lydia,
Thanks for the review! I actually love that idea! There's no reason why it wouldn't work. If you try it please let me know what you think. I might try that next time too!
Lydia says
It worked & it came out delicious. I also had one more question, would this marinade work good for some grilled chicken??
Thank you again! OR would you happen to have a recipe for marinated chicken?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Lydia, Thank you so much for the review! The marinade is also great for marinating chicken. Or try one of my personal favorites here: https://hildaskitchenblog.com/recipe/sumac-chicken/ Let me know what you think!