Carne Asada is all about the marinade. You take a nice piece of steak, marinate it with some delicious flavors, and then head out to the grill for the ultimate flavorful piece of beef. This dish is lovingly adapted from the kitchen of one of the world’s most renowned chefs of Mexican cuisine, Rick Bayless, ensuring that while the techniques are adapted for the home kitchens of our audience, the deep, traditional flavors not only remain but shine. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or a casual backyard barbecue, Carne Asada is designed to bring people together with every deliciously juicy bite.

Why Our Recipe

  • Adapted from one of the world’s most renowned chefs of Mexican cuisine and made accessible to home cooks.
  • We may adjust techniques, but we never sacrifice flavor, ensuring you get restaurant-quality results at home.
  • Practical substitutes without compromising the dish’s integrity for when you can’t find everything at your local grocery store or want to play with the flavors.
A close up overhead view of marinated, grilled, and sliced carne asada fresh off the grill.

Carne asada means “grilled meats,” but there’s a world of ways to prepare it across Mexico. Our recipe is influenced by the styles popular in regions like Jalisco and Nuevo León, where orange juice is used in the marinade to give the meat a tender texture and a burst of citrusy flavor. This isn’t just about the great taste you get from grilling; our focus is on a marinade that really brings out the rich flavors and tenderizes the meat to perfection. A great carne asada starts with the right cut of steak. Flank or skirt steak is perfect for soaking up the marinade and grilling up beautifully tender.

Ingredient Notes

An overhead view of the ingredients needed to make our recipe for carne asada.
  • Flank Steak or Skirt Steak: Both cuts are ideal for Carne Asada due to their rich flavor and texture that becomes tender when properly marinated and grilled. Flank steak is slightly leaner, while skirt steak offers a more intense beef flavor. You can also beef things up with a sirloin or ribeye if you want to get fancy.
  • Limes: Fresh lime juice tenderizes the meat and adds a little zesty zing. Lemon juice can work too.
  • Garlic: quintessential and delicious. Measure it with your heart.
  • Orange Juice: Adds sweetness and citrus notes that balance the lime’s tartness, also helping to tenderize the steak. If orange juice is not available, try substituting with grapefruit juice or a mix of lemon and pineapple juice for a similar effect.
  • Cilantro: If cilantro is not to your taste (we know that for some people it tastes like soap), parsley is a trusty fallback.
  • Salt and Pepper: Adjust according to taste. You can always add more after cooking.
  • Vegetable Oil: Helps to bind the marinade and ensure that it adheres well to the meat, also aiding in the grilling process. Olive oil or avocado oil are excellent alternatives.
  • Jalapeño: Use serrano or habanero for spicier meat, and use less jalapeno or substitute with a poblano pepper for less spicy.
  • White Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar or additional lime juice can also be used.

What if I don’t have a grill?

Grilling carne asada on an outdoor grill adds that unbeatable smoky flavor, but not everyone has one handy. Don’t worry—you can still get fantastic results right on your stovetop. Just grab a griddle or a heavy skillet (cast iron is ideal because it holds heat so well). Crank up the heat high, just like you would with a grill, and turn on the fan on your hood. Place your marinated steak on the hot surface and let it cook for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side. This will give you a delicious sear and a well-cooked interior. Flip it just once to get that perfect crust. Cooking on a stovetop mimics the high heat of grilling, ensuring your carne asada is just as satisfying, with all the tender, juicy flavors intact.

Marinating Time

Minimum Time: At least 2 hours. This gives the marinade enough time to start working its magic on the meat, tenderizing it and starting to layer in the flavors.

Ideal Time: Overnight. Letting your steak marinate overnight will deeply enrich it with the marinade’s flavors and make it extra tender. Just pop it in the fridge before you go to bed, and it’ll be perfect for grilling the next day.

Maximum Time: 24 hours. Beyond this, the acids in the marinade can start to break down the fibers in the meat too much, making it mushy rather than tender.

Slice Against the Grain

When cutting your meat, be sure to cut against the grain. It is quite easy to see the grain running through the meat in both of flank and skirt steak cuts. It looks like lines. Do not cut parallel to these lines, always cut perpendicular to them. The grain provides a natural breaking point in the meat. If you cut against them then you end up with tons of breaking points in each piece which keeps is what makes it tender.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze before or after cooking in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking or eating.

To reheat, use a skillet over medium heat and cook slices just until warmed through to retain tenderness. We don’t recommend microwaving.

More Mexican Favorites