Authentic Carne Asada

Published: May 29, 2017 · Updated: Jul 31, 2024 by Mely Martínez

Carne asada in Mexico is more than just grilled meat—it's an experience. Typically made from marinated skirt or flank steak, soy sauce, lime juice, and beer, it offers an irresistible combination of charred edges and a juicy, tender interior. Trust me—it's super easy to make, perfect for barbecue's or Sunday lunch on the patio.

Sliced Carne asada skirt teak on a cutting board.

In This Post

Authentic Carne Asada Recipe
Carne Asada Ingredients
How To Make Carne Asada: Step By Step Tutorial
Notes, Tips, and Substitutions for Carne Asada Recipe
More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
Frequently Asked Questions
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

Authentic Carne Asada Recipe

Occasionally, I receive emails from people asking how you prepare "Carne Asada", with some common questions, the first one being how to marinate the meat. I always give the same answer: every cook or grill master has their own unique way of seasoning their meat. Carne asada recipes vary by cook and area of the country. In the country's northern states, salt is usually the only seasoning, while in coastal areas, where bitter orange juice is used for marinating.

How Carne Asada is made??

Depending on the region in Mexico, some people like to marinate with lime juice and soy sauce, and others add a splash of beer while grilling or marinating the meat. So, if you are curious or want to make your own carne asada, join me as I show you the essentials of making this iconic dish, exploring tips, techniques, and variations to elevate your carne asada to new heights. I guarantee you and your family will love it.

Carne Asada Ingredients

Now, it's time to get cooking! Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make this dish.

Flank steak (or skirt steak)
Orange juice
Lime juice
Light beer
Soy Sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
Vegetable oil
Fresh ground pepper
White onions (sliced)

Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Raw skirt steak on a white platter, next to slices of onion, oranges, limes , beer, and soy sauce.

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

How To Make Carne Asada: Step By Step Tutorial

To make things easier for you, I will break down the directions for this recipe into sections.

Marinate The Steak

Place the flank steak in a large baking dish. If using sliced onion, spread the slices over the meat.
Mix the marinade ingredients, orange juice, lime juice, light beer, soy sauce, vegetable oil, or olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper in a medium-sized bowl.

Combination of orange juice, lime juice, beer, soy sauce, and pepper in a glass bowl.

Pour the marinade over the meat; place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Skirt steak marinade in a combination of orange juice, lime juice, beer, soy sauce, and pepper.

Grill The Steak

Light up your charcoal grill, or preheat your gas grill. Brush your grill with a little vegetable oil.
Remove the meat from the marinade and pat dry to remove excess marinade.
Place the meat on the grill at medium-high heat and cook for 8 to 10 minutes per side. (depending on the thickness of your meat it could take less time)

If you have an instant-read thermometer, check that the temperature is 135F degrees for medium-rare. Remove the meat from the grill and place it on your cutting board.
Cut the beef into thin strips and serve it with corn tortillas, or place the cooked meat on a preheated cast iron pan, add a few drops of soy sauce, for those that like that flavor, and serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Carne asada skirt teak on a cutting board.

Notes, Tips, and Substitutions for Carne Asada Recipe

Marinate the meat for at least 2 hours or longer to allow the flavors to mix well with the meat
If you don't have fresh lime juice, substitute with lemon or orange juice for a slightly different but tasty marinade.
Before slicing, let the grilled steak rest for about 5 minutes. This step will allow the meat to retain the juices.
To slice your carne asada, cut the meat against the grain for an easy and tender cut. Place the steak on a cutting board so the fibers run horizontally.
The traditional method of cooking is on a charcoal grill. If using a gas grill, however, gas or even pallet grills are a great option.
Use reduced-sodium soy sauce or omit added salt for a lower sodium option.

Raw beef riblets, green onions and Mexican sausages in a platter. — Other favorite side items to add to your carne asada meal. Thin strips of short ribs, thick grilling sausages, and spring onions.

What To Serve With Carne Asada

Usually, you would serve some Mexican side dishes like guacamole, some grilled bulb spring or green onions, Charro beans, freshly made salsa, warm tortillas, and another dish that may vary with region. My favorite way to eat it is by adding some pieces of carne on a warm corn tortilla, with fresh cilantro, slices of avocado, and spicy salsa for a perfect carne asada tacos. Another option is a delicious quesadilla with flour tortillas, Oaxaca cheese, and carne asada.

In Central Mexico, this includes grilled nopales or small clay pots with the famous queso fundido, pico de gallo, and frijoles charros (common in the northern states). You can add some baked potatoes and white onions wrapped in aluminum foil and place them on the grill.

More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy

If you enjoyed this recipe for carne asada, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:

I hope you make this carne asada recipe! If it was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment below and tell us all about it!

¡Buen provecho!

Mely

Frequently Asked Questions

Here, I would like to share a few questions, I’ve been asked about how to make this Jucy Carne Asada recipe.

What is carne asada?

Carne asada is a popular Mexican dish that consists of marinated and grilled beef. The name translates to “grilled meat,” and it is often served with tortillas, and other trimmings like salsa, pico de gallo, or chopped onions and cilantro.

What cut of meat is carne asada?

Arrachera/Fajitas are a favorite among Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants in the United States. In Mexico, many different types of cuts are grilled, and their quality is selected according to the amount of fat marbling each cut has.

The following are some common cuts for grilling in Mexico:

Fajita or Arrachera. This cut is very popular and is usually marinated before grilling. It is sold whole or in a specialty cut, which butchers call “fileteado.”
Rib Eye, also known as Bife Chorizo, is one of the best cuts for grilling for its juiciness and is sold in ¾ inch steaks. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive cuts in the market.
Porter House, also known as T-Bone, whose T-shaped bone helps retain heat and shorten cooking time on the grill.
Sirloin, also known as Churrasco or Aguayon, is a clean-cut with lower fat content; buy it in ¾ inch steaks to preserve softness while grilling.
Short Ribs are tender with excellent marbling and cut across the ribs, ½ to ¾ inches thick.
Aguja Norteña, or Chuck Steak, is a trendy and low-cost cut of meat.

What is carne asada marinade made of?

The answer depends on the area of the country and personal taste. For example, some people prefer to season their meat with only salt, some others prefer bitter orange or lime juice, and some use their favorite beer.

Other options include ground pepper and steak sauce. Nowadays, the more sophisticated palates, use seasonings like:

Chop cilantro
Rosemary
Coarse sea salt
Fresh or powdered garlic

However, you will hardly see cumin or chili powder to be added to the meat for carne asada.

How is carne asada different from steak?

Carne asada is a popular Mexican dish. It is traditionally made with flank or skirt steak seasoned with lime juice, bitter orange, or sometimes beer. The name "asada" comes from the cooking technique, where the meat is cooked over an open fire on a charcoal grill. It is served with corn or flour tortillas, salsa, guacamole, grilled onions, and cilantro as a taco, burrito, or main dish.

What is the difference between carne asada and Asada?

Carne asada (grilled meat) is meat that has been cooked in an open fire or chard grilled. Asada (grilled) is the cooking method used for many foods like meats and vegetables in Mexico and other Latin countries.

Should you use charcoal or gas when you grill carne asada?

You should always use charcoal (or wood, if you can) to grill carne asada. Even though gas grills are growing in popularity, charcoal is still the primary grilling method for this recipe. In Mexico, people don't use anything fancy, such as meat thermometers or instant-read thermometers.

It's a layer of char and smokiness that gives the steak some flavor.

What is the secret ingredient in carne asada?

Now, you might be wondering:

“Where is the recipe for carne asada?”
“If Mexican cooks just add salt and a bit of lime, then what do they put in the Fajitas at the Mexican restaurant that makes them taste so good?”

Besides their own personal marinade, some of them have something special that they add, and that particular ingredient is soy sauce. This ingredient is more like a TEX-MEX kind of thing.

Yep! A long time ago, a foodie friend told me about her family's Mexican restaurant, and I asked the same question about the carne asada. She told me that the secret was soy sauce. Add it right before the meat is going to be served at the table. Then, place it on a scorching cast-iron skillet.

That is why the whole cast iron plate sizzles and smells so good when the waiter brings your meat to the table. By the way, you can use a stove-top cast iron grill to make the carne asada, too.

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Authentic Carne Asada