Carne Asada Marinade

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Prepare to be wowed, taco night! My Carne Asada Marinade recipe is not only packed with fresh Mexican flavor, but it's the perfect way to tenderize all your favorite proteins and even vegetables. This is a quick and easy marinade with only a few steps, and it comes together in just under 10 minutes!

Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

A quick trip to your local produce stand and a few pantry staples are all you need for my simple and easy carne asada marinade recipe. The acid from the citrus breaks down muscle fibers in the meat to perfectly tenderize steak, chicken, pork, and even seafood, for a Mexican-inspired dinner your family will love!

My favorite way to use my marinade for carne asada is with grilled meats (especially beef like flank steak). Simply marinate the beef for a couple of hours, then grill on each side until beautifully charred and perfectly cooked.

Thinly sliced pieces of carne asada marinated flank steak go so well with warm tortillas, cool slices of avocado, and fresh spicy salsa for the most incredible taco nights. Or, pair it with grilled chicken and roasted bell peppers and onions to make fajitas.

Quick Carne Asada Marinade Ingredients

• Lime juice
• Orange juice
• Garlic cloves
• Cumin
• Salt and pepper

My marinade for carne asada uses ingredients inspired by authentic carne asada marinade recipes, giving it the appeal of your favorite Mexican dishes. The tangy, zesty citrus flavors pair so well with the garlic and cumin!

How to Marinate Carne Asada

1. Add lime juice, orange juice, garlic cloves, cumin, salt, and pepper to a bag large enough to hold whichever meat you are marinating, or a large enough container that will allow the meat to lay flat.
2. Place the meat into the bag and toss to coat in the marinade. Make sure to completely coat the meat for the best flavor when cooking later on.

Marinade for Carne Asada Tips

• You can marinate the beef in a large plastic bag for easy cleanup or in a mason jar (just shake well before ready to use).
• This is a great make-ahead recipe for easy meal planning and party planning!
• Freshly juiced citrus fruits make the best marinade, this is definitely a time to hand squeeze or pull out a juicer.
• This is a completely versatile recipe- it works great on everything from beef and chicken to pork, seafood, and veggies (and don't forget about tofu as well!).

How Long to Marinate Meat

Carne Asada Marinade for Beef

Flank steak (also called skirt steak) is one of my favorite cuts of beef for my carne asada marinade recipe.

It is a wide, flat cut of beef and it can be a bit on the tough side, which is why it works so well when it is marinated.

Here is how to use carne asada marinade for beef:

1. Simply marinade a 1-pound skirt steak in a container or large plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours (or overnight).
2. Pan-sear or grill the marinated skirt steak over medium-high heat. Be sure to use a little cooking oil on the grill or in the pan before cooking.
3. I suggest grilling the steak over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side until it reaches 135°F for medium rare, or 10 to 12 minutes until it reaches 145°F for medium.
4. Let the skirt steak rest for about 5 minutes
5. Slicing against the grain, cut the skirt steak into thin bite-size pieces to serve over yellow rice, with tacos, or on top of a salad!

What is Carne Asada?

Carne asada translates to "grilled meats" and it is more specifically used with different cuts of beef. Traditionally, it is the meat filling for tacos and is sold as Mexican street food. The carne asada marinade is what flavors and tenderizes the beef or meat of choice.

Carne Asada Seasoning FAQs

Carne Asada Tacos

Carne asada tacos are a little different from the traditional way of preparing tacos, and trust me, they are so good! The marinade adds a delicate savory finish to the tacos, you are going to love them!

• Carne asada tacos can be made with any of your favorite proteins! Sliced flank steak is traditional, but don't forget shredded pork, grilled chicken, or even shrimp tacos!
• Simply load your warm flour or corn tortillas with your carne asada meat filling, sliced radish, cilantro, pico de gallo, salsa verde, sour crean, lime wedge, and lots of sharp cotija cheese!
• Try serving carne asada with grilled green onions. Simply grill the onions while you cook the meat (about 2 minutes on each side), remove the charred layers and use in the tacos! This is a delicious and traditional combo for not only other carne asada recipes, but carne asada tacos as well!

Top it off with Crema Sauce!

Carne Asada Fries Recipe

As if carne asada couldn't get any better, the latest trend sweeping the food world is carne asada fries, and yes, they are as good as you are thinking!

Picture a large plate of nachos, piled high with savory chunks of carne asada, spicy chilis, cool guacamole, and dollops of sour cream. Now, replace the nachos with crispy French fries- YUM!

The best French fries are usually deep-fried, but when I don't have time to make fresh-cut fries, I love to use my air fryer! This is a convenient way to get crispy French fries every time- then, simply pile your carne asada fries with all of your favorite nacho toppings.

Easy Marinade Recipes

• London Broil Marinade
• Chicken Breast Marinade
• Best Asian Marinade
• Lamb Chop Marinade
• Buttermilk Chicken Marinade

📖 Recipe

Carne Asada Marinade

Isabel Laessig

My Carne Asada Marinade recipe is a quick and easy marinade for beef, pork, chicken, seafood, or vegetables, with only a few steps - and it comes together in just under 10 minutes!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

5 mins

Total Time 10 mins

Course Marinade

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4 people

Calories 51 kcal

Equipment

• 1 medium mixing bowl
• 1 kitchen knife
• 1 Whisk
• 1 Cutting board
• 1 plastic bag large enough to hold meat for marinating
• 1 measuring spoon
• 1 Measuring cup

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• juice of 1 lime
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2 cloves garlic large, 3 if smaller
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

 

• Add lime juice, orange juice, garlic cloves, cumin, salt and pepper to a bag large enough to hold whichever meat you are marinating, or a large enough container that will allow the meat to lay flat.
  juice of 1 lime, ¼ cup orange juice, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ teaspoon cumin, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
  
• Place the meat into the bag and toss to coat in the marinade. Make sure to completely coat the meat for best flavor when cooking later on.
  

Notes

• You can marinate the beef in a large plastic bag for easy cleanup or in a mason jar (just shake well before ready to use).
• This is a great make-ahead recipe for easy meal planning and party planning!
• Freshly juiced citrus fruits make the best marinade, this is definitely a time to hand squeeze or pull out a juicer.
• This is a completely versatile recipe- it works great on everything from beef and chicken to pork, seafood, veggies, and even tofu.

Nutrition

Calories: 51kcalCarbohydrates: 12.7gProtein: 1.1gFat: 0.1gSodium: 585mgPotassium: 215mgFiber: 0.7gSugar: 6gCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Keyword carne asada marinade, carne asada marinade recipe, carne asada seasoning, marinade for carne asada

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