This immensely flavorful Carne Asada Marinade will transform your steak into a flavor explosion that can be used in burritos, tacos, or serve on its own with your favorite side dish.
When you’re craving something zesty, savory, and just a tad spicy, you really can’t go wrong with carne asada. I’m a huge taco fan and you I’ve never made any taco filling more flavorful than this.
A wet marinade for flank steak or a beef flap steak, this tasty blend includes a medley of citrus, spices, and herbs, aiming to create a marinade that would make the neighbors peek over the fence in curiosity.
Why You’ll Love It
- Carne asada marinated steak can be used for some many things. You can eat it by itself with rice or add it to burritos or tacos. My kids love to add it into quesadillas for a quick snack.
- This marinade is so flavorful you will want to make it again and again.
- Flank steak grills very quickly and gets a caramelized crust on the outside from this marinade.
» You might also like this Flavorful Cuban Mojo Marinade.
Ingredients You Need
- Citrus juices: orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice – You don’t have to use all of these juices, even just one or two will give the acidity the marinade needs.
- Fresh Cilantro – The bright aroma and flavor of cilantro is a key ingredient
- Soy Sauce – I always use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the saltiness at bay.
- Garlic – Make sure your garlic is fresh for the best flavor.
- Dried spices: chili powder, ground cumin, ground paprika, ground black pepper, chipotle powder
- Olive Oil – You can substitute with another cooking oil that you prefer.
- Flank Steak or Flap Steak – These two steaks are the best options for carne asada. They are thin and tender, perfect for soaking up flavors, and for grilling.
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl – Choose something large enough to hold the marinade and the steak that you can put in the refrigerator while it’s marinating.
- Whisk
- Grill
- Meat thermometer
Helpful Tips
- Don’t be tempted to shorten the marinating time. It really needs the full 24 hours to develop the full flavor.
- You can cook the steak on an outdoor grill or on the stovetop inside. It’s best to get the grill or pan heated to a high heat so the steak gets a nice sear and some char on the outside. That’s what really seals in the flavor.
- Slice the meat very thinly in strips for a tender outcome that’s easy to chew when it’s on a taco.
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Carne Asada Marinade
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (59 ml) orange juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lime juice
- 2 tablespoons (0.8 g) fresh cilantro minced
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) chili powder
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground paprika
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) chipotle powder
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 pound (454 g) flank steak or flap steak
Instructions
- Mix all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add the steak to the bowl and make sure the marinade covers all of it. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 24 hours.
- When ready to cook, remove the steak from the refrigerator, take the steak out of the marinade and discard the remaining liquid.
- Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grate.
- Cook steak on the grill to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.
Equipment Needed
- Grill
- Mixing bowl
Notes
- Don’t be tempted to shorten the marinating time. It really needs the full 24 hours to develop the full flavor.
- You can cook the steak on an outdoor grill or on the stovetop inside.
- It’s best to get the grill or pan heated to a high heat so the steak gets a nice sear and some char on the outside. That’s what really seals in the flavor.
- Slice the meat very thinly in strips for a tender outcome that’s easy to chew when it’s on a taco.
Nutrition
Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes.
Honestly, this steak is incredible. It smelled so good while it was cooking that we were all standing around in the kitchen while it cooked. Tangy, a little spicy, and so so so flavorful.
So happy to hear that you liked it!