These Beefy, Flavorful Carne Asada Tacos are As Deluxe As Taco Night Gets
We love tacos of all kinds, but carne asada tacos are definitely the best of the best. Particularly when summer rolls around and we just want to make every meal on the grill, carne asada calls to us. As deluxe as it feels to put grilled steak in a taco, there’s nothing really fancy or fussy about this recipe—it’s ultimately quite simple. Just plan ahead a little—the steak needs at least an hour to marinate—and the rest comes together unbelievably fast.
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What Exactly Is Carne Asada?
Carne asada means “grilled beef”, but more specifically in this context it usually refers to steak—often skirt steak (which you can use here) or a similarly lean, inexpensive cut of beef—that’s marinated and then grilled. Carne asada is all about the pure, beefy flavor of those lean cuts and the absolute heaven that is a classic carne asada marinade. Our carne asada recipe gives the steak a nice long bath in a combination of:
Lime juice
Orange juice
Olive oil
Garlic cloves
Oregano
Chili powder
Cumin
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
How Do You Cut Carne Asada for Tacos?
Because we use lean cuts of beef for making carne asada tacos, you run the risk of winding up with tough steak—though the citrusy marinade sure helps to ensure tenderization. When cutting the steak for your carne asada tacos, though, be sure slice the steak against the grain so that every bite of steak is tender and easy to chew—if you cut with the grain (i.e. the way the muscle fibers are aligned) you’ll wind up with relatively tough steak pieces, no matter how thinly you’ve sliced them.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Our Carne Asada Taco Recipe
Carne asada tacos are mostly about assembly, and they’re almost always delicious. Just be sure to buy a great steak and give it enough time in the marinade—the rest will fall into place. Here’s everything you’ll need to make our quick and easy carne asada recipe:
For the carne asada: flank steak (or skirt steak), oranges, limes, olive oil, oregano, cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt.
For the guacamole: Garlic, black pepper, avocado, jalapeño, red onion, limes
Everything else: corn tortillas, onions, cilantro
What to Serve With Carne Asada Tacos
Carne asada tacos really are a full meal all of their own. They tick all the boxes—protein, veggies and some carbs. But it’s nice to add some side dishes, particularly if you’re serving a big crowd. Here are a few of our favorite things to serve with these easy carne asada tacos:
Tools You’ll Need
Tongs are handy
Carne Asada Night, Here We Come!
With this easy carne asada recipe under your belt, dinner is a cinch! Whether you’re feeding your family or the whole family (or the whole neighborhood), it’s a crowd-pleaser. Try the recipe, and then let us know how you like it, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!