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Home » Easy Carne Asada Marinade

Easy Carne Asada Marinade

by Mike Hultquist · Jul 15, 2019 · 21 Comments

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Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

To make the best carne asada, you need a great carne asada marinade recipe. Mine is a perfect blend of seasonings and flavors for the best I've ever had.

Carne Asada on a platter, ready to serve

I've been making carne asada for years. Ever since I learned how to make it, it's been a staple in my kitchen. Carne asada, which translates to "grilled meat", is beef that is marinated, grilled and sliced. You can use different cuts of beef. Commonly used are sirloin, rib or tenderloin.

Where I live, you'll mostly see either flank steak or skirt steak, also referred to as "arrachera" - marinated flank or skirt steak. It's a popular Mexican dish, incredibly easy to make, and it's huge on flavor.

For that flavor, it's all about the marinade.

Carne Asada Marinade in a bowl, ready to use

The Secret is the Carne Asada Marinade

You need a good marinade to make carne asada. There is no single traditional marinade, and marinade recipes vary from cook to cook and region to region. Some simply use a dry rub of salt and pepper and may include other seasonings. Many incorporate citrus juices, oil, seasonings and herbs to develop more complex flavors.

My recipe incorporates a number of different ingredients. I've been tweaking it for a while now, using it on different cuts of meat. For me, it's the best carne asada marinade I've ever had.

Skirt steak and flank steak can be somewhat tough, but the marinade helps to not only flavor the meat, but also tenderize it. Once you've  got your steak marinated, you'll notice how tender and juicy it becomes after you've grilled it. Each bite will melt in your mouth.

I can't get enough of this marinade!

Let's talk about how to make carne asada marinade, shall we?

Whisking up some Carne Asada Marinade in a bowl

Zesty Carne Asada Marinade Ingredients

First, gather up your ingredients. For this marinade, you'll need the following ingredients:

  • 1-2 serrano peppers, minced (or use jalapeno peppers for a milder version)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ - ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chili oil
  • Juice from 2 large oranges (about a ¾ cup orange juice)
  • Juice from 2 limes (lime juice - lots of citrus juice)
  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar (apple cider vinegar is good, too)
  • 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder (optional, but I LOVE it)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

You'll also need a 2-3 pound skirt or flank steak to make the carne asada.

Flank Steak

Easy Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

To make the marinade, simply whisk all of the ingredients (except for the steak) in a medium sized bowl until well combined.

Whisking together the carne asada marinade ingredients in a bowl

Alternatively, you can process the ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.

To use the marinade, add it to a large sealable gallon sized bag with the steak and rub it thoroughly into the meat. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for more flavor penetration.

You can also set the submerge the steak in the marinade in a large baking dish.

Flank Steak marinating in a plastic bag

That's it, my friends! This is the best carne asada marinade I've ever had. I love it! I've experimented with different ingredients and ratios, and I'm done! I am not tweaking this recipe anymore.

When you're ready to grill up your carne asada, it is super simple.

Carne Asada Recipe

Easy Carne Asada Recipe - How to Make Carne Asada

  • To make carne asada, remove the steak and discard the marinade.
  • Fire up your grill to medium-high heat. The high heat will help to achieve a nice char on the meat, which is a great flavor builder.
  • Next, grill the marinated steak for 8-10 minutes per side, or until cooked to your liking. 135 degrees F is medium-rare. NOTE: I like to use my ThermoPop meat instant read thermometer from ThermoWorks (I'm an affiliate). Works great!
  • Let the steak rest for 5 minutes (or up to 10 minutes), then thinly slice it against the grain on a cutting board and serve it up.

If grilling is an issue, you can also sear up the steak in a hot cast iron pan or a grill pan. I've done this and it works great.

See my Carne Asada Recipe post for more detailed instructions with recipe tips and notes.

Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

Recipe Notes

  • Slice the Meat to Save Time. If your recipe calls for you to make carne asada tacos, burritos or tortas, you can slice the meat before you marinade it. This will cut down on your marinating time and will also help the marinade more deeply penetrate the meat. Just don't forget the corn tortillas and toppings, like authentic pico de gallo. Otherwise, I like to marinate the steak whole to cook the steak more uniformly.
  • General Steak Marinade, or Other Meats. Also, while I consider this the best carne asada marinade ever, feel free to use it on other cuts of steak, and also on other proteins. It will work to flavor different cuts of chicken, pork, and even vegetables. You're going to love it!
  • Ancho Powder is Awesome. I definitely recommend using the ancho powder. In the recipe, I've written that is is optional, but I use it every single time. Ancho is such a great flavor, and it really works here. I wouldn't skip it. I only say "optional" because if you don't have any on hand, or can't find it, it's still a great marinade without it.

But hey, go buy yourself some ancho powder (affiliate link, my friends!) It's perfect for so many recipes!

Mike stealing a carne asada taco!

About the Peppers

I started this marinade recipe a while back using jalapeno peppers, but moved up to serrano peppers for a bit more heat and spice factor. Jalapenos average about 5,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, where serranos measure from 10,000 to 23,000 SHU. I enjoy the added heat, but if you feel they're too spicy for you, go with the wonderful jalapeno pepper.

Of course if you're looking to up that heat factor even more, go with a habanero pepper or two, or even up to the awesome ghost pepper or, hey, why not use a Carolina Reaper? It's the hottest pepper in the world!

I know some of you are crazy, my chilihead friends! I'm right there with you.

That's it, my friends! Let me know how you like the marinade. Best one ever! I love it! Have a good one.

Try Some of My Other Popular Marinade Recipes

  • Flank Steak Marinade
  • Tri Tip Marinade
  • Sweet and Spicy Teriyaki Marinade
  • Jerk Marinade
  • Spicy BBQ Chicken Marinade
  • Jacked Up Steak Marinade
  • London Broil Marinade
  • Zingy Pork Chop Marinade
  • Pork Tenderloin Marinade
  • Fajita Marinade
  • SEE ALSO: Carne Asada - Mexican Grilled Steak

Carne Asada on a platter, ready to serve

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Carne Asada Recipe: Grilled & Marinated Steak
Print

Easy Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

To make the best carne asada, you need a great carne asada marinade recipe. Mine is a perfect blend of seasonings and flavors for the best I've ever had.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: arrachera, carne asada, marinade, recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Marinating Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories: 338kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 6
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 5 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1-2 serrano peppers minced (or use jalapeno peppers for a milder version)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ - ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chili oil
  • Juice from 2 large oranges about a ¾ cup
  • Juice from 2 limes
  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar apple cider vinegar is good, too
  • 1 tablespoon ancho powder optional, but I LOVE it
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pound skirt or flank steak for marinating

Instructions

  • Whisk all of the ingredients (except for the steak) in a medium sized bowl until well combined.
  • Alternatively, you can process the ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  • To use the marinade, add it to a large sealable bag with the steak and rub it thoroughly into the meat. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for more flavor penetration.
  • Discard the marinade, then grill the marinated steak on the grill for 8-10 minutes per side, or until cooked to your liking. 135 degrees F is medium-rare. Let the steak rest for 10 minutes, then slice it against the grain and serve it up.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 338kcal   Carbohydrates: 1g   Protein: 32g   Fat: 21g   Saturated Fat: 5g   Cholesterol: 90mg   Sodium: 297mg   Potassium: 555mg   Vitamin A: 405IU   Vitamin C: 1.1mg   Calcium: 43mg   Iron: 2.9mg
Carne Asada Recipe: Grilled & Marinated Steak
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Bill says

    June 13, 2022 at 10:28 pm

    Would this work on tuna?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 14, 2022 at 5:40 am

      Absolutely, Bill. You'll need to adjust your marinating time. You don't need to marinate as long. An hour or less will usually do for tuna. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Carol Beatty says

    June 09, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    I used your marinade, with the ancho chili powder, but minus the chili oil because I didn't have any on hand, and it was still wonderful. I marinated the steak for 24 hours and it was flavorful, tender, and juicy. The only thing I might do differently next time is to add a little more salt. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 10, 2022 at 5:45 am

      Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Carol! I appreciate it.

      Reply
  3. Kathy says

    June 03, 2022 at 7:23 pm

    This recipe calls for chili oil. Is this the same chili oil as used in asian recipes?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 04, 2022 at 8:04 am

      Kathy, you can use that, yes. Or you can make your own. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Kim says

    May 15, 2022 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    Amazzzzzzzzing! Followed the recipe as is …… didn’t even know what “ancho powder” was ha ha Great recipe - thanks

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      May 15, 2022 at 8:30 am

      Glad you enjoyed it! Yay!

      Reply
  5. Rosie says

    July 15, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    Where can I find ancho powder? I have never heard of it. Please advise.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 17, 2021 at 1:23 pm

      Rosie, you can find it at Mexican grocery stores, or in some International or Mexican food aisles of your local grocery store. You can always order some online as well. Good luck in your search!

      Reply
  6. Lisa says

    July 08, 2020 at 6:24 am

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe! I make every week, my husband and son request all the time. I do let it marinade for the full 24 hours. I also use the ancho every time...love it such a great flavor. For the first time this weekend I tried this marinade with boneless chicken thighs and it was so delicious and tender and juicy, the next day it was even better if you can believe it. One of the best recipes I’ve tried on Pinterest and I’ve tried a lot

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 08, 2020 at 8:02 am

      Excellent, Lisa! Thanks so much, and I appreciate the comments and review. I LOVE that you also use this on chicken. PERFECT for many different proteins, and even vegetables. Super happy you enjoy it!

      Reply
  7. Daniel says

    June 08, 2020 at 2:33 am

    5 stars
    Made this tonight for tacos. After marinating for 3 hours, tossed the flank steak plus 1.5 c. of marinade in the Instant Pot for 15 minutes with a QR. Have to tell ya, it came out so flavorful and tender! Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 08, 2020 at 6:38 am

      Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it, Daniel!

      Reply
  8. Crystal says

    April 11, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was great! Made it this morning and cooked it for dinner, thank you for such a great yummy recipe!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      April 12, 2020 at 11:20 am

      Thanks, Crystal! Glad you enjoyed it! I LOVE carne asada. SO good.

      Reply
  9. Conrad says

    November 29, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    Thanks Michael,
    I saved your recipe for chili oil but I also ended up finding some at a local Asian market so either way I'm in good shape , I appreciate it, thank you sir.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      November 30, 2019 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks, Conrad! I appreciate your comments.

      Reply
  10. Conrad Hergert says

    October 28, 2019 at 1:45 pm

    I can't seem to find the chili oil, is there a different name for it or can you make your own? I'm pretty lucky to have a authinic Mexican grocery store near by and they didn't have any? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      October 29, 2019 at 7:08 am

      Conrad, you can just use vegetable oil if you're unable to find chili oil. But yet, you can easily make your own. See my post on How to Make Chili Oil: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/cooking-with-chili-peppers/how-to-make-chili-oil/

      Reply
  11. James Strange says

    August 25, 2019 at 8:03 am

    Got to say this does look really good.

    Reply

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