To make the best carne asada, you need the best carne asada marinade. Mine is the ideal blend of seasonings and flavors for perfect carne asada every time! The best I've ever had.
Easy Carne Asada Marinade Recipe
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 truly authentic carne asada marinade, it's all about the flavors.
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?
Zesty Carne Asada Marinade Ingredients
First, gather up your ingredients. For this marinade, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Serrano Peppers. Use jalapenos for a milder version.
- Garlic.
- Fresh Chopped Cilantro.
- Olive Oil. I also like to add in a bit of spicy chili oil for zing.
- Orange Juice. From freshly squeezed oranges.
- Lime Juice. From freshly squeezed lines.
- White Wine Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is good, too.
- Ancho Chili Powder. Optional, but I LOVE it.
- Cumin.
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper. To taste.
You'll also need a 2-3 pound skirt or flank steak to make the carne asada.
Easy Carne Asada Marinade Recipe
To see the full printable recipe with listed measurements, see the recipe card below.
To make the marinade, simply 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 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.
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.
How Long Should I Marinate Carne Asada? Can I Over-Marinate?
Carne asada beef should be marinated at least 2 hours, though you will get more flavor penetration if you marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
Do not marinate the beef for more than 24 hours, or the marinade can start to affect the meat, making it mealy or slightly mushy. This is something you definitely do not want with carne asada.
When you're ready to grill up your carne asada, it is super simple.
Easy Carne Asada Recipe - How to Make Carne Asada
- To make carne asada, remove the marinating meat 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 meat thermometer from ThermoWorks (I'm an affiliate). Works great!
- Let the steak rest for 5 minutes (or up to 10 minutes), then thinly cut 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.
Recipe Notes & Tips for Success
- 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. It is optional and not traditional, but I use it every single time. It's my "secret ingredient".
- Is Soy Sauce in Carne Asada Marinade? A lot of modern recipes call for soy sauce in the marinade, but I don't find this used in many authentic carne asada recipes. It's still a flavorful addition, though.
But hey, go buy yourself some ancho powder (affiliate link, my friends!) It's perfect for so many recipes!
Make Ahead & Storage Information
You can make your carne asada marinade 2-3 days ahead and keep in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Or, freeze the marinade in a freezer container for 3 months. Simply thaw to room temperature, then use when you're ready to make carne asada.
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
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.
Easy Carne Asada Marinade Recipe
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
Bill says
Would this work on tuna?
Mike Hultquist says
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!
Carol Beatty says
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.
Mike Hultquist says
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Carol! I appreciate it.
Kathy says
This recipe calls for chili oil. Is this the same chili oil as used in asian recipes?
Mike Hultquist says
Kathy, you can use that, yes. Or you can make your own. Enjoy!
Kim says
Amazzzzzzzzing! Followed the recipe as is …… didn’t even know what “ancho powder” was ha ha Great recipe - thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it! Yay!
Rosie says
Where can I find ancho powder? I have never heard of it. Please advise.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
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!
Lisa says
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
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
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!
Daniel says
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!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it, Daniel!
Crystal says
This recipe was great! Made it this morning and cooked it for dinner, thank you for such a great yummy recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Crystal! Glad you enjoyed it! I LOVE carne asada. SO good.
Conrad says
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.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Conrad! I appreciate your comments.
Conrad Hergert says
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.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
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/
James Strange says
Got to say this does look really good.