Lisa's Ultimate Carne Asada Marinade

A flavorful and tender carne asada starts with a zesty marinade. This recipe calls for a 24-hour soak to let the flank steak absorb all the vibrant and fresh flavors before hitting the grill.

Whether served as tacos, on top of a salad, or enjoyed on its own, this carne asada will be the most flavorful and tender you've ever tasted.

What is Carne Asada?

Carne asada is a traditional Mexican dish made with steak marinated in a mixture of lime juice and spices. The name translates to "grilled meat," and the steak is typically cooked on a grill.

What Is Carne Asada Marinade?

This carne asada marinade is bursting with flavorful ingredients, including:

Citrus Juices
Orange, lemon, and lime juices provide a refreshing, fruity base for the marinade.

Soy Sauce
Soy sauce adds a deep, umami-rich flavor to the steak.

Herbs and Spices
This marinade is infused with the flavors of cilantro, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, pepper, and oregano.

Chipotle Pepper
Finely chopped chipotle pepper adds a smoky, spicy kick to the marinade.

Olive Oil
Olive oil helps keep the steak juicy while locking in all the bold flavors.

How to Prepare Carne Asada Marinade

Preparing this carne asada marinade is simple: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Set aside 1 cup of the marinade to use after the steak is grilled. Then place the flattened steak in the marinade and refrigerate for 24 hours.

How Long Should Carne Asada Marinate?

This recipe recommends a 24-hour marination time, which will yield the most flavorful and juicy carne asada. However, marinating overnight or even for just a few hours is still a great option if you're short on time.

How to Cook Carne Asada

Once the steak has marinated, place it on a preheated grill and cook to your desired level of doneness. About 5 minutes per side will give you a medium-rare steak. Drizzle the reserved marinade over the cooked steak and serve.

Dinogo Community Tips and Praise

"It was my first time making carne asada," shares AC from the City. "We marinated it for 24 hours, and it was absolutely delicious! The marinade soaked perfectly into a nearly 4lb skirt steak! This recipe is definitely a keeper!"

"This was incredibly delicious! I think I even liked it better than the carne asada from the local Mexican market. The citrusy flavor gave it such a fresh, light taste. It grilled to medium rare perfectly, and continued to cook as we took it off, becoming medium. My family loved it!" says dobrown.

"This is amazing. It's just the right amount of spice. I've tried carne asada from several places, but this recipe blows them all away. I added red pepper instead of paprika, which gave it more heat. I marinated it for 24 hours, added extra garlic, and threw in some chipotle pepper from adobo sauce. I can’t even begin to explain how good it is… you have to try it," according to Marissa Foster.

Editorial contributions by Bailey Fink

Ingredients

Marinade:

• ¾ cup orange juice

• ½ cup lemon juice

• ⅓ cup lime juice

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

• ½ cup soy sauce

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon chili powder

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 1 tablespoon ground paprika

• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle pepper

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ cup olive oil

Carne Asada:

• 3 pounds flank steak

Instructions

Gradually whisk in olive oil until the marinade is fully incorporated. Set aside 1 cup of the marinade in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for use after grilling the steak.

Place the steak between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic (resealable freezer bags work great) on a flat, sturdy surface. Use the smooth side of a meat mallet to gently pound the steak to a 1/4-inch thickness.

After tenderizing the steak, use a fork to poke it all over. Place the steak in the marinade in the large bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours to marinate.

Grill the steak on the preheated grill to your preferred doneness, approximately 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.

Once off the grill, slice the steak against the grain.

Transfer the steak to a serving platter and drizzle the reserved marinade over it. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)