Carne Asada Tacos

By
Chelsie Kenyon
Chelsie Kenyon
Chelsie Kenyon, author of "Knack Mexican Cooking," is a former freelance writer and recipe developer with more than 10 years' experience in Mexican cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/10/23
Carne Asada Tacos Recipe

The Spruce 

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Rest Time: 30 mins
Total: 70 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Yield: 10 tacos
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1139 Calories
41g Fat
125g Carbs
64g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories 1139
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g 52%
Saturated Fat 14g 71%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 1856mg 81%
Total Carbohydrate 125g 45%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 64g
Vitamin C 12mg 61%
Calcium 134mg 10%
Iron 12mg 68%
Potassium 1164mg 25%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Street food in Mexico gets lumped under the name antojitos, which translates as "little cravings." Street carts, food trucks, and market vendors sell these little tastes of the country's rich cuisine at all hours of the day and night. Tacos come in a nearly unimaginable variety, usually in little three- or four-bite corn tortillas.

Carne asada refers to grilled beef, but in Mexico, marinated versions of it form the basis of many favorite street foods. These carne asada tacos can be served as an appetizer or part of the main meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 (2-pound) skirt steak, or flank steak, trimmed of membranes and excess fat

  • 1/2 cup red chile sauce

  • 1 teaspoon cumin

  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 lime, juiced

  • 20 small white corn tortillas

  • 1 cup onion, diced

  • 1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

  • 1/2 cup salsa, or chile sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
     The Spruce

  2. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and put it in a large glass dish.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
    The Spruce 

  3. Whisk together the chile sauce, cumin, garlic, salt and lime juice. Pour it over the beef and use a brush or your fingers to coat the meat entirely. Marinate the meat at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Cook the beef over medium heat on the grill to medium or your preferred temperature. Set the carne asada aside.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Steam the corn tortillas by wrapping them in a damp towel and heating them in a 250 F oven for 15 minutes, or in batches of five tortillas in a microwave for two minutes.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
     The Spruce

  6. While the tortillas warm, cut the skirt steak against the grain into approximately 1/2-inch-thick strips. Stack two tortillas one on top of the other in a square of foil or on a plate and top with three or four strips of meat, and chopped onions, cilantro, and chile sauce or salsa, to taste.

  7. Enjoy the tacos immediately, or wrap them in the foil and eat them within 20 minutes.

    Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
     The Spruce

Tip

  • If your steak has a few light brown spots on it, like in the photo, that is as a result of oxidization - oxygen hitting the steak and impacting the color change. As long as the steak is red on the inside and it doesn't smell off, you should be good to go!

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