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–+ servings
Sliced grilled steak from our favorite carne asada recipe, topped with chopped red and green peppers and cheese, surrounded by cilantro, lime wedges, guacamole in a bowl, tortillas, and heirloom tomatoes on a wooden board.
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Easy Grilled Carne Asada Recipe

This easy Carne Asada recipe brings bold, authentic Mexican flavor to your table with tender marinated flank or skirt steak infused with citrus, herbs, and smoky spices. Quick to prep and even faster to grill—perfect for summer cookouts or casual weeknight dinners.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinating2 hours
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 280kcal
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup orange juice (about 1 orange)
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1-2 limes)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 ½ pounds flank steak

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine cilantro, olive oil, soy sauce, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon pepper; reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • In a gallon-size Ziploc bag, large bowl, or dish, combine the steak and the remaining mixture; marinate for 2-4 hours but not longer than 8 hours. Drain the steak from the marinade.
  • Preheat grill for direct high heat grilling (450-500℉). Grill with the lid closed for 4-8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. If you're using skirt steak, it will be closer to 4 minutes per side, flank steak will be 6-8 minutes per side. Brush the steak with reserved marinade if desired.
  • Remove steak and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain and serve with reserved marinade.

Notes

  1. Steak temperature: I prefer my steak at medium to medium well, which is about 140- 145°F using a meat thermometer.
  2. Preheat the grill: For the best flavor, searing and grill marks, be sure to preheat the grill until it's very hot before you begin grilling. 

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 445mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg