This Cilantro Lime Carne Asada is the perfect easy, weeknight dinner! With just 5 minutes of prep, flank steak is marinated in a bright, flavorful mix of cilantro, lime juice, and seasonings, then grilled until juicy and tender. Enjoy with rice and beans, in tacos or burritos, on a taco salad, you name it.
If you’ve never tried carne asada, then this Cilantro Lime Carne Asada is the perfect introduction.
This recipe is shockingly easy, but yields the most delicious results!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Simple and flavorful – Just a few minutes of hands-on time for the juiciest, most tender and flavorful meat.
- Easy to prep ahead – Make the marinade ahead of time and let your steak marinate overnight. Get ahead AND let the extra marinating time give your steak even more delicious flavor.
- Versatile – Serve this steak on its own with a side of rice and beans, add it to burritos or tacos, chop it up and serve it on a salad…there really are so many possibilities.
What is Carne Asada?
Carne Asadad irectly translates to “grilled meat”, but traditional carne asada isn’t made with just any meat. It’s made with steak!
Carne asada features skirt steak marinated in a delicious blend of lime and bright seasonings, then grilled until juicy and tender.
Recipe Notes
This Carne Asada Meat recipe is as simple as promised! Just 5 minutes of prep for a family friendly dinner.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Cilantro Lime Carne Asada to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Flank Steak – The most common carne asada meat is flank steak, but you can also use sirloin steak, tenderloin, skirt steak, etc. Keep in mind that different cuts of meat will cook at slightly different rates.
- Lime Juice – I recommend freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.
- Cilantro
- Vegetable Oil
- Carne Asada Seasoning – We’re using a blend of chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and oregano.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Spice it up – Like your carne asada with an extra kick of heat? Try adding cayenne pepper or extra paprika to the marinade OR add in some green chiles or sliced jalapeño.
- Make it sweeter – Cut the spice a little bit by adding a touch of orange juice, honey, or agave.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Carne Asada Meat.
Mix all of the ingredients for the carne asada seasoning in a ziplock bag.
Combine the flank steak with the seasoning mix, seal the bag, and let marinate for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat, brush with oil, then place the steak on the grate. Cook on each side until desired doneness is reached.
Remove from the pan, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve as desired!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip the marinating time – I recommend an absolute minimum of 20 minutes to allow the flavors of the marinade time to seep into the meat. If you have more time, feel free to let the meat marinate longer. More time equals even better flavor!
- Let the meat rest after cooking – Give the meat 5 minutes to rest after cooking before slicing into it. This gives the juices time to settle back into the meat for the most tender texture and the best flavor.
- Slice against the grain – Slicing against the grain shortens the muscle fibers in the steak making a more chewable, more tender bite.
- Check the temp – To be sure that your steak is done cooking, you can use a meat thermometer to double check the internal temperature. It should be 135ºF.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Marinate the meat overnight – Prep the marinade a day in advance and let the steak marinate overnight. When you’re ready to cook, just heat your pan and grill as instructed.
- Cook and store – Follow the recipe as instructed, then let the meat cool completely and store it in the fridge for a couple of days before serving. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply warm it up on the stove and serve!
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Cilantro Lime Carne Asada recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Prepare the marinade and add in the steak.
- After marinating, transfer the meat to a freezer-safe bag, then store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook as instructed!
How to Freeze Carne Asada Meat After Cooking
- Let the cooked steak cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When you’re ready to serve, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stove.
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Carne Asada
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of lime, cilantro, and Mexican spices, it will pair well with many of your favorite Mexican side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice – This Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice is perfect topped with juicy steak. This 20 minute recipe is made with just 6 basic ingredients that come together to form a fluffy, tasty rice side dish.
- Crockpot Borracho Beans – These Crockpot Borracho Beans are the perfect decadent side dish for carne asada. This recipe is made with creamy pinto beans slow cooked with a rich blend of onion, jalapeño, green chiles, dark beer, broth, and spices.
- Mexican Caesar Salad – Pair your juicy steak with a bright, fresh, and crunchy salad. This Mexican Caesar Salad features romain lettuce topped with cotija cheese, fried tortilla strips, and roasted pepitas all tossed in a creamy Mexican caesar salad dressing.
Carne Asada Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 4-5 days
- in the freezer up to 3 months
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Burrito – Swap the pork out for leftover carne asada in this Carnitas Burritos recipe. This loaded burrito is packed full of rice, meat, black beans, sour cream pico, cheese, and lettuce.
- Tacos – Load hard or soft shell tacos with leftover carne asada and all of your favorite toppings like pico de gallo, black beans, corn salsa, you name it.
- Taco Salad – Cut your steak into bite-sized pieces and enjoy it on a Classic Taco Salad in place of traditional taco meat.
Recipe FAQ’s
What meat is carne asada?
Carne asada is typically made with flank steak, but can be made with other cuts of steak such as skirt steak, sirloin steak, or tenderloin.
What is the secret to a flavorful carne asada?
The marinade! The key to the most flavorful carne asada truly is the carne asada marinade and seasonings. Giving the meat just 20 minutes to soak in all that flavor makes all the difference!
More EASY Mexican Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite Mexican recipes below.
Cilantro Lime Carne Asada
Ingredients
For the carne asada seasoning
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon oregano
To marinate the carne asada
- 2 pounds flank steak
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, about 2-3 limes
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients for the carne asada seasoning together.
- In a zip top bag or container, combine the flank steak with the seasoning mix, lime juice, cilantro, and 2 tablespoons of oil.Let marinate for at least 20 minutes.
- When ready to cook, heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Brush the grill with the remaining oil, then place the flank steak on the grate and cook for 4-6 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked to desired doneness.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then slice carne asada into thin slices against the grain of the meat.
Leave a Reply