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    You Are Here: Home → Main Course → Tacos

    Carne Asada Street Tacos

    July 25, 2021 by Ryan 3 Comments

    296 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These quick and tasty carne asada street tacos are simple to make, but packed with flavor. They are the definition of street tacos as they're served on corn tortillas and topped with just a few ingredients like cilantro, onion and lime juice.

    two carne asada tacos on plate

    I'm all about tacos. I have them about 3-4 times a month - just at home. From crispy tofu tacos to slow cooker chicken tacos to spicy shrimp tacos.

    We also venture out to get tacos as well. Recently a taco joint called Taco Bravo opened about 1 minute from our house so we had to try it.

    My favorite taco we ordered was a Mexican street taco with steak. I remember when we finished, I told my wife I hadn't made a version of my own so I was going to have to get working on that.

    And today's Mexican street tacos are the result. There isn't much work to these steak tacos, but you wouldn't know it as the flavor is outstanding.

    One thing unique about these carne asada tacos is I cut the steak before cooking, just so I can get it browned on more sides. It also allows the marinade to really get into the steak. So if you love steak tacos, I suggest giving these a try.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Ingredient Swaps
    • Step-by-Step Photos
    • FAQs
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Taco Recipes
    • Carne Asada Street Tacos
    overhead shot of cooked flank steak in cast iron skillet for tacos

    Ingredient Notes

    • Flank steak - is a tough piece of meat so it needs to be diced small and against the grain so it can be tender.
    • Fresh juice - by adding a little bit of fresh orange juice and lime juice, you add some necessary acid that adds brightness and helps tenderize the beef.
    • Spices - where a lot of the flavor comes.
    • Tortillas - you can't have tacos without some tortillas.
    • Toppings - when it comes to these carne asada street tacos, you go simple with some onion, cilantro and fresh lime juice.

    Ingredient Swaps

    Like any recipe, you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:

    • While I use flank steak, skirt steak works great as well.
    • If you don't have soy sauce, just replace with ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt.
    • While not traditional, you can replace the lime juice with lemon juice.
    • If you don't have red onions, white, yellow, sweet onions or shallots will work too. They all high slightly different flavors.
    • I'm a fan of corn tortillas, but you can use flour tortillas.

    Step-by-Step Photos

    process shots of making marinade and marinating steak

    Mix together the marinade ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Use a sharp knife to cut against the grain into ½ cubes. Add to a large bowl and toss with the marinade ingredients. You can let sit for an hour in the fridge or use immediately.

    process shots of cooking steak in skillet

    Add olive oil to large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and cook until it has browned and the marinade has reduced, about 5-6 minutes. Serve steak in tortillas with some toppings.

    FAQs

    What Does Carne Asada Mean?

    Carne asada literally means beef that has been marinated and grilled.

    What is Flank Steak?

    Flank steak comes from the cow's belly muscles. It’s a flavorful piece of meat, but is very lean and contains almost no fat. Because of this it can be tough, but it can be a tasty and tender if you learn how to prepare it properly.

    Marinating flank steak and cooking over high heat are important. It is super important when slicing the steak that you cut against the grain. You can see step-by-step instructions at The Kitchn.

    Flank Steak vs. Skirt Steak

    Skirt steak can be substituted for flank steak with these nachos. It has more fat than flank steak, resulting in richer-flavored meat that’s also ideal for grilling, tacos, fajitas, and stir-fries.

    Like flank steak, it must be sliced against the grain in order to be tender.

    Do I Have to Let the Steak Marinate?

    No. You can toss in everything and use immediately. I personally like to have it marinate for about a hour as it helps tenderize the meat.

    What Makes it a Street Taco?

    A street taco is typically served on a soft corn tortilla with grilled or pan-fried chicken, beef or pork. The toppings are usually minimal like cilantro, onion and radishes.

    An American-style taco is usually serve in a crunchy tortilla and has a wider variety of toppings.

    How Long Will It Last?

    Leftovers will last in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge or 3 months in a freezer.

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • It is important to your steak against the grain, otherwise it will be tough.
    • Although traditionally served on corn tortillas, you can use flour tortillas if you prefer.
    • This recipe makes a mildly spiced carne asada. If you like a spicer meat, add a jalapeño pepper with some seeds to the marinade.
    • Don't cook longer than 5-6 minutes or you'll have super tough steak. You want a quick sear on both sides.
    • This steak is best served immediately so don't let it sit around.
    • Don't overdue it with the toppings. Street tacos should have minimal toppings like cilantro, onion and some fresh lime juice.
    two carne asada tacos on plate on dish towel

    Other Taco Recipes

    • grilled chicken tacos on cutting board
      Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
    • two sweet potato tacos on plate
      Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
    • two tacos with homemade chorizo on white plate
      Chorizo Tacos
    • pork tacos on slate grey plate
      Mojo Pork Tacos

    If you’ve tried these carne asada street tacos or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    two carne asada tacos on plate
    Print Recipe
    4.86 from 7 votes

    Carne Asada Street Tacos

    These quick and tasty carne asada tacos are simple to make, but packed with flavor.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Resting Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course: Tacos
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 12 tacos
    Calories: 174kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs flank steak, cut into ½ inch cubes
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon orange juice
    • 2 tablespoon lime juice
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 cup red onion, diced
    • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
    • lime wedges for serving
    • corn tortillas

    Instructions

    • Cut the skirt steak against the grain into ½ inch cubes and place in a large bowl or Ziploc bag.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, orange juice, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin and oregano.
    • Add marinade to bowl or bag with steak. Marinate in fridge for 1 hour or up to 4 hours.
    • Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak and marinade and cook until the steak has browned and the marinade has reduced, about 5-6 minutes. You'll want to stir constantly.
    • Serve steak in tortillas and top with some onion, cilantro and lime.

    Notes

    • It is important to your steak against the grain, otherwise it will be tough.
    • Although traditionally served on corn tortillas, you can use flour tortillas if you prefer.
    • This recipe makes a mildly spiced carne asada. If you like a spicer meat, add a jalapeño pepper with some seeds to the marinade.
    • Don't cook longer than 5-6 minutes or you'll have super tough steak. You want a quick sear on both sides.
    • This steak is best served immediately so don't let it sit around.
    • Don't overdue it with the toppings. Street tacos should have minimal toppings like cilantro, onion and some fresh lime juice.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1taco | Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 195mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
    « Chicken Chasseur
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      August 08, 2019 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      These tacos look pretty amazing!

      Reply
    2. Rosabella says

      February 22, 2023 at 2:01 am

      5 stars
      Restaurant quality tacos!
      The directions were very clear. I also added the sliced jalapenos. The tacos turned out great, and I'll use this recipe in the future!

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        February 22, 2023 at 6:43 am

        Glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply

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