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Skip the taco shop and bring the magic of Carne Asada street tacos straight to your kitchen! Soft corn tortilla filled with smoky, citrus-marinated beef, topped with fresh onions, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco—pure taco perfection in every bite.
Why We Love This Recipe
These Carne Asada tacos are basically life right now! The other night, I whipped up a batch, and before I could even blink, my family was diving in, barely letting the tacos hit the table before devouring every last bite.
It should be obvious by now that I am a huge fan of tacos- some of our favorites including Shredded Beef Tacos, Barbacoa, and of course our Birria Tacos. The juicy, grilled Carne Asada is the real MVP in this recipe though—citrusy, smoky, and so tender it melts in your mouth (btw…don’t miss out on our Carne Asada Fries!). But let’s be honest, it’s the simple, fresh toppings that make each bite of these tacos a little fiesta. Diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and maybe a crumble of queso fresco—minimal effort, maximum flavor explosion.
Let’s Make Some Ultimate Carne Asada Tacos
- Prepare the Carne Asada marinade: combine the ingredients for the marinade and coat the steak. Top with additional orange and onion slices. (For additional information on Carne Asada and how to make it check out this post!)
- Marinate the meat: allow the meat to marinate for at least 4 hours up to overnight. Do not marinate for longer than 24 hours.
- Grill: Cook the marinated steak. Flank steak cooks hot and fast. Check the internal temperature to check done-ness level.
- Chop & Assemble: After the meat has rested, chop it up. Assemble the tacos by warming the tortillas (this helps prevent breaking). Double layer the tortillas if desired to help strengthen the taco. Then fill with chopped meat, top with your favorite toppings.
Complete the Meal
Serve these Carne Asada tacos with a side of Esquites or Elotes. Then finish off with a dessert of our absolute favorite Fresas con Crema!
Taco Topping Ideas
- Onion
- Cilantro
- Queso freso
- Pico de gallo
- Sour Cream or Crema
- Guacamole
- Tomato
- Shredded lettuce
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Carne Asada Street Tacos
Ingredients
- 1½ -3 lbs flank steak
Carne Asada Marinade
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ½ bunch cilantro diced
- 2 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Street Tacos
- chopped carne asada from above
- 36 white corn tortillas
- ¼ cup cilantro diced
- ½ cup white onion diced
- ½ cup queso fresco crumbled
Instructions
- Mix together the ingredients for the carne asada marinade.
- Coat the flank steak with the marinade, top with sliced oranges and onion. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight.
- Remove the oranges, onion, and excess marinade. Grill the meat to desired temperature: Rare: 115℉ -120℉ Medium Rare: 120℉ – 125℉ Medium: 130℉-135℉ Well Done: 140℉ – 145℉.
- Remove the meat from the grill. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Chop meat into small 1/4 inch cubes.
- Layer the corn tortillas and fill with chopped meat. Top with diced onion and cilantro and crumbled queso fresco.
Video
Equipment
Notes
- Cut of Meat: Either flank or skirt steak are common cuts for this recipe.
- For additional information and instructions on Carne Asada click here!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Marinating Time: For the ultimate flavor let that steak soak overnight. The minimum marinating time is 4 hours.
- Slicing Magic: Want to ensure a tender bite? Thinly slice the carne asada against the grain!
More Taco Recipes To Obsess over
Recipe first published June 29, 2020. Updated August 14, 2024.
Photography by KJandCompany.co
