Carne Asada Tacos
This recipe uses Short Plate beef — specifically Skirt Steak (1-2 lbs).
Learn more about all Short Plate cuts and cooking methods →
Prep
15 min
Cook
8 min
Total
4 hrs
Carne asada is all about the skirt steak — its loose grain soaks up marinade beautifully, and when grilled screaming hot over charcoal, it develops an incredible crust while staying juicy inside. Sliced thin and tucked into warm tortillas, it's street food at its finest.
What Ingredients Do You Need?
- 2 lbs Skirt steak (outside skirt preferred)
- 1/4 cup Lime juice
- 1/4 cup Orange juice
- 1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1 Jalapeño, minced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 12 Corn tortillas
- for serving White onion, diced
- for serving Fresh cilantro and lime wedges
How Do You Make Carne Asada Tacos?
- 1
Marinate
Combine lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, and oil. Marinate skirt steak 2-4 hours.
- 2
Grill
Grill over blazing hot coals, 3-4 minutes per side. The fire should be as hot as you can get it.
- 3
Rest and slice
Rest 5 minutes. Slice thin against the grain.
- 4
Assemble
Char tortillas over the flame. Fill with sliced carne asada, onion, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
What Are the Pro Tips for This Recipe?
- 💡 The grill must be extremely hot — skirt steak needs aggressive heat for a proper crust in the short cook time.
