Carne asada street tacos are made with steak that is marinated in a blend of zesty seasonings, lime juice, orange juice, cilantro, and more, then grilled to perfection and served in small, soft corn tortillas. These street tacos are the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy.
I love steak, and I love Mexican food. When you put those together, you get everyone’s favorite marinated beef, carne asada! I make carne asada for everything from burritos to soups, and one of my favorite ways to use it is in tacos! These carne asada street tacos are by far one of my most popular recipes. I think it’s because it’s such a simple dish. I don’t pile these tacos up with tons of toppings – although I do love my taco toppings! Nope. Instead, I top them simply and let the flavors of the deliciously tender beef be the stars of the show.
Carne Asada Street Tacos
These delicious tacos start with a big flank steak that I marinate in a mixture of cilantro, chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, and other spices for at least 6 hours – I usually let it go all night. Then, I pan-sear the steak to get a nice crust on the outside and a tender, juicy inside. After letting the steak rest, I slice it and add it to warm, soft tortillas. Then, I top it with diced onions, cilantro, and lime juice. That’s it! There’s nothing fancy about this recipe, and the flavors are out of this world.
Why You’ll Love This Carne Asada Street Taco Recipe
- The carne asada marinade is a flavorful blend of zesty seasonings, lime juice, orange juice, chopped cilantro, and vegetable oil which gives the steak a delicious, savory flavor that is perfect for tacos.
- The tacos are made with small corn tortillas, which are the traditional tortillas for street tacos, which also help to soak up the juices from the steak.
- The simple topping ingredients include cilantro, onions, and lime wedges, which add freshness and acidity to the tacos, perfectly balancing out the richness of the steak.
Carne Asada Street Tacos Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients to deliver complex flavors, and everything you need can be found in just a few minutes at your local grocery store.
- Flank steak
- Ground cumin
- Garlic salt
- Chili powder
- Black pepper
- Red crushed peppers
- Lime juice
- Orange juice
- Vegetable oil
- Corn tortillas
- White onion
- Chopped cilantro
- Limes
How to Make Carne Asada Street Tacos
Making these tacos is incredibly simple. You’ll just marinate the beef, sear it quickly, and slice it. That’s about all there is to it! You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in a flash.
Step 1: Marinate the Steak
Add the seasonings, cilantro, lime juice, orange juice, and vegetable oil to a large, gallon-sized baggie. Seal and shake to combine. Add the flank steak to the bag, shake to coat, and marinate it for 6 hours to overnight.
Step 2: Sear the Steak
Heat a tablespoon of canola oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat. Then, place the steak in the skillet and sear it for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
Step 3: Rest and Slice
Transfer the flank steak to a cutting board and allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then use a sharp knife to slice the steak against the grain. Finally, cut the slices into small pieces.
Step 4: Make the Street Tacos
Heat corn tortillas over an open flame or in a pan over medium heat until soft and cooked to your preference. Then, add the meat, diced onions, and cilantro to each tortilla. Drizzle with fresh lime juice and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- If you prefer steak that’s more done, reduce the heat to low after searing the beef and continue cooking until you reach your desired doneness.
- Use a cast iron skillet if possible when searing your steak. It holds heat best and won’t warp.
- Be sure to heat your tortillas to get them nice and soft.
Variations
- You can use any variety of tortillas you like for these tacos.
- For a mild version, omit the crushed red peppers from the marinade.
- If you don’t have limes, you can use RealLime juice from the bottle.
- Vegetable oil has the most neutral flavor, but you can use olive oil in a pinch with limited taste change.
Carne Asada Marinade
Classic carne asada marinade uses a few core ingredients to deliver that authentic Mexican flavor that we all love about this steak. While there are a few variations of carne asada marinade, in general, most of them contain:
- Lime juice
- Vegetable oil
- Cilantro
- Cumin
- Garlic of some kind
- Chili powder
- Crushed red peppers
What to Serve with Carne Asada Street Tacos
These tacos are a delicious Mexican main dish that pairs well with all your favorite Mexican sides. Try dishes like:
- Mexican rice
- Spanish rice
- Refried beans
- Elote
- Elote casserole
- Chips and guac
- Chips and salsa
- Churros for dessert
You can also top these tacos with your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, salsa, pico de Gallo, or any of your other favorite toppings.
Recipe FAQ
A street taco is a smaller form of taco that’s made with a corn tortilla.
Skirt steak or flank steak are the two best cuts of meat for carne asada.
Carne asada is often served with salsas, grilled onions, guacamole, lime wedges, and chopped cilantro.
The size and type of tortilla are what make a street taco. Street tacos are smaller than traditional tacos and made with a corn tortilla.
Carne asada is made with skirt or flank steak.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Street Tacos
Store your carne asada in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
To reheat the meat, place it in a dish, cover it, and microwave it at 1-minute intervals until hot. Then, make your tacos.
Try This Delicious Carne Asada Street Tacos Recipe Today
These carne asada tacos are loaded with flavor, not work. With just 6 minutes in total of pan-searing and a few seconds of heating the tortillas, the most time-intensive part of this recipe is simply letting the meat marinate overnight! Once that’s done, you’ll be in and out of the kitchen in a flash, and you’ll have some of the best tacos you’ve ever tasted. Give this recipe a try, and I know it will become your new go-to for tacos.
More Delicious Taco Recipes You’ll Enjoy
These Potato Tacos are my take on Taco Bell’s spicy potato soft tacos. These potatoes are air fried to crispy perfection and are so easy to make. They taste amazing and is a quick and easy lunch or dinner recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Carne Asada Street Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 pounds flank steak
For the Marinade
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Other Ingredients
- 24 corn tortillas street taco size
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 4 limes, cut into wedges
Instructions
For the Marinade
- In a large gallon size baggie, add seasonings for the marinade, along with cilantro, lime juice, orange juice, and vegetable oil. Seal and shake to combine.
- Place flank steak into bag, seal, shake to coat, and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 6+ hours or overnight.
Grill or Pan Sear
- After the steak has marinated, remove from the bag and place on the hot grill. Barbecue for 7-10 minutes per side, or until desired doneness is obtained.
- If pan-searing, heat a tablespoon of canola oil in a cast-iron pan, over high heat.
- Place marinated flank steak into the hot pan and let sear for 2-3 minutes on each side.
- If more time is needed, turn heat to low and continue cooking until desired doneness is obtained.
- Place flank steak on a cutting board and allow to rest at least 5 -10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
- Chop strips of steak into small pieces.
Assembling the Street Tacos
- Heat corn tortillas either over an open flame, turning over with tongs until soft, or in a pan over medium high heat until cooked to your liking.
- Add meat, diced onions, and cilantro to each tortilla, drizzle with fresh lime juice, and enjoy.
Nutrition
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