Carne Asada Tacos

Carne asada tacos are all about bold, smoky flavor and a perfectly tender bite. This recipe uses a citrusy marinade to break down the steak and infuse it with fresh lime, garlic, and spice before a quick sear or grill brings everything together. Thinly sliced and tucked into warm tortillas with your favorite toppings, these carne asada tacos are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs skirt or flank steak, sliced or pounded to about ¼ inch thick

For the Marinade:

• 1/3 cup orange juice (fresh is best)

• 1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)

• 2 white or yellow onions

• 10-12 garlic cloves

• 2 packs of sazón

• 1-2 tbsp adobo seasoning

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 2 tbsp olive oil

For Serving:

• Corn tortillas, warmed

• Classic Street Style: Chopped white onion, cilantro, squeeze of lime, salsa roja

• Creamy & Herbaceous: Cilantro-lime crema, chopped white onion, cilantro, guacamole

• Bold & Zesty: Pickled red onion, sliced radish, cotija cheese, jalapeno

• Smoky Heat: Chipotle-lime crema, jalapeno, pickled red onion, cilantro

Preparation:

1. Make the marinade. Combine all marinade ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. If the marinade is too thick or chunky, add additional orange juice or water to thin it out until desired smoothness is reached.

   
   

2. Add the steak to the marinade and coat well. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably 4–8 hours (up to overnight for max flavor).

   
   

3. Preheat grill or cast-iron pan over high heat. Remove steak from marinade, letting excess drip off. Grill for 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on thickness.

   
   

4. Let rest 5–10 minutes before slicing against the grain into thin strips.

   
   

5. Assemble Tacos. Serve steak slices in warm corn tortillas and your preferred toppings.