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Chloe’s Authentic Carne Asada Marinade for Tender Steak

Close-up of medium-rare steak slices showing char marks and residue from the carne asada marinade.
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This is our favorite, easy Mexican carne asada marinade recipe, packed with lime and cilantro flavor, perfect for making skirt or flank steak incredibly tender for grilling.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional, for spicy carne asada marinade)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the steak: Trim any large pieces of fat from your skirt steak or flank steak. Place the steak in a large, sealable plastic bag or a shallow glass dish.
  2. Mix the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, vegetable oil, cilantro, minced garlic, jalapeño (if using), cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. This creates the citrus carne asada marinade base.
  3. Marinate the meat: Pour the marinade over the steak, ensuring all surfaces are coated. Seal the bag or cover the dish.
  4. Refrigerate: Place the steak in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 4 hours, or up to 12 hours for the best flavor and tenderness. Do not marinate longer than 12 hours due to the acid content.
  5. Grill the steak: Remove the steak from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Discard the remaining marinade. Grill over medium-high heat for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare, depending on thickness.
  6. Rest and slice: Let the grilled carne asada rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For the best results with skirt steak carne asada marinade, use fresh lime juice; bottled juice changes the flavor profile.
  • If you prefer a milder flavor, omit the jalapeño or use only half of one.
  • This marinade works well for both flank steak and skirt steak carne asada marinade applications.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipesfleet.com/carne-asada-marinade-recipe-easy-grilling/