A great carne asada marinade is the foundation of this popular Mexican classic. The marinade has to accomplish two things, add flavor and tenderize the meat. Since carne asada is made with skirt steak which is not the most tender of beef cuts, the marinade is crucial to this carne asada burrito recipe. And another important factor is how to grill carne asada.
When I lived in Southern California, we would all get together to have a cookout and Carne Asada was always the star of the evening. Carne Asada means “grilled meat” in English but it’s so much more than that. Skirt steak that has been seasoned by a carne asada marinade. And it’s then grilled with char and sliced against the grain, rolled in a heated tortilla with plenty of toppings. It’s a little bit of heaven.
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To make the best carne asada burrito, skirt steak is to be seasoned with a great carne asada marinade. And the marinade has to be rich enough to be the basis of the flavor and amount of tenderness of the meat. Our simple marinade recipe may not sound authentic but just wait till you taste the finished result. Just take one bite and you will think you are in dining in a Southern California taco shop. It’s just delicious!
Carne Asada Marinade Recipe:
Marinade Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of red bell pepper, minced
5 medium lemons
3 cloves garlic, minced
7 ounce can pickled sliced Jalapeños, drained
1 -10 ounce bottle teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
3 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
Carne Asada Burrito Ingredients:
12 flour tortillas
Guacamole or sliced avocado
Pico de Gallo
How to marinade skirt steak
In a small bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, sugar and salt garlic, jalapeños, stir until sugar is dissolved.
Juice the 4 lemons, strain and add to the marinade, then stir in the minced bell peppers.
Place the skirt steak meat in a large marinade dish and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the marinade completely surrounds each piece or layer of the meat. Slice the remaining lemon into thin rounds and place between the meat layers and in the marinade.
Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to grill, remove the marinaded carne asada from the container and dispose of the liquid.
How to grill carne asada:
Grill the meat over a medium high flame for 6-8 minutes on each side. The meat should be barely pink inside and if it’s cooked too long, it could become tough.
Remove from fire, let rest 5 minutes, then slice into diagonal strips against the grain of the meat. Slicing against the grain of the carne asada makes it more tender instead of chewy.
Serve by adding strips of the carne on a warmed flour tortilla and topping with guacamole and pico de gallo. Roll up and enjoy.
You could stand around the fire and eat that carne asada burrito with one hand and drink a beverage in the other. It’s a great way to bond friends together or just enjoy the friendship. We haven’t been able to find a great carne asada marinade since we left California. You can have it shipped but that is kinda pricey. So it came down to creating our very own recipe for the marinade. And after several experiments, we came up with this blend. It comes closer to any other I have ever tried and it brings back those great flavors of a carne asada burrito from those great times with those great friends.
In a small bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, sugar and salt garlic, jalapeños, stir until sugar is dissolved.
Juice the 4 lemons, strain the seeds out and add the juice to the marinade. Then stir in the minced bell peppers.
Place the skirt steak meat in a large marinade dish and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the marinade completely surrounds each piece or layer of the meat.
Slice the remaining lemon into thin rounds and place between the meat layers and in the marinade.
Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When ready to grill, remove the marinaded carne asada from the container and dispose of the liquid.
Grill the meat over a medium high flame for 6-8 minutes on each side. The meat should be barely pink inside and if it’s cooked too long, it could become tough.
Remove from fire, let rest 5 minutes, then slice into diagonal strips against the grain of the meat. Slicing against the grain of the carne asada makes it more tender instead of chewy.
Serve by adding strips of the carne on a warmed flour tortilla and top with guacamole and pico de gallo. Roll up and enjoy.
I am so glad he enjoyed this Carne!! Thanks so much for letting me know, love feedback like this!!
Linda Anderson
Saturday 11th of July 2015
My husband RAVED about this. Claimed it was the best marinated meat he had EVER eaten.
Jamie Sherman
Friday 23rd of January 2015
I had my first "street taco" after moving to Phoenix ..... how have I lived 30-something years without this deliciousness?! Needless to say, I am hooked on all things carne asada now! Seriously, it is the best stuff ever - I may even invent a few new ways to eat it! The taco truck guy is going to know my family on a first name basis soon - we stop every time we see him out! :D I love that you shared your version - I can't wait to give it a try!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
Tuesday 20th of January 2015
It's so amazing how a dish can bring back such great memories of fun times with friends.
admin
Sunday 12th of July 2015
I am so glad he enjoyed this Carne!! Thanks so much for letting me know, love feedback like this!!
Linda Anderson
Saturday 11th of July 2015
My husband RAVED about this. Claimed it was the best marinated meat he had EVER eaten.
Jamie Sherman
Friday 23rd of January 2015
I had my first "street taco" after moving to Phoenix ..... how have I lived 30-something years without this deliciousness?! Needless to say, I am hooked on all things carne asada now! Seriously, it is the best stuff ever - I may even invent a few new ways to eat it! The taco truck guy is going to know my family on a first name basis soon - we stop every time we see him out! :D I love that you shared your version - I can't wait to give it a try!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
Tuesday 20th of January 2015
It's so amazing how a dish can bring back such great memories of fun times with friends.
Platter Talk
Tuesday 20th of January 2015
One of our favorite dishes!