This homemade Carne Asada recipe tastes incredible and is a super easy comfort food recipe. Instead of a grill or stove top method we’ve opted for the slow cooker for an effortless delicious main dish recipe.
You can make restaurant quality Carne Asada at home! Though it’s often grilled we wanted an easy way to get the same flavors so we pulled out the slow cooker.
It takes about 5 minutes to get all the ingredients together and the crock pot does the work. This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy
If you love Mexican recipes and food from the American Southwest this has the best flavor and can be used in so many ways.
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The recipe is easy and straight forward. It’s filling and fresh-tasting. The recipe definitely gets a thumbs up every time it’s served.
What is Carne Asada?
An authentic carne asada recipe is a Mexican dish of marinated beef (typically marinated steak) . It is typically cooked on a hot grill over high temperature. The cooked steak is served thinly sliced as a main dish or as a component in another dish.
It can also be cooked in a cast iron skillet (a large cast iron pan to accommodate the steak) or in a grill pan. If grilling an outdoor grill, gas grills or charcoal grill can be used.
It’s usually cut into thin slices and eaten as a main dish or as a component in other recipes.
What type of meat to use?
The most common cuts of beef used are steak. Any type from sirloin steak, skirt steak, or tenderloin are popular. Flap steak or flap meat can also be used.
Flank steak is also one of the best cuts to use and what we used because we wanted to shred it at the end.
Make it in a Slow Cooker
We love making it in a slow cooker. It’s one of the easiest ways to make it.
It makes the best carne asada without worrying about using a meat thermometer or ‘the finger test’ to see if the meat is done. Set it and forget it.
You’ll love this new method of making this favorite dish of Latin America any time of the year.
Recipe Ingredients + Notes
The carne asada marinade recipe is made of simple ingredients that create delicious flavors.
Because we are making this as a slow cooker version, we converted the typical marinade ingredients into the cooking liquids keeping common ingredients.
Flank Steak. You’ll use 1 1/2 pounds of flank steak.
Seasonings. Ground cumin, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Orange juice. Freshly squeezed orange juice gives the best flavor. I use a handheld juicer for this. You’ll need around 1/4 cup of juice.
Lime juice. As with the orange juice, use freshly squeezed lime juice. You’ll need about 1/4 cup or about 2 lime’s worth.
Beef broth. This is the base cooking liquid. We recommend low sodium beef broth.
Salsa (for topping). If you’ll eat the carne asada meat on fries as shown here we recommend 1 cup of salsa to add on top.
Cilantro. Fresh chopped cilantro will be sprinkled on top.
For the Home Fries:
Russet Potatoes. Use 4 medium size potatoes, rinsed and scrubbed. Peeling isn’t necessary.
Olive oil. The potatoes will be tossed in olive oil before baking.
How to make Carne Asada in a Slow Cooker
STEP 1. Season the steak
Rub the steak with cumin, salt and pepper. Add to a large slow cooker.
STEP 2. Add liquids
Add the orange juice, lime juice and beef broth.
STEP 3. Cook and shred
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours.
Transfer steak to a cutting board and shred the flank steak with two forks. Add back to the slow cooker.
STEP 4. Make the home fries
If serving over fries as shown here, preheat the oven. Cut fries into spears and toss with olive oil.
Cook on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment or aluminum foil for 10 minutes turning halfway through. Check for doneness and cook longer as needed.
PRO TIP! For chunky fries try this Oven Fries recipe. For a shortcut: store bought fries can also be used (steak fries are great!).
Variations
Soy sauce. When cooking the flank steak on a grill the marinade often includes soy sauce to add a salty flavor. We do NOT include that in this slow cooker version to avoid an over salty end result.
Lemon juice. For some tanginess lemon juice can also be used instead of lime juice.
Chili powder. For a spicy touch add a few small pinches of chili powder to the rub for the flank steak.
How to eat Carne Asada
We decided to eat ours as Carne Asada Fries as shown in the photos but that’s just the start!
Here are some other great ways to enjoy it:
Carne Asada tacos. use warm tortillas to make soft Food Trucks style street tacos. They are great with some pico de gallo and pickled red onion on top! We use corn tortillas.
Carne Asada nachos. Delicious over chips, with piles of melted cheese, pickled jalapenos, drizzled with sour cream and served with lime wedges.
Carne Asada burritos. Wrap up some of the juicy steak in flour tortillas (regular or gluten-free) with other favorite ingredients.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The flavor is even better the next day! Best flavor when at room temperature or warmed.
More recipes you’ll love!
Recipe
Slow Cooker Carne Asada with Oven-Baked Fries
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds Flank Steak
- ¾ teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 2 pinches Kosher Salt divided
- 1 pinch Black Pepper
- Juice of 1 Orange (equivalent of 2 ounces or ¼ cup)
- Juice of 2 Limes (equivalent of ¼ cup)
- 1 cup Beef Broth (low sodium)
- 4 medium Russet Potatoes , rinsed and scrubbed
- ¼ cup Olive Oil
- 1 cup Salsa
- 3 ½ tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
Instructions
Making the Carne Asada
- Rub flank steak with cumin, one pinch of salt and pepper. Place in a large slow cooker.
- Add the orange juice, lime juice and beef broth. Cook on LOW 7 to 8 hours.
Making Home Fries (before serving the meal)
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
- Slice the russet potatoes into thin spears and place in medium bowl. Toss olive oil and the second pinch of salt.
- Spread on prepared baking sheet and bake 5 minutes. Flip with a spatula, then bake 5 minutes more. Test for doneness and either remove pan from oven or cook 5 minutes longer or until done.
Before serving
- Shred carne asada (cooked flank steak) into bite-sized pieces using 2 forks. Top fries with carne asada, salsa and fresh cilantro leaves.
Notes
- Carne Asada Fries (as shown here)
- Street Tacos
- Burritos
- Nachos
Nutrition
Originally published October 30, 2016. This post was originally sponsored by PlateJoy.
Natalie says
I like this recipe. Its quite easy to make and delicious.