What are you going to make for dinner tonight? How do marinated grilled flank steak tacos sound? Using the best flank steak marinade (aka carne asada marinade) means a winning flank steak recipe every time. For this summer taco Tuesday grilling taco recipe, you start off with a couple of pounds of flank steak cut into slices. All the details are included for how to make carne asada, so enjoy!
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The carne asada marinade is made with oil, orange and lime juices, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
Your steak can be marinated for up to 24 hours but do give it at least 2 hours. You can cut X-shapes into the pieces of meat if they’re thick, to help the marinade soak in. Choose lightly marbled meat for this flank steak recipe for the juiciest results.
Ingredients for Grilled Flank Steak Tacos
As well as the marinade ingredients and the meat itself, you will need taco fixin’s (as they say in Texas!) Tortillas, chopped avocado, grilled bell peppers and onions, salsa or pico de gallo, sour cream, and sliced jalapenos are all good.
You will see there is no chilli or hot spice in the steak marinade. If you do want a kick of spice, you can add sliced chillies to the finished taco. It’s a myth all Mexican recipes are spicy!
How to Cut the Meat for a Grilled Flank Steak Recipe
Flank steak suits fast or slow cooking. If you’re cooking it fast though (like for these grilled flank steak tacos) you’ll want it thinly cut. Very thin slices will cook in 10 minutes total while thicker ones will take closer to 10 per side. I like to get it as thin as I can cut it – that means the edges crisp up!
VERY IMPORTANT TIP: ALWAYS CUT FLANK STEAK ACROSS THE GRAIN!
If you cut steak with the grain it will come out tough. Cutting it across the grain means it will come out tender. Shorten the tough fibres by cutting across the grain and you will be pleased you did.
How to Make Carne Asada
Carne asada is traditionally made with either flank or skirt steak. A good marinade for flank steak tacos will infuse the meat with flavour before cooking. I prefer to use flank steak because it’s leaner than skirt and more tender. Carne asada literally means ‘grilled meat’. It’s a famous Mexican dish and ideal for a summer grilling taco recipe.
This grilled flank steak tacos dish uses the best flank steak marinade I’ve tried. I love tryout out different marinade recipes but this one’s hard to beat! Once you know how to make carne asada, you can rustle up an authentic Mexican dinner.
Figuring out how to make carne asada can be confusing. The reason for this is because it just means ‘grilled meat’ there are hundreds of different recipes! Try different carne asada marinade recipes to find one you love. Any would work in a summer grilling taco recipe.
Once the meat is marinated, you can brush it with BBQ sauce (optional but good). Use grilling tongs, which are longer than kitchen tongs, to transfer the strips of steak on to the grill. The heat should be very hot so the meat cooks fast. Flip it halfway through cooking and brush over more BBQ sauce if liked.
The BBQ sauce is optional. You don’t really need it for flavour since the best flank steak marinade ensures the meat is already tasty. But some people love the sweetness of adding BBQ sauce so it’s your call.
You will be able to see when the meat is done. If not, take a piece off and cut it in half to see how it’s cooked. Let it stand for 5 minutes before assembling to tacos. Letting steak stand after cooking always makes it juicier.
How to Serve Homemade Carne Asada
I love to use the best flank steak marinade and typically make tacos. There are other recipes you can make with it though. This hearty, flavourful meat is good in burritos or on tostadas.
It’s great with grilled onions and bell peppers with chimichurri sauce or pineapple pico de gallo on the side. Add a glass of citrus berry white sangria or a kiwi jalapeno margarita and this flank steak recipe is perfection! If you prefer wine, a Merlot or Malbec is a solid choice. For beer fans, try a pale ale to contrast or hoppy beer to complement the smoky taste.
Marinated Grilled Flank Steak Tacos Recipe
Marinated Grilled Flank Steak Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 pound flank steak cut into thin fillets
- 1/3 Cup olive oil
- 1/4 Cup lime juice fresh
- 1 orange juiced
- 1/4 Cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tsp. brown sugar
- 1 Tsp. garlic minced
- 1 Tsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 6 Tbsp. BBQ sauce optional
Instructions
- Place the flank steak fillets in a large ziplock bag.
- In a bowl combine the olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, salt and worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Pour the marinade over the flank steak and close the ziplock bag tightly.
- Shake to cover and place in the refrigerator for 2 to 24 hours.
- Preheat your grill to very hot.
- Using tongs, remove the meat from the marinade and place on the grill. Brush with BBQ sauce.
- Leave the meat on the grill for 5 to 10 minutes, then flip it over. Brush the other side with BBQsauce
- Let it grill for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. If you like your meat a bit rarer, 5 to 7 minutes per side is good.
- Check for doneness and grill for a few more minutes if necessary.
- Remove and brush with BBQ sauce again if you want.
- Serve with your favorite side dishes, or cut up and serve in tacos
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Any leftovers can be included in a salad, served with eggs and hash browns for breakfast, or used to make more tacos! I never mind having tacos more than one day in a row! Try this grilled flank steak tacos recipe – I’m sure it’ll become a summertime favourite!
This recipe is an all-time favourite for me, and it has the best flank steak marinade (aka carne asada marinade). Taco Tuesday needs these marinated grilled flank steak tacos on the menu! This flank steak recipe is one you will make again and again. All the details are included for how to make carne asada, so enjoy!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
These look amazing bella!
Wow these look so good! Omg actually divine and so tasty
Yes please. We love tacos here. This is something I need to try!
These would be awesome with a cheese tortilla shell for lower carbs, but we love a good high protein Fajita grill.
I have been cutting flank steak incorrectly this whole time! I will change that when I make this delicious recipe this weekend for my family. Tacos are my weakness.