This tender Chipotle Carne Asada recipe is one of my favorite summer recipes! Marinated in guajillo pepper, chipotle chili powder, garlic, orange, lime, beer and much more then grilled or pan seared to perfection; you'll have steak tasting like it's from Chipotle Mexican grill except better!
This steak recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners. It only takes me about 15 minutes to get the marinade ready then 10 minutes of cooking time.
Marinate the carne asada the night before then grill it the following night for a quick dinner! Make your own Chipotle Burrito Bowl using roasted chili corn salsa or serve it alongside corn salad, which can also be made ahead of time.
I often make the marinade before work, let it marinate for about 10 hours, then cook it for about 3 minutes per side. Chipotle carne asada goes really well with Summer Fruit Salad, Mango Chamoy Margarita Recipe, rice, beans or you could even substitute it for the ground beef in my Dorito Taco Salad Recipe!
The skirt steak takes on a smoky flavor from the chipotle chile powder then has really nice depth of flavor from the guajillo, cinnamon, cloves and Chef Merito's Carne Asada seasoning.
It makes the best carne asada tacos too. Just heat corn tortillas and add your favorite taco toppings.
You can also grill this on your outdoor grill. This makes it a summer time favorite for us! This recipe is popular starting around Cinco de Mayo and all through the end of summer.
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What is carne asada?
Carne asada is a marinated steak, usually skirt steak. It is most often grilled then thinly sliced.
Carne asada marinade typically includes fresh juices from oranges and limes. Garlic and beer are often added along with various seasonings.
It can be served on its own or as an ingredient in another dish, such as steak nachos or tacos.
Recipe Ingredients
- Skirt Steak - You should be able to find this at your local grocery store or butcher. Ask your butcher to clean the steak for you to cut out any extra work that may be needed. I use skirt steak to make this California Burrito recipe too!
- Guajillo Pepper - A non-spicy dried pepper that is found at most local grocery stores. You can also check a Hispanic grocery store or Amazon.
- Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves are best for this recipe.
- Orange Juice - Use fresh squeezed orange juice.
- Lime Juice - Use fresh lime juice. Do not use lime juice concentrate.
- Kosher Salt - Using kosher salt is important, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt. Do not use table salt while cooking.
- Chef Merito's Carne Asada Seasoning - I love this seasoning and use it frequently when making Mexican inspired dishes. I've recently been seeing it in local grocery stores but you can order Chef Merito's on Amazon too.
- Cumin - Cumin adds smokiness to the chipotle carne asada.
- Clove - Clove adds a really nice depth of flavor the the steak without being able to pinpoint exactly what it is. Coves aren't only for dessert!
- Cinnamon - Yes, cinnamon is good on your meat!
- Chipotle Chile Powder - This adds smokiness and a tiny bit of spice.
- Oregano - I love using oregano in my Mexican dishes. I prefer dried.
- Coriander - Coriander blends really well with the other ingredients in this recipe and adds a bright fruity flavor.
- Honey - Honey adds a little sweetness to balance everything out.
- Beer- A traditional ingredient in carne asada marinades. I typically use Corona or Modelo.
- Cilantro - I love to add a little cilantro on my chipotle carne asada right before eating.
- Queso Fresco - Queso fresco is an optional ingredient that makes a nice addition to the top of this skirt steak.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be substituted for Chipotle Chili Powder. Blend them into the marinated. Use any extra chipotle peppers on shrimp tacos!
- You don't have to use Corona. Use whatever type of beer you have available. I aim for a Mexican beer but have used American beers as well.
- No honey? Substitute 2 tablespoon granulated sugar instead.
- Don't have queso fresco? Add cotija cheese or omit the cheese altogether.
- Avocado oil or any neutral oil will work in place of olive oil.
This recipe has not been tested with any other substitution. Please leave a comment below letting us know how any other substitutions turned out!
How To Make Chipotle Carne Asada
Step 1: Making this Chipotle Carne Asada recipe is super easy. First you'll boil the guajillo peppers for 10 minutes. Transfer the guajillo peppers, water, garlic and salt to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth then add that mix to a large Ziploc bag.
Step 2: Add the remaining marinade ingredients then slosh mixture around in bag. Add skirt steak then let out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. Marinate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Step 3: Using your outdoor grill or cast iron griddle pan, cook the skirt steak for about 3 minutes per side on medium-high heat. You'll want to create a bit of char for extra flavor. Cook to desired doneness, checking the temperature with a digital meat thermometer. 120°F-125°F is what I aim for for medium rare. Remove the chipotle carne asada from the heat then let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4: Cut the carne asada against the grain in thin strips on a bias then top with cilantro and queso fresco. Serve with lime wedges
Expert Tips
- Let the steak marinate for at least 10 hours to get the full flavor potential.
- Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This helps the carne asada stay juicy. This goes for all meats large or small, such as an Air Fryer Ribeye.
- Cut against the grain when slicing. You'll end up with tough meat if you're slicing with the grain. Look at the way the fibers run in the meat then cut in the opposite direction. You'll want to cut the strip into 3-inch pieces then turn it the other way and slice against the grain.
- Use a meat thermometer. Cook the chipotle carne asada to an internal temperature of 125°F for medium rare.
- The chipotle carne asada will rise an additional 5° after taking it off the heat and letting it rest.
- I use a gallon Ziploc bag and set it inside of a pitcher when making the marinade. This helps the bag not fall over and makes adding the ingredients and steak to the bag very easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let your skirt steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting into it. This will let the cooking process finish and help keep the juices inside of the steak.
When looking at the meat you'll see small lines running in one direction. Those are the muscle fibers and "the grain" that I'm talking about. Use a sharp knife and slice the perpendicular to those lines. Slicing at an angle makes for a nice cut as well.
You have a couple different options here. My favorite cut of beef to use for carne asada is skirt steak. Here are a few options and why they work well:
Skirt Steak - Skirt steak is definitely my favorite type of meat to use in this Chipotle Carne Asada recipe or any carne asada for that matter. I like the flavor and texture. Skirt steak also cooks quickly because it's thin. Lastly, its got a higher fat content which equals more flavor.
Flank Steak - Flank steak is also an option. Flank steak is good for grilling and again, cooks fairly quickly. It's a little bit leaner, so depending what you're looking for, that can help you make a decision.
Flat Iron Steak - Flat iron steak can also be used in this Chipotle Carne Asada recipe. It's not a well known cut of beef but it is delicious. Flat iron steaks are full of marbling which makes them very tender and flavorful.
Whatever cut of beef you decide to use, there are a couple very important things to keep in mind. Let your steak rest and then cut it against the grain.
The steak should rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This helps keep the juices inside to keep your meat flavorful and juicy.
When cutting against the grain you need to determine which way the fibers are running through the meat. Then you'll want to slice in the opposite direction.
This shortens the fibers and makes the meat so much more tender to eat and less chewy.
If you end up with leftover Chipotle Carne Asada you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store the skirt steak in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Use the leftovers in Chili Garlic Noodles or to make tacos, a breakfast skillet, potato skins or soup!
Summer Fruit Salad
Mango Chamoy Margarita Recipe
Rice - White Rice or Mexican Rice.
Refried Beans, Black Beans or Frijoles Charros.
Sometimes I even make an asada bowl with it. I am obsessed with rice bowls! You could use rice or quinoa, your favorite taco toppings then either a hot sauce or chipotle sour cream.
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📖 Recipe

Chipotle Carne Asada Recipe
Equipment
- 1 grill
- 1 Ziploc bag
Ingredients
Marinade
- 4 guajillo peppers seeded and stemmed
- 4 garlic cloves peeled
- ½ tsp kosher salt for guajillo boil
- ½ cup beer corona
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon chef merito's carne asada seasoning
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ tsp chipotle chile powder
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- 1/16 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
Steak
- 1½ lbs skirt steak
Toppings (optional)
- ¼ cup cilantro rough chop
- 2 oz queso fresco
Instructions
Making the Marinade
- Add the guajillo peppers, 1 cup of water and ½ teaspoon kosher salt to a medium sauce pot. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer. Let simmer 10 minutes
- Dump entire contents of pot into a food processor, add the garlic cloves and blend until smooth. Pour that mixture into a plastic gallon Ziploc bag
- Add the remaining marinade ingredients to the bag and swish around to mix
Marinating the Steak
- Add the steak to the marinade, let out as much air as possible from the bag then seal
- Let steak marinate in the fridge for 10 hours
Cooking the Chipotle Carne Asada
- Remove the steak from the marinade then grill for 3 minutes per side on medium-high heat or until desired doneness
- Remove the steak from the heat then let rest for 5-10 minutes
- Slice chipotle carne asada against the grain, in thin slices or very small chunks
- Top with cilantro and queso fresco if desired and serve immediately
Notes
- Let the steak marinate for at least 10 hours. You won't get as much flavor if you don't
- Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into it. This helps the carne asada stay juicy
- Cut against the grain when slicing. You'll end up with tough meat if you're slicing with the grain
- For the best results cut the meat into thin strips or small chunks
- Use a meat thermometer. Cook the chipotle carne asada to an internal temperature of 125°F for medium rare
- The chipotle carne asada will rise an additional 5° after taking it off the heat and letting it rest
- If you can't find queso fresco then cotija cheese is a great option
- I use a gallon Ziploc bag and set it inside of a pitcher when making the marinade. This helps the bag not fall over and makes adding the ingredients and steak to the bag very easy
- Marinate it in the morning then it's ready to be grilled at night!
Angie Mandery
Made this tonight and it turned out amazing! I marinated the steak overnight and cooked it stove top in butter and minced garlic for a little more garlic flavor! Served with cilantro lime rice, queso fresco, corn salsa, pico de gallo and black beans! Definitely will be on the dinner rotation, family loved it!!!
admin
So happy to hear that! Thank you!