These Carne Asada Tacos are the best Mexican street tacos on the internet with a delicious citrusy steak marinade that’s so easy to make!

These tacos have that same street-style flavour you’d get from your favourite taco spot, but you can make them right at home. I love serving these for a quick weeknight dinner or whenever we’re doing a casual taco night, they always disappear fast!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Big flavour, simple ingredients: The citrusy marinade brings bold, authentic taste without a long grocery list.
- Perfect for taco night: Great for feeding a crowd or keeping dinner fun and hands-on.
- Grill or stovetop friendly: You can cook the steak however you like: BBQ, grill pan or cast iron skillet.
Ingredients and substitutions
Steak marinade
- Striploin steak – I like using sirloin but you can use any cut of beef with a small amount of marbling like ribeye, skirt steak or flank steak.
- Olive oil – use any other high-smoke-point oil like avocado, peanut or coconut oil. Melted ghee would also work.
- Orange juice – freshly squeezed orange juice has the best flavor, but bottled orange juice will also work.
- Lime juice – fresh lime juice is best but bottled can be used. Lemon juice will work in a pinch but has a slightly different flavour.
- Soy sauce – use low-sodium soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari instead.
- Chili powder – make your own chili powder using a blend of spices including paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and cayenne.
- Cumin – coriander is the best substitute for cumin.
- Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best but you can also try using garlic powder or jarred minced garlic.
- Orange zest – lime zest would also work.
Tacos
- Corn tortillas – flour tortillas would also be good or you can make them into lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
- White onions – red onions are also delicious.
- Cilantro – leave this out altogether if you don’t like cilantro.
- Lime wedges – to garnish.
- Cheese – Cojita and/or feta are my go-to choices but any type of crumbly cheese will work well.
- Guacamole – store-bought guacamole would also work here.

How to make carne asada tacos

Step 1: Marinate the steak.
Let the steak sit for at least 15 minutes.
Step 2: Cook the steak.
Cook the steak until medium rare.

Step 3: Cut the steak.
Let the steak rest, then slice it into bite-sized pieces.
Step 4: Make the guacamole.
Mix mashed avocado, onion, garlic, lime juice and salt and pepper.

Step 5: Prep your toppings.
Prep any toppings and microwave the corn tortillas until softened.
Step 6: Assemble and serve!
Add the steak to the corn tortillas with the guacamole and any other toppings of your choice.

Recipe Tips and variations
Here are a few easy tips to help you get the most flavour out of your tacos, and some adjustments to make sure they're hitting the spot exactly right.
- Marinate ahead of time: The longer the steak marinates, the more flavourful it’ll be. Aim for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you can.
- Use high heat for the best sear: Whether you’re grilling or using a skillet, make sure the pan is hot to get that nice char on the outside.
- Slice against the grain: This helps keep the steak tender and easy to bite into.
- No grill? No problem: A cast iron skillet works perfectly for stovetop cooking.
- Swap the protein: Try the marinade with chicken, tofu or portobello mushrooms for a different taste.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need fresh citrus juice for the marinade?
Fresh is best for flavour, but bottled lime or orange juice can work in a pinch. Just taste and adjust as needed.
How do I keep the steak from drying out?
Avoid overcooking. Medium-rare to medium is ideal. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.
Are these tacos gluten-free?
Yes, just be sure to use corn tortillas and check that your marinade ingredients are gluten-free.

What to serve with this dish
These carne asada tacos are delicious on their own, or you can serve them with any of these side dishes:
- Mexican rice
- Refried beans
- Cactus salad
- Cowboy caviar
- Homemade tortilla chips with guac or salsa for dipping
- Corn and black bean salad
How to store and reheat
Store: Store the toppings and ingredients separately in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Reheat the steak on the grill or in the oven or serve the steak cold.
Freeze: Freeze the beef in the marinade raw or after cooking it for 3 to 4 months.

More delicious taco recipes
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls for storing the leftovers.
- I get all my steak from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Use these Ziploc bag holders to marinate the steak.
- **Get my full list of tools here**

The Best Carne Asada Tacos
Ingredients
Steak marinade
- 16 oz striploin steak
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp orange juice preferably from an orange
- 1 tbsp lime juice preferably from a lime
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp orange and/or lime zest optional
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
Tacos (assembly & toppings)
- 12 Corn tortillas (3 per person)
- Raw white or red onions, diced
- Fresh chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Feta or cotija cheese, crumbled optional
Guacamole – can use store bought instead
- 1 avocado mashed
- 2 tbsp onion white or red, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 lime juiced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl then add steak. Marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to 2 days.
- Heat skillet over med-high heat for 1-2 minutes until hot. Add steak and cook on for 2-3 minutes per side until medium rare (this will depend on the thickness of your steak). Remove from heat, let rest for 10 minutes, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Meanwhile, prepare toppings of choice and microwave corn tortillas for 10-20 seconds until softened.
- Add steak to corn tortillas and add toppings of choice. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Megan Byrd says
Hi Taylor! This carne asada taco recipe looks so amazing! I love using orange juice and even a little beer to slow cook mine at home! I completely agree that some of the most flavorful recipes can be so simple. I definitely will try this sometime, thank you for the recipe!