Carne Asada Tacos
Carne Asada Tacos include flank steak seasoned with Mexican flavors, combined with queso fresco cheese, jalapenos, and onion in a charred tortilla that is drizzled with a Creamy Cilantro Dressing.
It’s taken me a bit to bring a couple of recipes together, but it’s now done and this recipe for Carne Asada Tacos combines a delicious Flank Steak with additional ingredients like queso fresco cheese, chopped red onion and jalapeno in a charred tortilla that is drizzled with a luscious Creamy Cilantro Sauce. Altogether these three recipes will provide the components for fabulous tacos. I promise, it was worth the wait!
I think the flavor of tortillas are always enhanced if gently warmed. Sometimes it’s a quick trip to the microwave but more often it’s a moment on my stove-top. I do have a gas range so I simply turn on one or two of the burners and let each tortilla rest over a medium flame on each side for a minute or so until it starts to bubble and slightly char. The flavor imparted with that char is worth bypassing the quicker microwave moment.
There are several other options though if you want to follow suit and don’t have a gas appliance in your home. Try using your grill outdoors after grilling the meat for your dish, warm them in a cast iron skillet, or put them on a cookie sheet and broil or airfry each side in your oven.
Of course, central to Carne Asada Tacos is the Mexican Flank Steak which is marinated in citrus juices along with jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, chili powder and cumin. This flavorful steak is then combined in the charred tortilla with more onion, jalapeño, queso fresco cheese and cilantro and drizzled with the equally flavorful Creamy Cilantro Dressing.
One of the beauties of Carne Asada Tacos are how you can so easily make them to suit your taste. Not crazy about cilantro? Omit it from the dressing and the taco. Prefer cheddar or Monterey jack cheese? Go for it. Add more too items too. I had planned on avocado, unfortunately my avocado decided to get old overnight…so no muy bueno and it was history!
If I have the time, I will caramelize a couple of onions too but even with them, I still like the flavor of some raw onion in my tacos…I often do both!
If I’m having company, I simply put everything on plates or in bowls and let each guest make their own; making my friends happy is important but making service easy on the host is a priority too. I want to enjoy time with my guests!
Want to make it a full Mexican themed meal? Prepare these Carne Asada Tacos with delicious Mexican Cilantro Rice and/or Homemade Refried Beans made easily in an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (affiliate link). And always, always…the Best Fresh Margarita! Olé!
More Favorite Mexican Dishes
Main Dishes
- Mexican Cilantro Rice
- Homemade Refried Beans
- Refried Bean and Beef Nachos
- The Best Guacomole
- Homemade Enchilada Casserole
- Chipotle Chili
- Spaghetti with Poblano Cream Sauce
- Mexican Chocolate Pie
Cocktails
PIN IT! ‘Carne Asada Tacos’
Carne Asada Tacos
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds Carne Asada Flank Steak – See Notes
- ¾ cup Creamy Cilantro Dressing – See Notes
- 12 flour tortillas or corn tortillas (about 6 to 7-inches in diameter)
- 3 ounces queso fresco cheese, crumbled (see Notes)
- ¼ red onion, diced small
- 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Make the Carne Asada and Creamy Cilantro Dressing (See Notes for Links)
- If you want to char the tortillas, preheat a griddle over high heat. Once hot, add a tortilla and cook until it starts to show char marks, then flip it and cook it on the second side the same way (it may bubble up, which is fine). It generally takes about 1 minute per tortilla, flipping once. (See Notes.)
- To assemble the tacos, place a charred tortilla on a plate. Top with meat, cheese, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and cilantro dressing (or any toppings you like).
- Serve.
Notes
Or, if you have a gas range indoors, turn on a flame and lay the tortilla on the gas range bars, over the flame. Watch closely! Queso Fresco: If you can’t find queso fresco, you can substitute with another creamy, mild crumbly cheese such as queso blanco. Another option is to use shredded Monterey Jack.
