Carne Asada Tacos

4.5

(10)

8 Reviews

These carne asada tacos are tasty, easy to make and low in calories. They're topped with a quick homemade salsa featuring avocado, tomato, onion and a bright squeeze of lime.

Carolyn Casner

Updated on April 22, 2024

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Reviewed by Dietitian

Jill Cerreta, M.S., RD

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Servings:

Yield:

8 servings, 2 tacos each

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes-Friendly Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Low-Sodium Low Added Sugar Heart-Healthy High-Protein Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

How to Make Carne Asada Tacos

Choose the Cut of Beef

For this recipe, we recommend using flank steak or skirt steak. Flank steak is fairly lean, and it's thicker and wider than skirt steak. Skirt steak has a rich, beefy flavor with a long and narrow shape. Both flank steak and skirt steak are excellent cuts of beef for carne asada tacos—just make sure to slice them against the grain after cooking. Slicing against the grain shortens the muscle fibers, making them tender and easier to chew.

Make the Marinade

The carne asada marinade consists of 5 simple ingredients: white vinegar, chili powder, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Marinate the steak for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. The vinegar helps tenderize the steak, and the chili powder gives it a boost of spicy flavor.

Make the Salsa

The salsa can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead. Here are tips on how to dice tomatoes, how to cut an onion and how to cut an avocado.

How to Cook Carne Asada

Broiling the carne asada is a quick and easy method. Place the marinated steak on a rimmed baking sheet and broil for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until preferred doneness. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. Here are more tips on how to check for doneness. You can also grill the carne asada over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side.

How Many Calories Are in Carne Asada Tacos?

There are 350 calories per serving, which is 2 tacos.

Additional reporting by Jan Valdez

Ingredients

½ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 ¾ teaspoons salt, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 pounds flank or skirt steak, trimmed and cut into 3 equal portions
1 pound tomatoes, chopped
2-4 fresh jalapeño peppers or serrano chiles, seeded and finely diced
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 ripe but slightly firm avocado, diced
Juice of 1 lime
16 5- to 6-inch corn or whole-wheat flour tortillas, warmed
1/3 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (see Tip) or other shredded cheese

Directions

Whisk vinegar, chili powder, oil, 2 teaspoons salt and garlic powder in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
Make salsa about 20 minutes (and up to 2 hours) before cooking the meat: Gently combine tomatoes, jalapeños (or chiles) to taste, onion, cilantro, avocado, lime juice and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler.
Place the steak on a rimmed baking sheet (discard the marinade). Broil for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium. Transfer to a clean cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain. Serve the steak wrapped in warm tortillas and topped with salsa and cheese.

Equipment

9-by-13-inch baking dish, rimmed baking sheet

Tip

Cotija cheese, also called queso añejo or queso añejado, is an aged Mexican cheese similar to Parmesan. Find it near other specialty cheeses or in Mexican grocery stores.

To warm tortillas, wrap in barely damp paper towels and microwave on High for 30 to 45 seconds, or wrap in foil and bake at 300°F until steaming, 5 to 10 minutes.

To make ahead

Marinate the steak (Step 1) for up to 1 day. Prepare the salsa (Step 2) up to 2 hours ahead.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2012; updated November 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

350	Calories
14g	Fat
28g	Carbs
29g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 2 tacos
Calories 350
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 28g	10%
Dietary Fiber 6g	21%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 29g	59%
Total Fat 14g	18%
Saturated Fat 4g	21%
Cholesterol 76mg	25%
Vitamin A 802IU	16%
Vitamin C 17mg	18%
Folate 52mcg	13%
Sodium 433mg	19%
Calcium 112mg	9%
Iron 3mg	16%
Magnesium 78mg	19%
Potassium 773mg	16%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.