Carne Asada Street Taco Recipe

This Carne Asada street taco recipe is so simple and easy. You are going to love how quickly these come together! Make extra because you will want leftovers to enjoy for lunch the next day.

We love tacos and these street tacos are a favorite go to meal. Usually I have many of the ingredients on hand. When there’s a sale on steak I buy a few packages so we can make this recipe a few times during the month.

Carne Asada Street Taco Recipe

You might be asking yourself what’s the difference between a street taco and a regular taco? It’s the size.

Street tacos are made with a tortilla that’s a bit smaller in size than one used for a regular taco. The street taco was made to be held by one hand. This way, when you purchased them from a street vendor, you could hold it in one hand to eat while walking down the street.

Carne Asada Street Taco Ingredients:

The ingredients are broken down in the seasoning mix and those needed for the finished taco. If you already have a favorite taco seasoning mix then you can use that in place of the one below.

Seasoning mix ingredients:

• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Ground coriander
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika
• Sea salt
• Ground black pepper
• Ground white pepper
• Cayenne pepper

Don’t have smoked paprika? Then use whatever type of paprika you have on hand.

You can also swap out the white pepper with more black pepper. White pepper has a slightly different taste than black pepper but adding more black pepper will taste just as good.

Carne asada ingredients:

Olive oil – you can also use your favorite vegetable oil

Flank or skirt steak – don’t have either of these? Use your favorite low cost cut of steak.

Mini corn tortillas (4.5” diameter) – corn tortillas are traditionally used but you can also use flour tortillas

Fresh limes – while I love the taste of fresh limes you can also get that tangy citrus flavor using bottled lime juice. Grab one of those little plastic limes for easy to squeeze lime juice. They make a good replacement when fresh limes aren’t available or are too pricey.

Seasoned sour cream topping ingredients:

• Sour cream
• Mayonnaise
• Taco seasoning – use some of the seasoning mix above or your favorite taco seasoning.

How to make Carne Asada Street Tacos:

Start by preparing the seasoning mix: Prepare the taco seasoning by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.

Get the oven ready: Place the top oven rack in the second position from top and pre-heat broiler to “High.” Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

Place the flank steak on the prepared baking sheet and evenly brush the olive oil over both sides. Evenly sprinkle one tablespoon taco seasoning over the steak. Generously season with sea salt before turning. Repeat on the other side with the remaining taco seasoning and a little more salt.

Place the steak under the broiler for 5-7 minutes, turning once halfway through, or until it reaches the desired level of doneness.

Tip: Click here for a chart showing recommended internal temperatures for beef.

Prepare the tortillas: Place a large 12” cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

While the steak is broiling, add two corn tortillas to the hot skillet. Heat until they are warmed through and develop a bit of color, approximately 30 seconds to one minute. Flip with tongs and repeat on the remaining side. Transfer the warmed tortillas to a large sheet of aluminum foil (or a tortilla warmer, if you have one).

Repeat Step 7 with the remaining tortillas. Wrap the tortillas in the aluminum foil while working on the rest to keep warm.

Prepare the seasoned sour cream topping: Whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, and one tablespoon taco seasoning together in a medium bowl and set aside.

When ready to make the tacos remove the steak from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before cutting against the grain into thin slices. Transfer the steak to a medium bowl and toss with the fresh lime juice. Set aside.

To serve, layer two tortillas together, as shown, and add some of the seasoned steak and your choice of toppings, such as sliced radishes, crumbled Cotija cheese, diced avocado, or fresh cilantro. Top each taco with a dollop of the seasoned sour cream mixture and serve immediately with additional lime wedges on the side. Enjoy!

How to store left over carne asada street tacos:

Have left over carne asada beef? You can easily refrigerate or freeze your leftovers.

Refrigerate: Place any cooled leftover steak in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Freezer: Place the leftover steak in a airtight Ziplock bag or container and then freeze. You can freeze the meat for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to write the recipe name and date on your freezer bag.

Reheat: To reheat your carne asada, thaw the meat in the fridge. Then you can simply microwave the meat until heated through, place them on a tortilla, add the toppings of your choice and enjoy!

What kind of tortillas do you use for street tacos?

Street tacos are traditionally served on corn tortillas but you may use flour if you prefer.

Should you heat your tortillas before filling them?

Before you load everything into your carne asada street, tacos, I recommend warming the corn tortillas. Heating them will make the tortilla softer and less likely to tear or break.

You can use one of several methods to warm the tortillas:

• Open flame: you can get a bit of smokey char on your tortillas but placing them directly on the burner of your gas stove over a low heat for several seconds. When they have a bit of char on them turn them over to repeat on the other side. Don’t over cook them or they will break when folded.
• Skillet: heat a skillet over medium heat and add a tortilla, without greasing the skillet. Heat each side for 20 to 30 seconds until they are soft. This method will not leave any char on the tortilla but will make them soft and easy to fold.
• Microwave: stack 5 or 6 tortillas on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 20 seconds. If they are not warmed through flip the stack over and heat for another 10 seconds.
• Oven: preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap a stack of 5 to 6 tortillas in foil. Make as many stacks as you need to serve your meal. Place the wrapped stacks on the oven racks and bake for 15 minutes or until heated through. Once they have been warmed you can keep them soft by placing a clean, damp paper towel over them.

What to serve with street tacos?

Chips and salsa: order tacos anywhere and you are likely to get chips and salsa as the appetizer or side dish.

Rice: my favorites to serve include cilantro lime rice or rice seasoned with taco seasoning. Switch it up by making orzo instead of rice.

Grilled Mexican street corn – grilled corn topped with seasoned mayonnaise with a sprinkle of cotija cheese, lime and cilantro is so good with street tacos.

Refried Beans – making your own refried beans is so easy to do. Make a batch to serve as a side dish with these delicious street tacos.

Vegetables: corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, roasted broccoli and cauliflower are all delicious with street tacos.

Salad: if you are feeing a crowd go with a corn salad or southwestern salad.

Cornbread: take your favorite corn bread recipe and add a bit of diced green chili or jalapeno and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

Don’t forget dessert! Why not include this refreshing and so easy to make Pineapple Coconut Dump Cake.

Variations of street tacos:

The best part about these tacos is that you can make them with your favorite toppings. Don’t want to use tortillas? You can easily use this carne asada steak a few different ways:

• Salad: top your favorite salad greens with slices of carne asada and add your favorite taco toppings to create a taco salad.
• Rice bowl: use your favorite rice and top with slices of carne asada and your favorite taco toppings.
• Burrito: use a larger tortilla, fill with carne asada and your favorite toppings then roll into a burrito.

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You might also enjoy these recipes:

Cheesy Pesto Chicken

Cajun Chicken and Sausage

Shrimp and Vegetables

Or try this easy to make Pineapple Coconut Dump Cake

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