Carne Asada Marinade

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Orange juice, lime juice, cilantro, chipotle peppers, soy sauce, garlic, and spices make this the best Carne Asada Marinade ever! It’s so easy to whip up and is full of Mexican flavors.

This Carne Asada Marinade recipe is loaded with authentic Mexican flavor. It’s zesty from the fresh citrus juices and vibrant with fresh cilantro. Chipotle peppers add a lovely smokiness while soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin season it to perfection.

You’ll get the best flavor by allowing the meat to marinade for at least 4 hours before grilling. But if you can wait, an overnight marinade will yield the best results.

If you like this marinade, you may enjoy our other Mexican sauces.

What You Need to Make Carne Asada Marinade

Ingredients

Citrus juice: Fresh orange juice and lime juice.
Cilantro: Use the entire bunch including leaves and stems.
Chipotle peppers: You need two whole peppers canned in adobo.
Soy sauce: Regular or low sodium.
Garlic: 4 cloves of garlic yield the most flavor.
Brown sugar: Dark brown sugar tastes the best.
Spices: Chili powder, ground cumin, and black pepper.
Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil.

How to Make Carne Asada Marinade

Ready for the most flavorful carne asada you’ve ever had? Here’s how to make this delicious marinade.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor.
Process until cilantro and garlic are broken down.
Place your steak in a resealable bag and pour the marinade over the top. Seal the bag and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Ingredients for carne asada marinade in a food processor.

Carne asada marinade blended in a food processor.

Steak with carne asada marinade in zip top bag.

Tips For Success

Use freshly squeezed orange and lime juice for the best flavor.
Leave and stems of cilantro are fine to use. There’s a lot of flavor in the stems!
Allow the meat to marinate for at least 4 hours for it to soak up all the delicious flavor of the marinade.

Carne asada marinated steak sliced on a white plate.

Storage & Freezing

It’s best to use this steak marinade immediately after it’s made. The marinated meat should be stored in the refrigerator and cooked within 24 hours.

Recipe FAQ’s

What meat to use with carne asada marinade?

Flank steak, skirt steak, flat iron steak, and hanger steak are all great options.