Name: Carne Asada Seasoning
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp onion powder; 2 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp ground coriander; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp black pepper; ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

This homemade 5-minute Carne asada seasoning blend will elevate your meat dishes and transport you to South America or Mexico with the first bite. Fragrant, flavorful, and perfectly hot, it is perfect for a steak night!

Carne asada is perfect for grilled chicken or steak, and the flavors are just hard to turn down.
My advice to you is to double the recipe and make a big batch of this seasoning because you will love it, and summer is very close, so you’re going to need it!

Gina’s Recipe Rundown:

Taste: Carne asada seasoning complements any cut of beef amazingly, adding spicy, sweet, savory Mexican flavors.

Ease: Insanely easy, just a 5-minute recipe.

Why I love it: the grilled meat with this seasoning is out of this world! This is a must for all summer BBQs, and nothing compares with carne asada meat just off the grill!

Make sure to check my quick carne asada recipe and the juicy sliders I make with it. Anything you make with carne asada seasoning is great for game nights, the Super Bowl, Taco Tuesday, or Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

Table of Contents

[show]

What Is Carne Asada?

Carne asada is a Mexican and Argentinian meat dish, usually steak or chicken (pollo asada), that you marinate with a dry rub or liquid marinade with lime juice and a blend of seasonings.

It is used for grilling (asada literally translates to “grilled”).

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You will love it because it barely takes 5 minutes to make the carne asada seasoning mix, and it is so worth it!
Versatile. It goes well with any meat, especially good for a steak night.
Not too spicy, just enough to have a little kick!
Literally, no cooking skills required, and you just combine and store the blend.
Better than any store-bought Mexican seasonings!

Ingredients Notes

Chili powder. This is a tricky one, that’s the blend made with ground dried chili peppers and other spices, not JUST chile powder, so be careful.
Smoked paprika is best, in my opinion, but regular paprika works too.
Ground cumin
Garlic powder or granulated garlic
Onion powder or granulated onion
Dried oregano. If you can find Mexican oregano, go for it!
Ground coriander or dried cilantro leaves.
Salt and black pepper. You can use sea salt in a pinch.
Cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

Kitchen Equipment

small bowl
airtight container
measuring spoons
whisk
meat thermometer – when cooking
outdoor grill – for cooking
spice jar for storing

homemade seasonings for Mexican beef recipes

How To Make Authentic Carne Asada Seasoning

Combine the chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, coriander, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.

Whisk together until well combined.

Carne Asada Marinade

To make carne asada marinade, mix with lime juice and vegetable oil (olive oil is the best here).

You can also use other liquids to make the marinade, like:

Orange juice (will add a sweet, bright flavor). Citrus juices also help tenderize the meat. Use freshly squeezed juices.
Soy Sauce is not an authentic ingredient, but it adds some rich, smoky flavor and brings the best of Asian flavors forward.
Chili oil for those who love their flank steak, nice and spicy.
Red wine vinegar tenderizes the meat and adds a nice tang.
Worcestershire sauce for flavor and tender meat. Plus, it has sugar and molasses, which add flavor and balance out the heat.

Marinate up to 24 hours in a sealed bag or a deep enough dish. You can adjust the recipe; see my notes below.

How To Use Carne Asada Seasoning & Marinade

As a rub, generously rub onto both sides the pat-dry steak when marinating steak or other meats, and let the meat sit in it for at least 7 hours, best overnight. Use 1 ½ tablespoons of carne asada seasoning per pound.

Cook the steak for 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare doneness. The internal temperature should be 135°F. Then let the meat rest for about 10 minutes.

Use this spice blend to grill meat, for making tacos, burritos, and taco bowls. If you don’t have a grill (or it is not the season for it), you can easily make carne asada in a cast-iron skillet.

Meat to use: Classic beef steak is the most common way to use the spice mix. You can try flap steak, flank or skirt steak, rump roast, chicken meat, and pork. There are just so many great recipes you can use this seasoning for.

Storage

Store carne asada seasoning blend in an airtight container or a mason jar for up to 3 months.

Some people say you can store it for up to 6 months, but I find it losing its aroma and potency by this time or beyond.

If using onion and garlic powder, make sure to store the mix in a dry, dark spot as the powders tend to clump up.

Substitutions & Variations

Add any seasonings and spices you love. It can be cilantro, garlic, chili powder, red pepper, cumin, paprika, and peppers. The dried form is best to make sure everything is well combined.
Adjust the heat. You can skip hot peppers or add more. Chopped chipotle pepper (even canned works), jalapenos, chile de arbol, and dried peppers work amazingly.
The San Diego version of carne asada seasoning also often uses garlic salt (along with garlic powder!) and cloves.
In the marinade, you can swap garlic powder with finely minced garlic, too, for more flavor.
You can skip the salt and let everyone add it to taste.
Citrus flavor. For dry rub, as we don’t use lime juice, but if you still want some zesty flavors, you can add lime zest or crystallized lime powder.

Expert Tips To Make The Best Carne Asada Marinade & Rub

If using this recipe as a marinade, make sure to save some! The remaining marinade works so well on top of freshly grilled medium rare steak!
Serve the thin slices of cooked and rested steak with your favorite Mexican sides: Pico de gallo, green and red bell peppers, guacamole, black beans or rice, or a light salad.
Note that naturally, all the spices should be gluten-free, but as they are mass-produced, there is a risk of cross-contamination. Please check the package information.
When making your meal with this seasoning, try adding fresh flavors like a squeeze of lime, red onion, chipotle powder, lemon juice, or white pepper.
Use this seasoning on ground beef or sirloin steak to make street tacos with authentic Mexican flavors.

Use This Seasoning With These Recipes

Instant Pot Carne Asada

Carne Asada Sliders

Cream Cheese Salsa Dip

CONNECT WITH YUMMI HAUS!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!

FB, Pinterest, IG, Email Subscription

Rate this Recipe