Carne asada interprets to “grilled meat,” however we’re skirting the Spanish custom a bit with my crock pot carne asada recipe! No grill, however I promise, all of the flavors you like are there: Smoky spices and vibrant citrus, soaked into juicy shredded steak. Solely 5 minutes to prep and ideal for tacos!


Whereas I typically have the time to hover over a pot on the stovetop cooking my carne guisada, set-it-and-forget-it dinners are my favourite on weeknights. Actually, nothing compares to the comfort of the crock pot! After falling in love with sluggish cooker beef barbacoa, I got down to make genuine carne asada within the crock pot. This recipe combines flank steak with orange and lime juice, seasonings, and savory herbs in a flavorful, genuine, citrusy dish. Better of all, it’s able to cook dinner in minutes.
What to Know About Crock Pot Carne Asada
- Savory citrus marinade. Like pork carnitas, my crock pot carne asada is seasoned with contemporary orange juice and lime juice. The flavors are candy, tangy, and somewhat spicy.
- 5 minutes to prep. Sear the steak and blend up the marinade, then mix all the things within the sluggish cooker. Come again hours later to tender meat that’s able to shred.
- Excellent for taco night time. I really like making crock pot carne asada within the colder months, when it isn’t precisely grilling climate. The shredded steak is juicy and flavorful, and tastes wonderful tucked into tortillas or rolled up inside beef enchiladas.


The Greatest Minimize of Beef to Use
My favourite minimize of beef for carne asada is flank steak. I exploit it for my authentic carne asada and Mojo carne asada recipes. You too can make this recipe with skirt steak or sirloin steak.


Carne Asada Marinade
The crock pot transforms cheap flank steak into moist, flavorful shredded carne asada. And it solely takes a couple of straightforward elements! Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for the total listing with quantities.
- Spices – Chili powder, paprika, and cumin. You may substitute the person spices with a mix, like fajita spice or taco seasoning, when you’d like.
- Orange Juice – It’s finest if that is freshly squeezed (you’ll have to squeeze about two oranges for ½ cup of juice). Valencia oranges are nice for juicing. When you don’t have contemporary oranges, nonetheless, store-bought orange juice works. Attempt to purchase the type that isn’t from focus.
- Lime Juice – Squeezed from one lime. So significantly better than bottled!
- Herbs – Garlic cloves and dried oregano. Substitute ½ teaspoon of garlic powder or 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic per clove if wanted. I additionally wish to have cilantro available for a garnish when serving.
Recipe Ideas
- Don’t skip the sear! Searing the meat is fast and locks within the juices earlier than sluggish cooking, for a extra flavorful completed steak.
- Citrus is crucial. Not solely does it play a key function within the flavors, however the orange and lime juice additionally assist tenderize the meat.
- Flip up the warmth. Mix chipotle peppers or jalapeños with the sauce elements for a spicy model.


Straightforward Crock Pot Carne Asada Tacos
My household’s favourite solution to eat sluggish cooker carne asada is in tacos! I’ll serve it heat from the crock with flour or corn tortillas, and toppings like bitter cream, cilantro coleslaw, and lime wedges. Carne asada can also be nice in taco bowls. Listed below are extra topping concepts:
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Sear the steak. Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Pat the flank steak dry and season it with salt and pepper. Sear the steak, about 2 minutes per aspect. Switch the steak to your crockpot.
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Mix the sauce. Add chilli powder, paprika powder, cumin powder, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, and oregano to a small blender. Mix till properly mixed.
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Mix and cook dinner. Pour the sauce over the meat. Cowl and cook dinner the flank steak on the LOW setting for 8 hours.
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Shred. As soon as the flank steak is cooked, take away it from the crock pot and shred it with two forks. Return it to the crock pot and toss the meat with the leftover juices.
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Serve. Serve the carne asada heat with tortillas, lime wedges, and chopped cilantro.
- As a substitute of flank steak, you need to use skirt steak or prime sirloin steak.
- Be sure you sear your meat earlier than cooking. Searing the meat locks in all of the juices and taste.
- Don’t skip citrus within the recipe. They tenderize the meat.
- For a spicy model, you need to use chipotle chili or jalapeños. Mix them with the remainder of the elements within the blender.
Serving: 6ounces | Energy: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 49g | Fats: 15g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7g | Ldl cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1011mg | Potassium: 911mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 627IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 4mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might range in accordance with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
The best way to Make Crock Pot Carne Asada
With solely 5 minutes of hands-on time, that is the proper make-ahead dinner. I’ll typically sear the steak and whip up the marinade the night time earlier than, so all the things is able to dump-and-go within the morning.




- Sear the steak. Whereas the oil heats up in a skillet, pat the flank steak dry and season it with salt and pepper. Subsequent, sear the steak till it’s browned on all sides. Afterward, switch the seared steak to your crock pot.
- Mix the marinade. Mix the spices, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, and oregano in a blender. Pulse till you’ve a easy sauce. Season that to style with salt and pepper.




- Mix and cook dinner. Pour the sauce into the crockpot with the steak. Cowl and cook dinner on Low for 8 hours.




- Shred and serve. When the meat is tender sufficient to shred, pull it aside utilizing two forks. Your crock pot carne asada is able to serve heat, tucked right into a tortilla topped with further lime and cilantro.


Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer the carne asada in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Reheat. Heat up the shredded steak in a saucepan on the range or within the microwave.
- Freeze. You may freeze the leftover carne asada hermetic for as much as 2 months. Thaw it within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
