Save time on dinner by cooking this delicious juicy air fryer carne asada recipe! Flank steak is marinaded in citrus juices and seasonings, then cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Serve this juicy steak with spicy chimichurri in tacos or burrito bowls.
Using the air fryer can save time (and mess) in the kitchen. It’s great for making dinner on busy nights. Try Air Fryer Swordfish Steaks or Air Fryer Quesadillas for more easy dinner ideas!
Jump to RecipeWhy this recipe works
- Quick and easy dinner option
- Simple recipe with fresh ingredients
- Cooking with the air fryer is a great way to to save time on dinner
- This juicy meat can be used in tacos, burrito bowls, or as the main protein
What is Carne Asada?
Carne asada is a traditional Mexican dish made from grilled beef. Carne asada can be made from skirt steak, strip steak, flank steak, or sirloin. The steak is usually marinated in a blend of spices and lime juice, then grilled at high heat.
For this version, the steak cooks in the air fryer to save time! For more information, check out this article on Types of Mexican Meat.
Ingredients
Flank steak - Flank steak can be a delicious cut of meat when prepared correctly. Make sure to slice it against the grain for the most tender bites of meat. You can substitute flank steak different cuts of beef like skirt steak or sirloin steak. If using skirt steak instead, marinate for at least 8 hours.
Lime and orange juice - You will need about 2-3 medium limes, and ½ a large orange for this recipe. The acidity in citrus juices helps flavor and tenderize the flank steak while marinating.
Apple cider vinegar - This acidic vinegar also adds extra flavor and helps to tenderize the steak.
Cilantro - A classic flavor to pair with carne asada. If you don’t like cilantro, can substitute for parsley.
Seasonings - cumin powder, chili powder, paprika, garlic salt and black pepper go into the marinade for steak seasoning.
Honey - Honey is optional, but the sugars will caramelize in the air fryer giving the outside of the steak a nice color and adds to the depth of flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Equipment
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How to Make Air Fryer Carne Asada
Step 1: Marinate
Add ingredients to a large zip top bag and close, removing any excess air. Turn the bag over several times, massaging all ingredients into the steak. Marinate for up to 1 hour.
Step 2: Cook
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once the air fryer has preheated, place the flank steak in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes, until the internal temperature of the steak reaches 145°F, which is a medium level of doneness.
Step 3: Rest
Allow the carne asada to rest on a cutting board, gently tented with foil, for 10-15 minutes.
Step 4: Slice
After resting, thinly slice the carne asada against the grain.This will help it be more tender.
Serve on your favorite tacos or quesadillas, or in a plate or burrito bowl with my delicious Mexican Cauliflower Rice and chimichurri!
Serving Suggestions
Use this delicious air fryer carne asada as an easy main course paired with sides. Serve finely chopped steak in carne asada tacos with sour cream and pico de gallo. Here are some other ideas for serving.
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
- Vegan Mexican Rice
- Mexican Green Beans
- Fajita Veggies
- Make nachos with Corn Tortilla Chips
- Mexican Avocado Salad
- Spicy Chimichurri or Spicy Serrano Salsa Verde
Expert Tips
- 8 minutes at 400°F in the air fryer will cook the steak to about medium. If you want to cook to medium-well or well done, add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Use an instant meat thermometer to know exactly when your steak is cooked to the right temperature.
- Since flank steak is usually a thinner cut of meat, it will cook quickly so keep an eye on it.
- For best results, let the steak sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to cooking.
- Store leftover air fryer carne asada steak in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Carne Asada (Air Fryer Flank Steak Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds flank steak
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lime juice about 2-3 medium limes
- 2 tablespoons orange juice about ½ orange
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cilantro fresh
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey optional
Instructions
- If needed, cut flank steak in half, and place in a gallon sized zip top bag. Add remaining ingredients to the bag, and zip closed, removing any excess air. Turn the bag over several times, massaging all ingredients into the steak.
- Place the bag flat in the refrigerator, ensuring the pieces of flank steak are not overlapping and are well coated with the marinade. Allow the flank steak to marinate for up to one hour. For the last 30 minutes of marinating, leave flank steak out on the counter to come to room temperature. Flip the steaks over and gently massage in marinade periodically.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once the air fryer has preheated, place the flank steak in the air fryer.
- Cook for 8 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145°F. If desired (if you prefer your steak slightly more cooked), cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the steak from the air fryer and allow it to rest, gently tented with foil, for 10-15 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain.
- Serve on your favorite tacos or quesadillas, or in a plate or burrito bowl with my delicious Mexican Cauliflower Rice and chimichurri!
Notes
- Honey is optional, but I recommend it for creating a nice color on the outside of the steak.
- Can substitute flank steak for skirt steak.
- For Skirt Steak: Marinate for AT LEAST 8 hours. Cooking skirt steak should take the same amount of time, unless it is very thin, then reduce cook time by 2 minutes.
- Store leftover air fryer carne asada steak in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
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