Carne Asada with Grilled Nopales

Carne asada is a Mexican grilled beef dish made for slicing thinly and tucking into warm tortillas with simple, fresh toppings. Here, skirt steak gets a bright lime, garlic, cumin and oregano marinade before a fast, high-heat grill, giving the meat a charred edge while keeping it juicy when cut against the grain. Grilled nopales add a distinctive cactus-paddle bite: tender, lightly smoky and pleasantly vegetal once the surface has dried and charred. Finished with white onion, fresh coriander and the steak’s resting juices, it is a straightforward taco-style dinner with clean citrus, savoury spice and plenty of grill flavour.
Cuisine style Mexican grilled tacos
Cooking style Crowd-friendly • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Bright, smoky flavour: Lime, garlic, cumin and oregano season the steak quickly, while the grill adds the char that defines carne asada.
  • Tender beef, charred nopales: Fast grilling keeps skirt steak juicy, and cooking the nopales over high heat softens their texture while reducing surface stickiness.
  • Built for tacos: Warm corn tortillas, onion and coriander keep the serving simple, fresh and easy to assemble at the table.

Get the most out of this recipe

Timing notes

  • Keep the marinade brief: The lime-based marinade flavours the steak quickly; avoid leaving it too long, as extended acidic marinating can affect the texture of thin cuts.
  • Rest before slicing: A short rest helps the juices settle before the steak is sliced thinly against the grain.
  • Serve while warm: Carne asada is at its best soon after grilling, when the tortillas are pliable and the steak still carries its grilled aroma.

Texture tips

  • Slice against the grain: Skirt steak has a clear muscle grain; cutting across it shortens the fibres and gives a much more tender bite.
  • Dry the nopales well: If the cactus paddles are slippery, rinse and pat them dry before grilling so they char rather than steam.

Ingredient notes

  • Use skirt or flank steak: Both cuts suit hot, fast grilling, but they need thin slicing across the grain to stay tender.
  • Dried oregano works well: Dried oregano stands up to the assertive lime and garlic marinade without becoming grassy or overpowering.
  • Warm the tortillas last: Heating the tortillas just before serving keeps them flexible enough to fold around the steak and nopales.

Make-ahead tips

  • Prepare toppings in advance: The onion and coriander can be chopped ahead and kept chilled until serving.
  • Reheat gently but thoroughly: Warm leftover steak and nopales in a hot pan with a small splash of water until piping hot, then heat fresh tortillas separately.
  • Freeze the cooked filling: The cooked steak and nopales can be frozen, but the tortillas are better warmed fresh.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Finely grate or crush the garlic, then squeeze the limes into a mixing bowl. Whisk in the ground cumin, dried oregano, fine sea salt, black pepper and olive oil.
  2. Add the beef skirt steak to the bowl and turn to coat well. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 25 minutes while you prepare the grill and toppings.
  3. Finely dice the white onion and roughly chop the fresh coriander. Set aside for serving.
  4. Heat a barbecue grill to high and clean the grates. Lift the steak from the marinade, letting excess drip back into the bowl, and place the nopales on a plate ready to grill.
  5. Grill the nopales for 3 to 5 minutes per side until tender with light charring and less sticky on the surface. Transfer to a board and let them cool slightly.
  6. Grill the skirt steak for 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until nicely charred and cooked to your liking. Rest the steak for 5 minutes before slicing.
  7. While the steak rests, warm the corn tortillas on the grill for about 20 to 30 seconds per side until pliable and lightly toasted. Slice the steak against the grain and cut the nopales into strips.
  8. Serve the steak and nopales with the warm tortillas, topped with the onion and fresh coriander. Spoon over any resting juices from the board for extra flavour.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the most tender bite, slice the beef skirt steak thinly and always against the grain.
  • If your nopales are very slimy, give them a quick rinse and pat dry before grilling; high heat helps the surface dry and char.
  • If serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, cook the steak to well done and ensure it is piping hot throughout.

Substitutions

  • Replace lime with lemon for a slightly softer citrus flavour in the marinade.
  • Replace fresh coriander with fresh flat-leaf parsley for a milder, more herbaceous finish.
  • Replace beef skirt steak with beef flank steak, keeping the same quick, high-heat grilling and slicing against the grain.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool leftovers quickly, then refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat the steak and nopales in a hot frying pan with a small splash of water until piping hot, and warm the corn tortillas briefly in a dry pan; freeze the cooked steak and nopales (not the tortillas) for up to 2 months.

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Carne Asada with Grilled Nopales
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 55min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: Mexican
Freezer friendly Kid friendly

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