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Loaded carne asada fries are topped with tender-marinated meat and packed with Mexican flavor. They are completely customizable!
Topped with Carne Asada, these French Fries are completely indulgent and full of Mexican flavors!
We Love Loaded Fries!
Carne asada fries are similar in concept to Loaded Nachos except with french fries and juicy, citrusy carne asada (grilled, marinated meat).
This Mexican dish first showed up on the scene in San Diego, California, and has since become super popular at Mexican-American eateries and food trucks served as a meal or appetizer.
If you’ve had it before you’ll know just how amazing it is and it should be no surprise why our family loves Carne Asada Fries!
Why we love them:
- Worth the wait. While the meat does take time, the flavor is well worth the effort!
- Enjoy as a meal, side or appetizer. These loaded fries are filling as a meal all by themselves, but could easily be served as side or Mexican appetizer.
- Make it your own. I, of course, love that they can be topped with your favorite taco toppings and made in individual servings.
Ingredients
- flank steak – or flat iron steak. To save time, pick up pre-marinated carne asada instead of making your own.
- olive oil
- lime juice – fresh or bottled.
- cilantro
- minced garlic
- cumin powder
- chili powder
- salt and pepper
- frozen French fries – I used regular straight-cut french fries, but you can also use crinkle cut, or steak-cut fries with a sturdy texture that can hold up well under the toppings, or use russet potatoes to make Baked French Fries or classic French Fries.
- toppings – sour cream, guacamole, Roma tomatoes – other toppings such as sliced jalapenos, Pico de Gallo, shredded cheese, sliced avocados, cheddar cheese, salsa, corn, green onions, or hot sauce.
How to Make Carne Asada Fries
- MARINADE. Whisk the carne asada marinade in a small bowl.
- Add steak to the bowl or to a baking dish (with marinade poured over) making sure the meat is coated. Marinate for 2-3 hours.
- FRENCH FRIES. Before grilling up meat, bake or fry french fries as directed.
- MEAT. Heat grill to medium-high heat and cook meat for 5-7 minutes on each side. Let meat rest on the cutting board for 5 minutes.
- ASSEMBLE + SERVE. Place cooked french fries on a large platter, and add toppings.
Recipe Tips
- Cooking the meat. The most widely used method is to grill the meat using a propane or charcoal grill. You can also fry it in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop or place it on a grill pan and broil it in the oven.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to your preference: Rare (about 125°F), medium-rare (about 135°F), and medium (about 145°F).
- Slicing the meat. Slice against the grain and then cut those slices into bite-sized pieces. (Against the grain means cutting it perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers.) This helps to shorten the muscle fibers, resulting in more tender and easier-to-chew meat.
Storing Info
- Make ahead of time. I don’t recommend fully making this dish ahead of time, however, you can prepare the different elements. Cook and slice the meat, cook the fries, and prepare any toppings. Keep them stored separately until you are ready to assemble them. Heat before serving.
- STORE. Remove any toppings with a higher water content like tomatoes, pico, or salsa because they can make the dish soggy faster. Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- Reheating carne asada fries in the oven can help the fries crisp up a little, but the microwave can be used as well.
For More Mexican Appetizers:
Carne Asada Fries Recipe
Loaded carne asada fries are topped with tender-marinated meat and packed with Mexican flavor. They are completely customizable!
Ingredients
Carne Asada
- 1½ pounds flank steak, (or flat iron steak)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Fries
- 1 (26-ounce) package frozen French fries
- sour cream
- guacamole
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
Instructions
- Make marinade by combining olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, minced garlic, cumin, and chili powder in a small bowl.
- Add steak to the bowl or to a baking dish (with marinade poured over) making sure meat is coated and marinated for 2-3 hours.
- Before grilling up meat, bake or fry French fries according to package instructions depending on preference.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat and cook meat for 5-7 minutes on each side. Let meat rest on cutting board for 5 minutes.
- Slice meat at an angle against the grain with a sharp knife and serve warm.
- Place cooked french fries on a large platter, top with shredded cheese, carne asada, sour cream, guacamole, chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 204kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 50mg, Potassium: 352mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 240IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
