Carne Asada Fries
My carne asada fries feature juicy steak, spicy pico, and creamy guac. This dish has such THE BEST combination of flavors and textures.
I love Tex-Mex food like tacos and street corn. These carne asada fries are another favorite. There are so many amazing flavors and textures going on here. We have crispy fries, juicy steak, acidic pico, creamy guac, and plenty of gooey cheese. My mouth is watering just writing this post!
Don't be alarmed by the long ingredient list or extensive instructions. Many ingredients are used in multiple components, like onion, jalapeno, and cilantro.
You can also take some shortcuts like frozen fries or store-bought guac. Grab a fork and take a perfect bite with a little bit of everything. You'll be hooked! We love these for lazy weekend dinners, game days, and Taco Tuesday Try it with my Queso Blanco, or chile con queso.
❤️Why I Love This Recipe❤️
- Crispiest Homemade French Fries: My fries cook up super crispy and are well seasoned.
- Flavorful Juicy Steak: The marinade gives it great flavor and helps it cook up super tender.
- Adaptable: Feel free to use your favorite toppings or sub some store-bought ingredients.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Russet Potatoes: I like using russet potatoes to make french fries. They have a high starch content and a low amount of moisture, which leads to a crispy end result
- Cornstarch: Don't skip this ingredient; it helps remove any remaining moisture from the fries.
- Roma tomatoes: I like using this variety as they hold their shape well.
- Sweet Onion: Not a fan of raw onion? Soak in a bowl of cold water or microwave for 1-2 minutes to reduce their pungency.
- Jalapeno: To tame the spice, remove the ribs and seeds. Leave in if you prefer a spicier dish.
- Lime Juice: Always use freshly squeezed if possible. To get the most juice from your lime, roll it on the counter and/or microwave it for 20-30 seconds.
- Avocados: Look for avocados that are dark green in color and that give a little when you squeeze them but that are not mushy.
- Cheese: Shred your cheeses if possible. Pres-shredded varieties contain cornstarch, which doesn't always melt well.
- Flank Steak: This cheap and lean cut is full of flavor. Just be sure not to overcooked it as it can become tough. Cook medium or medium rare and always slice against the grain. You could also use skirt steak which is slightly tougher but fattier.
How To Make Carne Asada Fries
For the Fries
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin. Cut fries ~ ¼ inch thick. Add fries to spice mixture and toss.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for 15 more minutes.
For the Carne Asada
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Pour into a Ziploc bag with steak. Marinate for 1-4 hours. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side. Let meat rest and cut against the grain.
For the Pico De Gallo
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Add lime juice and salt to taste.
For the Guacamole
In a large bowl, mash avocados. Add other ingredients including lime juice and salt to taste.
⭐Make-Ahead Ideas⭐
The fries are best made the day of. However, to speed up this recipe, you can prep some of the components ahead of time:
- Marinate the steak: Marinate the steak up to 12 hours in advance. You can also cook it up to 1-2 days in advance.
- Make Pico: Chop the veggies and make the pico up to 2 days in advance. It gets better the longer it sets.
- Guacamole: Make up to a day in advance. Keep it from turning brown by covering it with around ½ inch of water. Pour off before serving.
Krystle's Tips and Tricks
- Flip Fries: Flip them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
- Bring steak to room temperature before cooking. This ensures even cooking and a great sear.
- Don't overcook your steak: I cook mine just until it reaches 145 degrees. Overcooking leads to dry, tough meat.
- Cut Against The Grain: Be sure to slice your steak against the grain (not parallel) to make it as tender as possible. Look for the muscle fibers and cut perpendicular at a diagonal or the tenderest steak
Temperature Guidelines
- Rare: 120–125°F
- Medium Rare: 130–135°F Meat Man Recommended!
- Medium: 135–145°F My Preference!
- Medium Well: 145–155°F
- Well Done: 155°F+
A Sprinkle Of Science: Rest Meat
Rest meat for at least 5-10 minutes before cutting. While cooking, the juices pool in the middle of the meat.
Allowing the meat to rest allows them redistribute and prevents them running out when you slice it.
FAQs
You can also cook the steak in the oven or a cast iron pan.
This is a matter of personal preference. I like peeling them for a slightly less tough texture. However, others like leaving it on the for the more rustic homemade look.
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📖 Recipe
Ultimate Carne Asada Fries
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Ingredients
For the French Fries
- 4 Russet Potatoes
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
For the Carne Asada
- 1 ½ Pounds Flank Steak
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
- 3 Limes Juiced
- ½ Cup Cilantro
- 4 Cloves Garlic Minced
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Chili Powder
- Salt/Pepper to taste
For the Pico De Gallo
- 5 Roma tomatoes Diced
- ½ Sweet Onion Diced
- ¼ Cup Cilantro Roughly Chopped
- 1 Jalapeno Pepper Seeded and Diced
- 2 teaspoons Lime Juice
- Salt to taste
For the Guacamole
- 3 Avocados
- ½ White Onion Diced
- 1 Clove Garlic Minced
- 1 Jalapeno Seeds Removed Diced
- 1 Lime Juiced
- Salt to taste
Putting It All together
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- ¼ Cup Cilantro Roughly torn
- Pickled Jalapenos
Instructions
For the Fries
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut potatoes into fries, around ¼ of an inch thick.
- In a large bowl, combine olive oil, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic power, and cumin. Add fries, and toss to coat.
- Bake for 15 minutes per side. Flip and bake for 10 more minutes or until crispy.
For the Carne Asada
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt/pepper.
- Pour into Ziploc baggie. Add steak and cook for 5-7 minutes per side on an outdoor grill.
- Allow meat to rest for 5 minutes, and then slice against the grain.
For the Pico De Gallo
- In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Adjust salt and lime juice to taste.
For the Guacamole
- In a large bowl, mash avocados. Add garlic, onion, and jalapeno. Add lime juice and salt to taste.
Putting It All together
- Add fries to cast iron or oven safe skillet. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 5 minutes or until melted.
- Add a generous amount of steak, pico, and guac. Garnish with more cilantro and jalapeno if desired.
Notes
-
- Russet Potatoes: I like using russet potatoes to make french fries.
- Cornstarch: Don't skip this ingredient; it helps remove any remaining moisture from the fries.
- Roma tomatoes: I like using this variety as they hold their shape well.
- Sweet Onion: Not a fan of raw onion? Soak in a bowl of cold water or microwave for 1-2 minutes to reduce their pungency.
- Jalapeno: To tame the spice, remove the ribs and seeds. Leave in if you prefer a spicier dish.
- Lime Juice: Always use freshly squeezed if possible. To get the most juice from your lime, roll it on the counter and/or microwave it for 20-30 seconds.
- Avocados: Look for avocados that are dark green in color and that give a little when you squeeze them but that are not mushy.
- Steak: I like using flank steak. You could also use skirt steak.
- Flip Fries: Flip them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
- Bring steak to room temperature before cooking.
- Don't overcook your steak: I cook mine just until it reaches 145 degrees. Overcooking leads to dry, tough meat.
- Rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing meat.
- Cut Against The Grain: Be sure to slice your steak against the grain (not parallel) to make it as tender as possible.
Nutrition
These fries are incredible! Loaded with delicious carne asada, they are a crowd-pleaser. The recipe is easy to follow and the dish is easy to prepare.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Heaven sent! Perfect for family movie nights! Thank you for this. Now, it won't be hard finding snacks the whole family will enjoy. Will surely try this tonight!
Everything about these fries is perfect! So delicious!
Always up for a dish that involves fries. Love how this looks!
I need to try this Carne Asada Fries immediately, it looks so good!
Made these fries as a side for dinner and they're delicious! I love how easy and flavorful they were
It takes a bit of time to make all of the components, but oh my gosh they are so good! Best fries ever! I'm glad it makes a big batch, because we all inhaled them. 🙂
These fries are out of this world delicious. My family and I absolutely loved this recipe.. Such a delicious and easy one especially for game nights or movie nights!
This was a party in my mouth! Crazy delicious!!
This was really amazing!! Packed full of amazing flavors!
Oh, my gosh, what an amazing way to top french fries! I ate these for lunch, then had the rest for dinner! Absolutely delicious!
I don't think there is anything I'd rather be eating.
Delicious!!! So so good...
We love Asada marinade! What a flavourful combination of spices. All goodness on crispy fries! This is going to be a winner at my table this weekend. Thank you!