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Home ยป Recipe Index ยป Dinner and Main Course Recipes

Carne Asada Fries

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight Jessica Randhawa
January 4, 2023
4.82 from 11 votes


Last Updated January 4, 2023 | 2 Comments

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Carne Asada Fries are made with crispy baked french fries smothered with tender grilled carne asada and delicious toppings like pico de gallo, melted cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Easily made at home, they’re a great way to use leftover grilled steak and make the perfect meal or appetizer for game days and parties.

Large baking sheet line with parchment paper and filled with french fries smothered with carne asada, cheese, jalapeno, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole.

One thing I miss most about living in Southern California is its incredible Mexican food. Walk down the street, and you’re guaranteed to fill your belly with some of the most authentic Mexican food north of the border. But you’ll also find less traditional Mexican dishes, like these loaded carne asada fries.

Originating in San Diego, carne asada fries, also known as Mexican steak fries, are basically nachos, but instead of tortilla chips, they’re made with French fries. Topped with juicy grilled marinated steak, gooey melted cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and whatever else your heart desires, it’s hard to deny the genius of these fully loaded fries.

Perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Ingredients for Carne Asada Nachos measured out and set aside in individual serving bowls.

How to Make Carne Asada Fries

1. If you don’t already have leftover carne asada, you’ll want to begin by marinating the steak. Translated from Spanish, carne asada literally means “grilled meat,” but it’s key to marinate it first. If using skirt steak, marinate for at least 1-4 hours; flank steak will need at least 4 hours.

2. Next, cook the steak using an outdoor gas grill, charcoal grill, or on the stovetop using a cast iron grill pan. Skirt steak and flank steak cook pretty quickly, around 6-10 minutes per side. Thicker cuts of meat will take longer to cook.

3. Remove the steak to a clean cutting board and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Cut into small bite-size pieces.

Two images side-by-side. The first image shows grilled carne asada on a cutting board; the second image shows finely chopped carne asada on a large cutting board.

4. Bake the frozen fries according to the package directions until they are golden and crispy. Remove the fries from the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a separate baking pan with parchment paper.

5. Assemble the carne asada fries. First, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then top with the prepared carne asada, followed by the shredded cheese and sliced jalapenos. Note: for extra cheesy fries, add an additional layer of cheese directly on top of the fries before adding the meat. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

6. Add your favorite toppings. Here I’ve added my homemade pico de gallo and guacamole with sour cream.

Six images. The first image shows a baking sheet lined with parchment paper covered with baked french fries; the second image shows a baking sheet lined with parchment paper covered with baked french fries and chopped carne asada; the third image shows a baking sheet lined with parchment paper covered with baked french fries, carne asada, and cheese; the fourth image shows a baking sheet lined with parchment paper covered with baked french fries, carne asada, cheese, and sliced jalapenos; the fifth image shows a baking sheet lined with parchment paper covered with baked french fries, carne asada, cheese, and sliced jalapenos, and pico de gallo; the last image shows , carne asada, cheese, and sliced jalapenos, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole.

Recommended Toppings

To make the best carne asada fries, I highly recommend adding at least three of the following:

  • Guacamole
  • Salsa, Mango Salsa, or Pico de Gallo
  • Shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, Queso fresco or Cotija cheese
  • Avocado
  • Chipotle Crema
  • Thinly sliced radish
  • Jalapeños
  • Pickled Red Onions
  • Sour cream
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Queso cheese
Large baking sheet line with parchment paper and filled with french fries smothered with carne asada, cheese, jalapeno, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole.

Storage and Reheating

Note that carne asada fries and best enjoyed immediately when the fries are hot and crispy, and the cheese is melty. The fries will soften over time – especially after refrigeration.

Storage: Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, wait to add sour cream and guacamole until just before serving.

Reheating: Transfer leftovers to a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave at 30-second intervals until reheated. You may also reheat in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until warm.

A spoonful of sour cream being added to a platter filled with grilled steak fries.

More Delicious Mexican Dishes

  • Carne Asada Tacos
  • Mexican Mole Sauce Recipe (Chicken Mole)
  • Carnitas Recipe (Mexican Slow Cooker Pulled Pork)
  • Mexican Birria Recipe (How to Make Birria)
  • Pozole Rojo Recipe (Red Posole)
  • Pozole Verde
  • Caldo de Pollo Recipe (Mexican Chicken Soup)

If you try making this Carne Asada Fries Recipe, please leave me a comment below! I always love to read your thoughts and feedback!

Three small serving plates filled with carne asada fries topped with sour cream next to a large baking sheet filled with the remaining carne asada nachos.

RECIPE CARD

Large baking sheet line with parchment paper and filled with french fries smothered with carne asada, cheese, jalapeno, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole.

Carne Asada Fries Recipe

4.82 from 11 votes
AuthorAuthor: Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa
Carne Asada Fries are made with crispy baked french fries smothered with tender grilled carne asada and delicious toppings like pico de gallo, melted cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Beef, Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1195 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Ingredients in Carne Asada Fries

  • 1 recipe carne asada - See the ingredients and instructions below
  • 1 (2-pound) bag frozen French fries
  • salt and black pepper - to season
  • 2 cups Colby Jack cheese - shredded
  • 1 jalapeño - sliced
  • 1 cup pico de gallo - more if desired
  • ½ cup guacamole - more if desired
  • ½ cup sour cream - more if desired

Carne Asada Ingredients

  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon minced cilantro
  • 1½ tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1½ tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic - minced
  • 1½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 pound skirt steak or flank steak
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
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Instructions
 

How to Make Carne Asada Fries

  • Prepare the carne asada ahead of time according to recipe instructions. Note that carne asada requires between 1-4 hours to marinate and takes approximately 20 or so minutes to grill.
  • Next, bake the frozen fries according to the package directions until they are golden and crispy. Remove the fries from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Line a large baking sheet (or the same one that was used for baking the fries) with parchment paper. Arrange the fries on top of the parchment paper and sprinkle them with salt and black pepper. Add the diced carne asada to the top of the fries in an even layer. Then sprinkle the cheese and sliced jalapeño over the top of the carne asada.
  • Transfer to the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Top with fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and salsa, and serve with sliced limes and minced cilantro, if desired.

How to Make Carne Asada

  • Combine the marinade ingredients in a large bowl (orange juice, soy sauce, cilantro, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, and chili powder), then transfer the marinade and steak to a large Ziplock bag. Seal tightly and marinate for 1-4 hours or up to 12 hours.
  • To cook, heat a large cast iron grill pan over high heat. Once hot, coat the pan with oil and add the steak. Cook for 6-10 minutes per side or until it is cooked to your desired doneness. Transfer the meat to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Jessica’s Notes

For more details about cooking carne asada at home (including outdoor grilling instructions), I encourage you to check out my dedicated carne asada recipe.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 1195kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 33g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 2295mg | Potassium: 1505mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1185IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 506mg | Iron: 6mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

218 shares
Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

About Jessica Randhawa

Chef Jessica Randhawa leads The Forked Spoon. A world traveler, Jessica developed her passion for culinary arts while adventuring. With her recipes making their way onto renowned platforms such as Women's Health, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, and Fox News, she's marked her presence in the culinary world. Jessica's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Ellen says

    June 30, 2023 at 5:41 pm

    5 stars
    This was a request from our grandchildren who live in Arizona. It’s their favorite food. I liked the way this recipe was written and the marinade sounded great. I wish I had put the french fries in the oven a little earlier as they seemed to take forever, but we all loved the outcome.
    Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlightJessica Randhawa says

      July 1, 2023 at 6:53 am

      I love hearing that you grandchildren loved it, Ellen ๐Ÿ˜€

      Reply

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Recipe Rating




4.82 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

Close up photo of Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon in a blue spotted dress, in the sunlight

Welcome to The Forked Spoon! I’m Chef Jessica Randhawa, and for over 14 years, I’ve been crafting and sharing more than 1200 recipes, blending delicious flavors with practical kitchen tips and expert culinary advice to elevate your everyday cooking. Learn more about meโ†’

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