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All of the carne asada flavor, none of the fuss. Slow-cooked shredded crispy beef stuffed into warmed tortillas to make the best Mexican street tacos. All made in the slow cooker (along with instant pot and grilling variations). Serve each crockpot steak taco with a creamy cilantro lime garlic sauce, and baked Mexican fries.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Delicious carne asada flavor with the ease of a crockpot: set-and-forget
- Loaded with fresh, crunchy, and creamy toppings
The story
Monday felt like it needed a fun dinner, so taco night it is. But guys, these are not your average tacos. I call these “loaded” carne asada street tacos. It’s my fun twist on the traditional version.
With Cinco de Mayo just a week away I wanted to be sure to share a few new Mexican recipes for you all to easily recreate at home. Something about Mexican food is not only beyond delicious, but always feels fun and anything but fancy, which I kind of love. Tacos are laid back, low key, make yourself a margarita, sip, and eat, kind of food.
And well, right now they’re transporting me to the Mexican sunshine and have me dreaming of a vacation. It’s wonderful…and somewhat torturous at the same time. Soon enough that vacation will happen, but until then, let’s just build up the excitement with Monday night street tacos, Mexican-fiesta style.
Sound good? Perfect.
In full disclosure, traditional Carne Asada is always, always a grilled steak taco. But hear me out. For one, it’s not grilling weather up here in the mountains just yet (but I did provide grilling directions). And two? The slow cooker is easy, hands-off, and always leaves me with perfectly tender beef, that shreds nicely.
Just trying to do what’s easiest and what tastes best.
These fun street tacos were inspired by the ever so famous Carne Asada Burrito that’s commonly served up in the San Diego area. My cousin, Abby, who has lived in San Diego for years, loves these burritos. The best part about them? They come “loaded” with grilled carne asada, crema, salsa, cheese, and french fries. Yes, french fries in the burrito.
It’s weird but it’s also genius. So I took that concept, only I created a taco with shredded carne asada, lots of avocado, so much cilantro lime sauce, and fries on top…or on the side, whichever you prefer.
Ingredient Notes
- Marinade: keep the balance of acid (citrus) + salt + aromatics (garlic, cilantro, onion) + warm spices. Taste before pouring—add a pinch of salt if flat or a splash of citrus if dull.
- Beef cut: choose a cut that stays juicy low-and-slow; trim excess surface fat but leave some for flavor.
- Sweet/heat: a touch of honey or agave can round bitter notes; chilies/jalapeño for heat—scale to your crowd.
- Tortillas: corn for classic chew, flour for soft fold—warm either just before serving.
- Toppings (define “loaded”): creamy (avocado/crema), crunchy (shredded cabbage, radish), bright (lime, cilantro), salty (crumbly cheese), and a quick salsa.
Making these Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos is easy, here are the details.
First, pick your cooking method. I used the crockpot, but honestly cooking in the instant pot, or of course grilling, are equally easy and delicious. It all comes down to how much time you have. So take your pick.
Next, simply combine all of the ingredients. Flank steak, garlic, lots of seasonings, plenty of lime, and a splash of beer. Toss everything together in the bowl of the crockpot and cook until the steak is easily able to shred.
This next step is key. Remove the steak from the sauce, let it rest a bit, then lightly shred it and place it under the broiler. Cooking the steak under the broiler allows the steak to have a chance to caramelize and even become a bit crispy on the edges.
Yes…it’s an extra step, but I do think it’s worth it.
While the steak is cooking, get together the toppings.
The fries are simple. Just oven-baked fries seasoned up with chili powder, smoky paprika, and salt. Very simple to make and they come together quickly while the steak is cooking.
For the cilantro lime garlic sauce. It’s a simple mix of plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream), garlic, lots of lime, lots of cilantro, and some green onions too. Not too fancy, but it’s my favorite cooling tangy sauce to serve with a spicy street-style taco.
The rest of the toppings are all up to you. I like to serve with chipotle salsa (my homemade recipe is in the HBH Super Simple Cookbook), lots of lettuce, cilantro, lime, jalapeños, and crumbled salty feta cheese.
And with that, who else is getting excited for Cinco de Mayo next week? Just add your favorite margarita to round out the meal. Plus extra chips, guacamole, and salsa too. Yummmm. Mexican nights are the best. Enjoy.
Bonus, the shredded beef is great as a leftover. Pile it high onto your favorite tortilla chips for some delicious nachos or serve it up atop greens for a Mexican inspired salad.
Make sure you have an airtight container for leftovers the next day!
How do I get grilled/ charred flavor without a grill?
Sear the beef before the slow cooker or broil/sauté the cooked meat briefly to caramelize the edges. A pinch of smoked salt can add subtle smoke.
Slice or shred? What’s right for crockpot carne asada?
If the roast holds together, slice thinly against the grain; if it’s super tender, shred and toss with reduced juices.
My sauce tastes too tangy or too salty—how do I fix it?
For too tangy, whisk in a small splash of reduced cooking juices or a hint of sweetness. For too salty, add fresh citrus and a little water, then reduce again to balance.
Best way to warm tortillas for a crowd?
Wrap stacks in foil and warm in a low oven; or heat individually on a dry skillet and keep in a towel-lined basket so they stay soft and steamy.
I’ve made a number of taco recipes over the past few months. If you’re looking for a few other options, give these a try!
Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Mushroom Al Pastor Tacos with Garlic Lime Special Sauce
Slow Cooker Braised Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Tacos
Lastly, if you make these crockpot carne asada tacos with cilantro lime garlic sauce, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Lime Garlic Sauce
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 606 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds flank steak
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- zest and juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup Mexican beer, such as Negra Modelo (or water)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- warmed corn or flour tortillas,
- avocado, feta cheese, jalapeños, pickled onion, and shredded lettuce, for serving
Mexican Fries
- 4 potatoes, cut into ¼-inch-thick matchsticks
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt
Cilantro Garlic Lime Crema
- zest and juice of 1 lime
- 1-2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the steak, garlic, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, pinch of salt, olive oil, lime juice and zest. Rub the seasonings into the steak. Add the beer. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the steak from the sauce to a baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes. Lightly shred. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drizzle on the honey. Transfer to the broiler. Broil for 2-5 minutes, until the streak caramelizes. Watch closely! Toss with additional cooking liquid, if desired.3. Meanwhile, make the fries. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.4. Place the potatoes on a large baking sheet and toss with olive oil, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and a large pinch of salt. Spread the fries in an even layer. Do not overcrowd the pan, if needed, divide the fries between 2 baking sheets. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip and bake for 15 minutes more.5. To make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. Season with salt.6. Stuff the carne asada into the warmed tortillas. Top as desired with cilantro, lettuce, avocado, fries, cheese, and additional sauce. Enjoy!
Instant Pot
- 1. Cut the steak into 4 pieces. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the steak, garlic, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, pinch of salt, olive oil, lime juice and zest. Rub the seasonings into the steak. Add the beer. Cover and cook on high pressure/manual for 8 minutes. Once done cooking, use the natural or quick release function and release the steam.2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the steak from the sauce to a baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes. Lightly shred. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drizzle on the honey. Transfer to the broiler. Broil for 2-5 minutes, until the streak caramelizes. Watch closely! Toss with additional cooking liquid, if desired. 3. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-6.
Grill
- 1. Place the steak in a 9×13 inch pan. Add the garlic, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, pinch of salt, olive oil, lime juice and zest. Rub the seasonings into the steak. Add the beer. Marinate 30 minutes or in the fridge as long as overnight. 2. Preheat your grill or grill pan to high. 3. Remove the steak from its marinade and sear the steak for 5-8 minutes, flip and sear another 5 minutes or until your desired doneness is reached. Remove the steak from the grill and allow to rest 10 minutes. Slice steak thinly against the grain.4. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-6.
This post was originally published on April 27, 2020
Can I use a beef round roast in place of flank steak? Deal at the supermarket was too good to pass up. Thank you, love all of your recipes ❤️
Hey Darryon,
Sure, I don’t see why a beef roast wouldn’t work for you here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
If you’re grilling the steak, would you still add the honey? And broil it or put it back on the grill? Or skip the honey? Thanks!
Hey Liz,
If you want to grill the steak, I would skip the broiling step. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made these last week for my family and they were a hit! They had just the right amount of heat and soo tasty…….. and easy! I’ve been trying to find innovative and delicious slow cooker meals and this one is a keeper for sure!
Hey there,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a fantastic week! xTieghan
WOW- So delicious!!
It’s the little details that make this dish- the creama, the pickled onions and broiling the meat at the end, Wow! The pickled onions were very simple to make and really complimented the tacos.
I used my instant pot. My flank steak was quite thick, I cooked for 30 minutes and 20 minutes slow release, added more beer (had corona on hand) and spices. It was moist and pulled apartment easily.
Hey Kim,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Apologize if I missed this, but for the crema, do you just mix it by hand or does anything need to be blended?
Hey Katie,
You can just mix in a bowl:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Oh my goodness this is my family’s new favorite meal!!! It is DELICIOUS! And so easy with the crockpot! I could seriously eat it multiple times a week ? the crema is addicting. The fries in the taco are mind blowing. It’s just perfection. 5 stars isn’t enough!
Hey Kaitlin,
I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This looks so good! Just one question, how can I cook slow cook the beef without a crockpot or an instant pot? I feel like the grilled one will be too tough?
Hey there,
You could do the stove top for 3-4 hours. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was incredible!! I’ve been stalking for a while and finally decided to try something to wow my husband and this was it! It was a home run! All three of my kids liked it too which NEVER happens!! It was so good!! The sour cream mixture was my favorite. I want to dip everything in that! So happy we gave this a try. Definitely adding to our rotation. Love love loved it! Made it to a tee except maybe didn’t add as much like because we don’t have a juicer tool, I just squeezed what I could with my hands lol
Hey Kaitlin,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
I love reading through the comments since 2013(!! ??) to guess how this recipe has evolved.
Made this last night for dinner using the instapot & shaved steak (meant to get flank steak but oops!). Super straightforward meat prep. Once cooking in the instapot, I went to work chopping my potatoes. Since they were so small, they ended up cooking in time, but I was nervous the short instapot cook time (-2 min due to thin beef & knowing it would have extra oven time) would mean I’d be stuck waiting for those to cook. Super tasty, but perhaps a bit too spicy for me. I also might have piled on too many of a friend’s candied jalepeños onto my tacos ? Thanks for a fun dinner!
Hey Katherine,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Sorry about the spice! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
Hello. Can I make the Carne Asada a day in advance? I plan to slow cook in my croc pot Friday, then put under the broiler Saturday (lightly shredded, with juices, and honey), serve for dinner. Any advice on cooking in advance is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Kimi
Hey Kimi,
Yes, that would work just fine! I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Omg-added the fries to the actual tacos and it was life changing! Such a great easy recipe! A huge hit in my house
Hey Emily,
I am thrilled you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for giving it a try! xTieghan
What brand of chili powder do you like to use?
Hey Tania,
I get my chili powder from Whole Foods! I hope you love the recipe, let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Hi! If I don’t have a crockpot, can I cook this slowly in the oven? Any suggestions for that? Thank you!
Hey Kristy,
Sure that would work, I would cook the meat in a large dutch oven on low for 2-3 hours. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These tacos were delicious and I will definitely make them again! Such a great combo of flavors. One note for instant pot users – 8 minutes is waaaaay too short. More like 45 mins to an hour. I also will skip the honey next time as I don’t think it really needs it and comes on a little strong.
Hey Tate,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! Have a great week! xTieghan
Hello! I just started my carne asada in the crockpot and re-reading the recipe I realize I made a mistake and added the honey up front to the crock pot. Will this be a problem? Or should I just add additional honey later for the broiler?
Hey Katie,
I think it should be totally fine! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan