San Diego born and raised here at Foodie and Wine, so we know how to make THE BEST Carne Asada Fries Recipe (and Carne Asada Tacos, Street Tacos and Carne Asada Nachos). This is exactly how they make them at San Diego taco shops.
Hot and crispy french fries are topped with authentic carne asada made with Carne Asada Seasoning, shredded cheese, 4 ingredient guacamole and sour cream! They’re as good as our popular Chili Cheese Fries.
Pair these Carne Asada French Fries with our other popular Mexican recipes for a fun Cinco de Mayo menu: Cheese Quesadilla, Birria (or Birria Tacos), Michelada with a Chamoy rim, Mexican Mule, Mango Michelada, , Refried Bean Dip or Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. Even a Beermosa would pair well!
Also check out our long list of what to serve with carne asada!
San Diego Carne Asada
The base for all our carne asada recipes is our classic San Diego-style Carne Asada steak. If you’ve ever been to San Diego and grubbed down on Filiberto’s Carne Asada Fries or Alberto’s Carne Asada Fries, you know what style I’m talking about. Costco Carne Asada and Trader Joe’s Carne Asada it is not.
Our carne asada marinade is unparalleled as it’s exactly what you’ll find at the local taquerias. This carne asada steak recipe has been perfected over the last 12+ years and is beloved by those “in the know”. Instead of Googling “carne asada fries near me” make your own!
Ingredients For Carne Asada Fries
Carne Asada Steak – Flank Steak, Red Wine Vinegar, Vegetable Oil, Lime, Orange, Cilantro, Garlic, Salt, White pepper, Cumin, Chili Powder, Mexican Oregano and Ground Cloves.
Fries – Frozen french fries (we make them using our Air Fried Frozen French Fries recipe)
Toppings – Cheese, guacamole, and sour cream
What Kind of French Fries Can You Use?
Most taquerias use pre-cut frozen french fries and then fry to order. Why? Imagine the time and man power required to prepare fresh cut french fries. As such, that’s what we’re using. You’ll see tons of recipes out there for homemade seasoned french fries, which probably taste great, but to stick to the original carne asada fries recipes, only salt is used as seasoning.
Here are other options to consider if you’re looking to mix it up or already have some on hand:
- Homemade French Fries
- Crinkle Cut Fries
- Steak Fries
- Curly Fries
- Waffle Fries
- Tater Tots
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Seasoned Fries
How to Make Carne Asada Fries
Prepare the Carne Asada
Marinate the steak for a minimum of two hours. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side, let rest for 10 minutes and dice into bite size chunks. To keep the authenticity, heat up a cast iron skillet and brown the carne asada chunks on all sides. You can skip this step if you like. It’s not required, but this is how San Diego taco shops finish their meat. We do this step while the french fries are baking.
Start Building the Fries
Add a single layer of french fries to a cast iron skillet or quarter size baking sheet and cook according to the directions on the back of the package. Remove the fries from the oven and turn the oven to high broil. Sprinkle half the cheese over the hot fries and broil for 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Add the carne asada and another layer of cheese and broil for another 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Add the Toppings
Top the steak fries with guacamole and sour cream and get to grubbing!
Topping Ideas
The toppings we use in this Mexican fries recipe are typical for San-Diego style, however there are a ton of other toppings that would be killer – anything on this Top Tacos Toppings list would work.. Here are a few of my favorites:
Homemade Salsa or Hot Sauce
Smoked Queso
Pico de Gallo or Mango Pico de Gallo
Instant Pot Refried Beans or Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Pickled Peppers or Pickled Banana Peppers
Pickled Red Onions
Mexican Crema
Shredded Lettuce
Mexican Pickled Carrots
What To Serve with Fries with Carne Asada
These Mexican fries don’t need a side dish, but if you’re serving them at a party or splitting them with more than 4 peeps, here are some ideas to bulk up the carne asada plates:
- Chips and Salsa – We like making Air Fryer Tortilla Chips to dip in Homemade Salsa, Pico de Gallo or Mango Pico de Gallo.
- Mexican Style Sous Vide Corn on the Cob
- Mexican rice or Cilantro Lime Rice
- Carne Asada Quesadillas
Recipe Tips
- Play with the proportions until you figure out your favorite mix. Love cheese? Add in another cup. Watching the budget? Half the amount of steak. Love a little heat? Load em up with hot sauce or salsa. You get the idea.
- Avoid pre-shredded bagged cheese as the coating prohibits the cheese from melting properly. Fantastic cheese options include: Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, Colby, cheddar, pepper jack or even Oaxaca.
- The guacamole, steak and fries already have a ton of salt in them, so we do not add extra salt to the fries. Be our guest if you’re a salt fiend. We won’t judge.
- Make sure to check out our San Diego-style Recipes for Carne Asada Tacos and Carne Asada Nachos as well!!
- This is a great recipe to use leftover prime rib! It’s why it’s featured on our Recipes For Leftover Prime Rib list!
Can I Make This In Advance
The carne asada steak, yes. The guacamole, eh. The fries themselves, nope. This homemade carne asada fries recipe is best straight from the oven. Even 10 minutes sitting on the stove will mean cold and/or soggy fries and cold steak. As for the guacamole, making it in advance risks it turning brown and unsightly. It would still be edible, just not as appetizing.
More Delicious Mexican Recipes:
- Steak Fajitas
- Chicken Fajitas
- Pollo Asado Tacos using Grilled Pollo Asado
- Flank Steak Tacos
- Chili Verde Recipe (Chicken or Pork)
- Slow Cooker Carnitas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Carne Asada (*Note 1)
- 1 28 oz Frozen French Fries
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheese (*Note 2)
- 1 Cup 4-Ingredient Guacamole
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
Instructions
Carne Asada Steak:
- Prepare a half batch of the carne asada steak recipe linked to above. When the steak is resting, proceed to the below.
Carne Asada Fries:
- Add the french fries, in a single layer, to a baking sheet or cast iron skillet. Bake the french fries according to the directions on the back of the package (usually 10-12 minutes per side).
- Remove the fries from the oven and turn the oven to high broil. Sprinkle half the cheese over the hot fries and broil for 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Add the diced carne asada and the remaining cheese and broil for another 1-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Remove the fries from the oven. Divide onto smaller serving plates and top with the guacamole and sour cream. Enjoy immediately for best results.
