The Best Carne Asada Fries - The Girl on Bloor (2024)

Carne Asada Fries are toppedwith cheese, steak, pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapenos and sour cream – they're the definition of fully loaded!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Full of flavor: These loaded fries are packed with flavor thanks to the carne asada marinade and delicious toppings.
• Easy to prep: You can prep all your ingredients ahead of time by chopping up the toppings and marinating the steak.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Frozen fries – use any frozen french fries of your choice or even homemade fries.
• Top sirloin – any cut of steak would work here like flank steak or skirt steak.
• Cheese – mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Tex Mex or another melty cheese would all be delicious.
• Jalapeño pepper – if you're not a fan of spice, use bell peppers instead.
• Sour cream – to cut down on the calories, you can use light sour cream or leave it off altogether.
• Cilantro – skip this if you're not a fan.
• Pico de gallo – your favourite jarred or homemade salsa would also be good.
• Guacamole – make your own or use a store-bought guac. You cold also just add some diced avocado.

Carne asada marinade

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like avocado or canola oil.
• Lime juice – freshly squeezed is best but bottled can be used in a pinch. You could also use a combo of lime juice and orange juice.
• Soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari are the best substitutes.
• Chili powder – make your own using a blend of paprika, oregano and cumin.
• Cumin – add more chili powder instead.
• Garlic – freshly minced garlic has the best flavor but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.

How to make carne asada fries

Step 1: Bake the fries.

Bake the frozen fries according to package instructions.

Step 2: Marinate the steak.

Make the carne asada marinade, then marinate the steak for at least 15 mins.

Step 3: Cook the steak.

Heat a cast-iron skillet or pan over medium-high heat, then cook the steak.

Step 4: Dice the steak.

Let the steak rest for 5 mins, then dice it up into pieces.

Step 5: Add the cheese.

Top the baked fries with cheese, then add them back to the oven until the cheese is melted.

Step 6: Add your toppings and serve.

Top the fries with steak, pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapenos and cilantro. Dig in!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are carne asada fries?

Carne asada fries are a local specialty found on menus in the American Southwest, and originated in San Diego in Southern California. It's a dish consisting of fries topped with carne asada and all your favourite taco toppings – basically carne asada tacos, but without the tortillas!

What type of steak should you use?

You can use pretty much any type of steak you want! And don't be afraid to use a really cheap cut of steak. I love a good fast fry steak in this recipe, but just be aware that the thinner the steak, the less time it will need to cook. All the other toppings and flavours are going to blend together beautifully so you don't need to buy expensive meat to make these fries shine.

What do you serve them with?

These loaded fries are an entire meal on their own, but if you're looking for side dish ideas, you can't go wrong with some refried beans, cowboy caviar, or chips and guac.

Storing and reheating

These fries are best assembled fresh, but you can store all the ingredients separately in the refrigerator for easy prep. You can marinate the steak up to 2 days in advance, or cook it and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat it in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave for 1-2 days. You can technically make the fries a couple days in advance then reheat them in the oven, but I'd recommend making them fresh the day-of. You can also grate the cheese and cut up any toppings like the jalapenos and cilantro up to 3 days in advance.

Can you freeze carne asada?

You can freeze raw steak in the carne asada marinade for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. When you're ready to cook the steak, let it defrost in the fridge overnight, then cook as normal.

Meal prep tools

• You'll need a good knife set to slice the steak properly.
• Get your square glass meal prep bowls hereso you can pack these carne asada fries up for tomorrow's lunch!
• I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box.