Carne Asada Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Elevate your salad game with this fresh and flavorful Carne Asada Salad recipe. Tender, San Diego-style carne asada steak is grilled to perfection and served over a bed of crisp lettuce, guacamole and a creamy Cilantro Lime dressing.

Carne Asada Salad

This steak salad is a duplicate of the salad served at Casa de Bandini in San Diego, including the creamy dressing. Whether you’re looking for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner, this salad is packed with bold flavors that will leave you craving more.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here are the main ingredients to make carne asada salad, along with substitution ideas. For the full list of ingredients, see the recipe card below:

Beef – My top choices for carne asada are skirt steak carne asada, flank steak, or flap steak—they’re tender, flavorful, and great perfect for grilling.
Lettuce – I highly recommend using romaine lettuce or a nice spring mix.
Guacamole – Whether store-bought or homemade, guacamole is a must for these sliders. My favorites are 4-ingredient Guacamole or Guacamole Molcajete, but if you’re short on time, creamy avocado slices are a great alternative.
Tomatoes and Onions – Slice up some fresh tomatoes and onions, or sub in a few scoops of pico de gallo.
Cheese – throw a healthy bit of cotija cheese over the top before serving. Other great cheese options: monterey jack, pepper jack, mozzarella or queso fresco.

Carne Asada Steak For Salad

There are two options for marinating the steak; both are fantastic options for this carne asada salad recipe, so pick whichever best fits your needs:

Carne Asada Marinade – this asada marinade is the basis of all my Carne Asada Recipes. I developed it more than 13 years ago to mirror the flavors you find in a San Diego taqueria. It was one of the first recipes for carne asada posted online. Head over and read all of the 5-star reviews from San Diego locals. It truly is unsurpassed.

Carne Asada Seasoning Recipe – this is a quick and easy dry mix of the seasonings used in my more elaborate marinade recipe.

To make the Carne Asada, you can grill the steak over medium-high heat on a BBQ or use a grill pan inside to cook the meat.

Cilantro and Lime Salad Dressing

Add a burst of fresh flavor to your carne asada steak salad with my creamy cilantro lime salad dressing. Made with tangy lime juice, fresh cilantro, sour cream, and a touch of garlic, this dressing is perfectly balanced and pairs extremely well with this steak salad.

Instructions

MARINATE THE CARNE ASADA STEAK

GRILLING THE STEAK

Remove the steak from the refrigerator an hour before cooking.
Pre-heat grill to medium high.
Place meat directly on greased grate for 5-7 minutes. (*Note 2) Flip and grill for an additional 5-7 minutes, until your desired doneness is reached. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing into thin strips.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD

Add the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions to a large serving bowl. Drizzle the salad dressing over the top and toss to combine. Divide into 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with sliced steak, guacamole and cheese. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Notes

Note 1 – For an easier and quicker marinade option, use my Carne Asada Dry Seasoning Mix instead.
Note 2. This time range is to cook the meat medium as this makes for the best texture and firmness, and is how it’s served at San Diego Mexican restaurants. We grill our carne asada meat until it has an internal temperature of 150°F. After resting it reaches 155°F.

Nutrition