Carne Asada Fries are a San Diego staple and a fun way to serve up grilled carne asada. They’re made by loading up crispy fries with cheese, refried beans, carne asada, pico de gallo, and guacamole. Perfect for game days, BBQs, or even just a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
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Homemade Carne Asada Fries, Just Like in California
Growing up in San Diego, carne asada fries were a staple for me growing up. They’re one of my favorite things to order when visiting my local taco shop!
There’s just something so good about the combination of crispy fries topped with melty cheese, grilled meat, and all the sauces and salsas.
Now that I’ve shared my authentic carne asada recipe up, I was so excited to get this recipe for carne asada fries up too! This is a great option for feeding a crowd on game days or a fun way to serve up a quick dinner.
Get a taste of classic San Diego taco shop fare right in your own kitchen!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Carne asada. Carne asada is meat that has been marinated and grilled (literally translated, carne asada means “grilled meat”). I suggest making my carne asada recipe for these french fries.
- Frozen french fries. Use your favorite brand!
- Cheese. I like a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack here for flavor and meltiness.
- Refried beans. I like using my homemade refried beans here, but you can use store-bought.
- Pico de gallo. The fresh tomato salsa adds freshness and a hint of spice!
- Sour cream. I love a couple of dollops of sour cream on top as a cooling contrast.
- Guacamole. I always make my 5-ingredient guacamole for this recipe, but you can use store bought as well.
- Cotija cheese. A bit of cotija cheese on top adds a bit of salt and flavor.
Jenny’s Tip: You can also head to the store and buy pre-marinated carne asada, but making your own at home is so easy! If you wind up with leftovers, use them to make Carne Asada Bowls or Carne Asada Tacos.
Tools Needed
How to Make Carne Asada Fries Yourself
Jenny’s Tip: Carne asada fries are really a cross between loaded cheesy fries and nachos. We’re making things easy by using store bought frozen fries that you can bake or air fry until crispy!
- Prepare the carne asada. Juicy, flavorful, and authentic carne asada is part of what makes carne asada fries so good! To make delicious carne asada, you’ll need to marinate some flank steak and then fire up the grill and cook the meat until lightly charred and medium temperature on the inside.
- Cook the fries. Follow the instructions on your frozen french fries and cook them until crispy (I prefer using my air fryer for this, but you can bake them in the oven as well!).
- Top with beans and cheese. Spread out the fries on a baking sheet and load them up with refried beans (the beans spread easier if they’re warm) and shredded cheese. Bake just until the cheese has melted.
- Add more toppings. Once the cheese is ooey gooey, add the diced carne asada and remaining toppings. Enjoy family-style, right off of the baking sheet!
Feel Free to Customize Your Fries!
Consider these carne asada french fries your blank canvas for any Mexican-inspired toppings you like. Some swaps that would be absolutely delish include:
- Swap the carne asada with this pollo asado recipe.
- Use “drunken” borracho beans instead of refried beans (use a slotted spoon to drain off any excess liquid).
- Replace the pico de gallo with another favorite salsa, like salsa verde.
- Use frozen sweet potato fries instead of regular for a sweet and savory flavor.
- Use Mexican crema instead of sour cream, if you can find it!
Storage Instructions
Once carne asada fries are assembled, they don’t necessarily store and reheat very well.
If you plan to make a big batch, I recommend keeping the elements separate and instead building individual carne asada fries on each person’s plate. This allows for easy customization too!
Store the elements separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Rewarm the fries in the oven or air fryer and rewarm the carne asada in a skillet, then assemble leftovers to enjoy carne asada fries again!
These Carne Asada Fries are the perfect recipe for an easy weeknight dinner, meal prep, or any backyard BBQ. You can even host game day with a build-your-own carne asada fries bar! If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!
More Homemade Fries to Make
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Carne Asada Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb carne asada
- 1 – 32 oz bag frozen french fries
- 1 1/2 cups refried beans, warmed
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pico de gallo
- 3/4 cup guacamole
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the carne asada. Marinate the steak for at least 1 hour, up to 8 hours. Grill or cook in a cast iron skillet until browned and cooked to medium. Let the steak rest before dicing it.
- Cook the fries. For ease, we're using store bought french fries. Cook them according to the package instructions using your oven or an air fryer (my preferred method!). Once the fries are cooked and crispy, lay them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Top the fries with beans and cheese. Drizzle the warmed refried beans over the fries and then sprinkle with the cheese. Transfer the fries to the oven for 4-5 minutes, just until the cheese is melty.
- Add more toppings. Once the fries are out of the oven, top with the diced carne asada, guacamole, pico de gallo, dollops of sour cream, cilantro, and cotija cheese. You can serve the fries family style right on the baking sheet!
Notes
Nutrition
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