Carne Asada Sliders are flavorful mini sandwiches made with tender San Diego-Style carne asada served on soft slider buns and topped with creamy guacamole, fresh pico de gallo, and a hint of refried beans.
These sliders, much like Carne Asada Tortas, are LOADED with chopped carne asada meat and guacamole. Make sure to serve with a large stack of napkins nearby. You’ll need them. This appetizer recipe is great for game day or Cinco de Mayo.
Carne Asada Steak
The star of this slider recipe is my San Diego-style carne asada recipe. You have two options for marinating the steak—both work perfectly for this carne asada slider recipe, so choose the one that suits your needs best:
Carne Asada Marinade – This marinade is the foundation of all my Carne Asada recipes. Created over 13 years ago, it was designed to replicate the authentic flavors of a San Diego taqueria. It’s also one of the earliest carne asada recipes shared online, earning countless 5-star reviews from San Diego locals. Head over and read them!
Carne Asada Seasoning Recipe – A quick and simple dry rub inspired by the spices in my full marinade recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here are the main ingredients to make Carne Asada Sliders, along with substitution ideas. For the full list of ingredients, see the recipe card below:
Beef Steak – My top choices for carne asada are skirt steak, flank steak, or flap steak—they’re tender, flavorful, and perfect for grilling.
Slider Rolls – Any slider rolls will work, but you can’t go wrong with King’s Hawaiian Bread Sliders for a touch of sweetness. Also, if you see jalapeno rolls, grab them! Jalapeno roll carne asada sliders would be killer!
Pico de Gallo – I make a quick pico de gallo by chopping equal parts white or red onion, fresh cilantro, and juicy tomatoes with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Store-bought options work just as well; just be sure to drain them a bit before using. If pico isn’t your thing, feel free to substitute with your favorite salsa or hot sauce.
Guacamole – Whether store-bought or homemade, guacamole is a must for these sliders. My favorites are this 4-ingredient Guacamole recipe or Molcajete Guacamole, but if you’re short on time, creamy avocado slices are a great alternative.
Refried Beans – I usually rely on canned refried beans since only a small amount is needed, and making them from scratch is quite the commitment.
Topping Ideas For Carne Asada Sliders
Here are some popular taco topping ideas for Mexican sliders. Basically, anything that goes on a Carne Asada Salad can go on these.
How to Make These Sliders
The below steps maximize your time while keeping all the elements as fresh as possible:
Marinate the Meat – I highly recommend marinating the meat for a full 24 hours before cooking. You can reduce this time, but 24 hours gives it the most flavor.
Make the Toppings – If you’re not using store-bought pico de gallo and/or guacamole, start by making these items.
Make the Carne Asada – you can grill the steak outside on a BBQ or use a grill pan inside to cook the meat. Either option works well.
Assemble The Beef Sliders – While the steak is grilling, heat the oven and toast the slider rolls and beans. Once the steak is rested and diced, load the toasted roll with the meat, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Oven Alternative – To avoid using the oven, you can toast the rolls in a skillet over medium-high heat and heat the beans in the microwave or stovetop.
- Cutting the Meat – To save time, you can cut the meat into thin strips instead of bite-size pieces.
- Quantity – These sandwiches are meant to be loaded with ingredients. You can stretch the recipe by dividing the meat and toppings between additional slider rolls, if needed.
- Side Dish Ideas – Here are some Carne Asada Side Dish ideas.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
Make Ahead: The carne asada steak can be marinated and/or grilled up to 48 hours before. Just reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. The pico de gallo can be made up to 48 hours in advance. To avoid brown guacamole, I recommend waiting until you’re ready to cook the meat to make.
Storage: Store all the ingredients in separate containers in the refrigerator. You do not want to assemble and store, or the bread will get soggy.
More Carne Asada Recipes
If you have leftover carne asada, check out these other Mexican Recipes and Appetizer Recipes to use it up:
Carne Asada Sliders
Servings: 12 sliders
Calories: 296kcal
Cost: $30
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
CARNE ASADA STEAK (Note *1)
- 2 lbs. flank steak, skirt steak or flap steak
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar (*Note 1)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ¾ tbsp garlic salt
- ½ tbsp white pepper
- ½ tbsp cumin
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- ½ tbsp Mexican oregano
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- 1 whole orange, sliced
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 6-8 minutes. (*Note 2) Flip and grill for an additional 6-8 minutes, until your desired doneness is reached. Let rest for 10 minutes before dicing into bite size chunks.
ASSEMBLE THE SANDWICH
-
Pre-heat the oven to high broil. Cut the slider rolls in half and place facing up on a large baking sheet or casserole dish. Toast in the oven for 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Watch carefully so they don't burn.
-
Set aside the tops of the rolls. Evenly divide the refried beans between the bottoms of the toasted rolls. Toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes, until the beans are warm throughout. Remove from the oven.
-
Top each slider roll with carne asada, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Place the top of the bread on top of the sandwich.
-
Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Note 2. This time range is to cook the meat medium to medium-well as this makes for the best texture and firmness. We grill our carne asada meat until it has an internal temperature of 150-155°F. After resting it reaches 155-160°F.
Nutrition
Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 867mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 372IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg
