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Skip the takeout from your favorite Mexican restaurant and try making carne asada fries at home instead! They’re smothered in cheddar cheese, guacamole, jalapenos, and juicy carne asada for a flavor combination you won’t be able to get enough of.
Carne asada is so tender and flavorful. It’s marinated to perfection and is flavored with so many delicious seasonings! If you have leftover carne asada after you make your fries, you’ll have to try making these carne asada tacos or nachos for a delicious snack!
Quick and Easy Carne Asada Fries
Carne asada fries are the ultimate guilty pleasure food. There’s a local chain in Utah called Rancherito’s that has carne asada fries and carne asada fry burritos. I go there way too often! I didn’t think anything could top it until I tried making these at home. It really is a game-changer. Homemade carne asada fries are so cheesy, meaty, and delicious!
Not only is the flavor just more fresh and tasty overall, but you can customize your carne asada fries with all of your favorite toppings! I used shredded cheddar, sour cream, guacamole, chopped veggies, and jalapenos, but you can mix and match these to your liking! These loaded fries are the perfect game day appetizer but work as a side dish or entree as well! Everyone will love them because, well, fries.
Where Did Carne Asada Fries Originate?
Although carne asada fries are a popular dish in modern Mexican cuisine, they actually originated in San Diego, California! They started gaining popularity in the 1990s from a restaurant called Lolita’s Mexican Food.
Ingredients and Fixings
All of the toppings are what really make these carne asada fries shine. I love all of the flavors and textures! You have everything from melty cheese to creamy guacamole, the crunch of red onions to tender, saucy steak.
- Carne Asada: Carne asada is marinated steak, seasoned with delicious spices. Making carne asada at home takes a little bit of time and preparation, but it’s well worth it for achieving the best flavor possible. You don’t want to skimp since this is the highlight of the recipe. Find my full carne asada recipe here.
- French Fries: You can use frozen fries or make your own from scratch. Psst- using an air fryer is a great way to get perfectly crispy fries in minutes! They taste just as good as their deep-fried counterparts without the mess.
- Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar is a great option for cheese fries because of its flavor and melty texture. If you want a more traditional version of this dish, try making it with cotija cheese!
- Roma Tomato: Chopped Roma tomatoes add fresh, juicy flavor.
- Jalapeños: Sliced jalapeños add a delicious pop of spice.
- Red Onion: I love adding chopped red onions because of their strong, savory flavor, but their texture is delicious, too!
- Guacamole: You can buy premade guacamole or make your own for fresher flavor!
- Sour Cream: No loaded fries are complete without a dollop of sour cream. It adds the perfect tang and creaminess.
- Cilantro: (Optional) I use chopped cilantro for garnish. This adds a hint of extra flavor and makes your fries look picture-perfect.
How to Make Carne Asada Fries
You will need to prepare your carne asada ahead of time- you can find the full recipe here. Once you’ve got that ready to go, putting your fries together is a cinch! This tasty appetizer is ready in less than 10 minutes!
- Prepare Carne Asada: Prepare the carne asada ahead of time before assembling the fries.
- Preheat Oven, Prep Baking Dish: Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and spray non-stick cooking spray in a cast-iron pan or an oven-safe skillet or baking sheet.
- Cook Fries, Top With Cheese: Bake or air fry the French fries according to package directions. Top the fries with cheese and bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Add Toppings: Chop the carne asada and put on top of the cheese fries. Layer on the tomato, jalapeno, red onion, guacamole, and sour cream. Feel free to leave out or add any of the toppings. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
Tasty Variations
Here are some other delicious toppings for your carne asada fries! You’re going to love how they turn out. My family can never get enough when they’re around.
- More Toppings: Black beans, chopped red peppers, refried beans, and pico de gallo are a few more toppings that taste great on these fries!
- Sauces: For nacho-style loaded fries, try drizzling cheese sauce or queso on top!
Storing Leftovers
Carne asada fries are best served hot and fresh. Carne asada itself is good for storing and enjoying later, but fries tend to become soggy the longer they sit in the fridge.
- In the Refrigerator: In an airtight container, store your leftover carne asada fries for up to 2 days.
- To Reheat: Crisp up your fries in the oven on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Prepare the carne asada ahead of time before assembling the fries. There is a link provided in the recipe card.
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Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and spray non-stick cooking spray in a cast iron pan or an oven-safe skillet or baking sheet.
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Bake or air fry the French fries according to package directions. Top the fries with cheese and bake for 5-7 minutes until the cheese has melted.
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Chop the carne asada and put on top of the cheese fries. Layer on the tomato, jalepeno, red onion, guacamole, and sour cream. Feel free to leave out or add any of the toppings. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
Serves: 6
Serving1cupCalories549kcal (27%)Carbohydrates42g (14%)Protein13g (26%)Fat38g (58%)Saturated Fat15g (75%)Polyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat16gCholesterol49mg (16%)Sodium856mg (36%)Potassium719mg (21%)Fiber7g (28%)Sugar1g (1%)Vitamin A639IU (13%)Vitamin C15mg (18%)Calcium302mg (30%)Iron2mg (11%)
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
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