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Carne Asada Loaded Curly Fries

Crispy curly fries piled high with smoky citrus-marinated carne asada, creamy nacho cheese sauce, diced white onion, and fresh cilantro — a street-food classic made at home.
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican-American, Street Food
Calories: 680
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Carne Asada
  • 1 lb skirt steak or flank steak
  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice about 2 limes
  • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro chopped, for marinade
Curly Fries
  • 28 oz frozen curly fries 1 bag
  • 1 tbsp olive oil optional, for extra crispness
Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese or pepper jack for heat
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper
Toppings
  • 0.5 cup white onion finely diced
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • 1 jalapeño sliced thin, optional
  • lime wedges for serving

Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet or grill pan
  • Baking sheet
  • Small saucepan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. In a bowl or zip-lock bag, combine lime juice, orange juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro. Add steak, coat well, and marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours in the fridge).
  2. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Spread curly fries on a baking sheet in a single layer. Brush lightly with olive oil if desired. Bake 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
  3. Heat a cast iron skillet or grill pan over high heat until very hot. Remove steak from marinade and cook 3–4 minutes per side until charred on the outside. Rest for 5 minutes, then chop into bite-size pieces.
  4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and whisk in flour. Cook 1 minute. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly, until thickened (3–4 minutes). Reduce heat, stir in shredded cheese until smooth. Season with garlic powder, cayenne, and salt.
  5. Spread crispy curly fries on a large tray or plate. Pour nacho cheese sauce generously over fries.
  6. Top with chopped carne asada, diced white onion, fresh cilantro, and jalapeño slices if using.
  7. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side. Squeeze lime over the top just before eating.

Notes

For best results, use a cast iron skillet on high heat for a proper char on the steak. Don't skip the rest time before chopping — this keeps the meat juicy. Serve loaded fries immediately for maximum crispness. Pepper jack cheese can replace cheddar in the sauce for extra heat.