My son was ecstatic when I told him we were having Carne Asada for dinner. Well, actually he looked at me like I was crazy and not really speaking English (which I wasn’t). I told him it was basically like a taco. He loves tacos. It’s probably right up there with spaghetti and pizza. So I told him it was like a taco, just with a different kind of meat. He was perfectly content with that description. As long as he could put olives on it. I’ve never understood the green olives as a topping for tacos, but he was happy that he could top his Carne Asada with them!

Stephen comes by his love for tacos (or most any Mexican food) honestly. I love Mexican food!  And for me few meals provide the supreme Mexican experience better than Carne Asada . Throw in an easy preparation in the slow cooker and you have a meal that is perfect for any day of the week. The tender and juicy meat cooked in the slow cooker is a change from the ordinary take on Carne Asada but proves you don’t have to pull out the grill to have this meal. Topped with avocado, tomatoes, lime, freshly shredded cheese and wrapped in a soft tortilla provides a setting for a fresh and simple meal that embraces all that Mexican cuisine should be. So this Cinco de Mayo give yourself a break and let the slow cooker do the work for you. You won’t regret it!

Slow Cooker Carne Asada

yields: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

2 pounds Flank Steak or London Broil
1 cup salsa
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chili’s (like Ro-tel)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
flour or corn tortillas
toppings such as sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese  and lime juice

Directions: 

Place flank steak in the slow cooker. Pour salsa, diced tomatoes, cumin and chili powder on top. Stir salsa mixture until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until meat is done and tender. Remove meat from slow cooker and shred with a fork. Return to slow cooker to blend with the salsa mixture. Serve in tortillas with desired toppings.

Leftover tip: The meat reheats very well.

Recipe Source: adapted from Faithful Provisions

If you still need inspiration for your Mexican feast for Cinco de Mayo here are the links to all of the Mexican dishes on the blog:

Chipotle Style Burrito Bowl - Why go out when you can make your favorite meal from Chipotle at home?! This link is full of great recipes for pork, black beans, cilantro lime rice and guacamole.

Black Bean and Corn Potatoes - This dish is quick and simple to prepare and you probably have all of the ingredients in your refrigerator and pantry already!

Baked Chicken Taquitos - These taquitos make use of already cooked and shredded chicken making this a quick meal to throw together. The flavor is phenomenal! Creamy with just a little bit of a kick, your whole family will love these!

Slow Cooker Chicken Posole - This dish is served over rice and loaded with good for you veggies. If you are looking for a light and tasty dish, try this one! It is one of our long-time favorites

Taco Potatoes - Here is another potato dish! It’s like a taco salad on top of a potato!

Honey Lime Enchiladas - This is one of my new favorite ways to serve Mexican. Sweet, spicy and cheesy all in one glorious bite!

If you need some dessert ideas try one of these from a few fabulous bloggers!

Sweet Guacamole Dip with Pie Crust Tortilla Chips from Crazy for Crust – This looks and sounds amazing! Guacamole for dessert? Sign me up!

Chocolate Flan Cake from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe – This looks delectable! The cake layers actually switch places while it is baking. This would be great for kids!

Fried Ice Cream from Brown Eyed Baker – I haven’t had fried ice cream since the days of Chi-Chi’s. How cool that you can make this at home!

This is linked to: Taste and Tell, Buns in my Oven, Back for Seconds Social, Chef-in-Training and Tidy Mom