The Macro-Friendly Carne Asada Bowl

Some meals just hit all the marks: easy to prep, packed with flavor, and easy to adjust based on your goals.

This Carne Asada Bowl is one of those meals.

Whether you're cutting, maintaining, or bulking, this recipe can fit.

The base stays the same: steak, rice (or tortillas), and a few toppings, but you control the portions and extras.

That means you can keep it lean or go all-in depending on where you’re at in your training.

Why Carne Asada Works for Any Phase

The beauty of this meal is its flexibility.

It’s not some dry, plain meal-prep; it actually tastes good.

But more importantly, it’s easy to manipulate the macros without needing a new recipe every time your goals shift.

At its core, it’s just meat plus a carb source (as all meals should be). 

Add toppings based on your calorie needs.

Boom. You’ve got a meal that scales with your goals.

And it’s also a great example of how you don’t need to lean on things like shakes or powders, especially if you’ve read Stop Drinking Protein Shakes on a Cut, you’ll know whole meals like this do the job just fine.

The Basics: Carne Asada Marinade

I typically make this once or twice a month.

It’s very simple, and I usually skip the long marinate time and just toss it right on the grill.

Still tastes great.

Here’s the base marinade (good for about 3 pounds of meat)

• 1/4 cup soy sauce (I like reduced sodium)

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• 6-8 cloves minced garlic (or 1tsp garlic powder)

• 4 tsp chili powder

• 2 tsp cumin

• 2 tsp oregano

Mix the marinade, combine with flank steak (or thin-cut New York strip from Costco), and grill it to your liking.

This also works well with chicken thighs.

That’s it.

How to Serve It (and Adjust It)

You can serve it in a bowl or taco-style. I usually go bowl-style with:

• Cilantro lime rice

• Homemade pico

• Queso fresco

• Low-fat sour cream

• Peppers and onions

If you’re cutting:

• Use less rice 

• Go lighter on cheese and sour cream

If you’re maintaining or bulking:

• Add extra rice or tortillas

• Don’t skimp on the cheese and sour cream

• Double up the steak

You don’t have to reinvent your meals every time your calories change; just adjust the portions.

And if you’re wondering whether you really need to measure every sprinkle of lettuce or handful of spinach to stay on track , you don’t. Why Measuring Veggies is a Waste of Time explains exactly why meals like this are still effective without over-tracking every bite.

Why This Works Long-Term

Most people get burned out on meal prep because they think it has to be bland to be effective.

But meals like this make consistency way easier.

You can enjoy real food, hit your goals, and actually look forward to dinner.

Want help building meals that actually fit your goals — without tracking forever or eating plain chicken?

This is the kind of strategy I use with my clients to make cutting (or bulking) simpler and more sustainable.

👉 Learn more about coaching here  or reach out if you want to dial in your nutrition without overcomplicating it.

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