TJ’s Carne Asada Autentica goes straight from the package onto a hot grill in this marinated meat dinner. A fire roasted pepper and corn salad with feta and parsley builds on the side in the same 20-minute cook window. The full plate serves four in 25 minutes.
Frozen peppers and onions release a lot of water as they heat, and cooking that liquid off is what turns them into a proper side rather than a soggy pile. Letting the pan stay hot and the liquid evaporate fully is what makes the difference between a crisp salad and a watery one. Stirring only occasionally rather than constantly gives each piece time against the hot surface to shed moisture.
TJ’s carne asada is cut thin, and thin meat on a hot grill cooks in 3 to 4 minutes per side. Dropping the heat or cooking it longer dries the meat out before it browns. Getting the grill fully hot before the meat goes on keeps the outside seared and the center done at the same time.
Trader Joe’s Marinated Meat Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy4
servings5
minutes20
minutes380
kcalTrader Joe’s Marinated Meat Recipe with carne asada, fire roasted peppers, roasted corn, and feta cheese. Four servings from the grill in 25 minute
Ingredients
- Carne Asada
1 package TJ’s Carne Asada Autentica (pre-marinated; see Notes)
Oil for grill grates
- Pepper & Corn Salad
1 bag TJ’s fire roasted bell peppers & onions (frozen)
½ bag TJ’s roasted corn (frozen)
½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
- For Serving
Rice or flour tortillas
Hot sauce or sour cream (optional)
Directions
- Preheat an outdoor grill or stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates. Remove the carne asada from its packaging and pat dry if needed.
- Grill the carne asada for 3 to 4 minutes per side until cooked through. Cooking time varies with thickness — check for doneness and adjust. Transfer to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thin against the grain.
- While the meat grills, heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. When hot, add the full bag of fire roasted peppers and onions and half the bag of roasted corn.
- Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Toss in the crumbled feta and roughly chopped parsley.
- Serve the sliced carne asada alongside or over the pepper and corn salad. Add rice or tortillas and top with hot sauce or sour cream if using.
FAQs
Does the recipe work with other TJ’s marinated meats besides carne asada?
Other TJ’s marinated meats fit this build: the shawarma chicken thighs and the tri-tip roast both go on the same grill at the same temperature. Cook time changes depending on thickness chicken thighs need 6 to 7 minutes per side and the tri-tip needs 4 to 5. The pepper and corn salad pairs with any of them without changing the method.
What’s the best way to avoid a watery pepper and corn sauté?
Skipping the lid is the most important move covering the pan traps steam and prevents the liquid from evaporating. High heat and occasional stirring, rather than constant movement, give each piece contact time against the hot pan surface. Most of the moisture is gone after about 8 minutes; the last two build the slight char that finishes the salad.
Can I swap feta for a different cheese?
Crumbled cotija is the most natural substitute it has a similar salty, crumbly texture and holds its shape in the warm salad the same way feta does. Goat cheese works if a creamier finish is preferred, though it softens more than it crumbles when tossed with the hot corn and peppers. Both cotija and queso fresco are available at TJ’s and fill the same role.
What other TJ’s grilled meat works on the same weekly rotation?
On weeks when a different format works better than carne asada, a ground meat option covers the same quick-grill slot. A TJ’s turkey burger recipe on this site uses TJ’s frozen turkey patties and comes together in 17 minutes. Both use the grill and both pull from the TJ’s refrigerator or freezer section.
What TJ’s recipe works well with leftover carne asada the next day?
Leftover carne asada from this recipe works well tucked onto a flatbread the following day rather than reheated in a tortilla. A Trader Joe’s flatbread recipe on this site uses TJ’s pre-made crust as the base and takes about 15 minutes. The same feta from the salad carries over as a flatbread topping without any extra shopping.
