Description
A vibrant and flavorful Pollo Asado recipe featuring marinated bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs grilled to juicy perfection with a tangy blend of citrus, achiote paste, and spices.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 5 pounds bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 small onion
- 1 jalapeno (stem removed and seeded)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 ounces achiote paste
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a large zip top bag and set aside to make space for the marinade.
- Make the marinade: Combine the orange juice, lime juice, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, achiote paste, ground coriander, ground cumin, kosher salt, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, and ancho chili powder in a food processor or blender. Puree until almost smooth.
- Marinate the chicken: Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken in the bag. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours to allow the flavors to infuse fully.
- Bring chicken to room temperature: Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling to let it come to room temperature, ensuring even cooking.
- Preheat the grill: Heat your grill to 425-450˚F in preparation for cooking the chicken.
- Grill the chicken: Place the chicken on the grill skin side down and cook for 5-7 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill an additional 7-10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F measured by an instant-read thermometer.
- Rest the chicken: Transfer the grilled chicken to a platter and let it rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
- For bone-in chicken breasts, marinate for no more than 8 hours to avoid the marinade breaking down the meat texture.
- Using an instant-read thermometer ensures the chicken is safely cooked without drying out.
- Achiote paste gives Pollo Asado its characteristic color and flavor but can be substituted if unavailable, though flavor will vary.
- Resting the chicken after grilling helps keep it juicy and tender.
- This recipe serves 8, perfect for gatherings or meal prepping.
