Pollo Asado is marinated in citrus juices and a special blend of spices and then grilled to perfection. It’s delicious fresh off the grill with your favorite sides and leftovers are amazing in tacos, burritos or quesadillas!
Oh wow, is it August already? Wasn’t it just yesterday when we were welcoming the New Year with new resolutions? We’re now halfway through the year and I can’t even remember what I was promising myself to change!
Time sure flies when we’re having fun.
July was indeed loads of fun for G and me, it’s both our birthday month. We went on a three-day vacay to Las Vegas on my birthday week and you know how grand a time a trip to Sin City can be. Good thing what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. ?
Last Saturday, I pulled together a small BBQ party at home to celebrate his. Nothing fancy, just a few of our closest friends in attendance and a simple dinner which I served al fresco. I decided on a Mexican theme for the party and I have to say, it turned out to be one of the most fun get-togethers I’ve thrown in a while. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and judging from the almost-empty disposable serving pans, they all loved the food.
We had carne asada, this chicken asada, rice, Charro Beans with chorizo along with the usual accompaniments of pico de gallo, guacamole, and homemade tortillas and corn chips. I will be sharing the rest of the recipes with you these coming days so stay tuned for lots of great food ahead.
Pollo Asado is the equivalent of roasted chicken in Spanish cuisine. Made with a simple marinade of citrus juices and spices, it’s one of the easiest and simplest you can throw on the grill for a delicious lunch or dinner meal. You can substitute bone-in chicken if you like, but I prefer boneless thigh meat as it takes less time to cook and can easily be turned into tacos or burritos without haggling with bones.
Along with orange, lime, and lemon juices, the marinade includes achiote paste which is widely used in Mexican cuisine. A thick paste of ground annatto, cumin, cloves, oregano, garlic, cinnamon, and pepper, it is used in cooking to add a subtle hint of flavor and an enticing golden color. You can find this seasoning paste (this is an affiliate link) at any Latin grocery stores or in the ethnic section of most major supermarkets. You can also order it on Amazon for convenient delivery.
This Mexican-style grilled chicken recipe serves about 4 to 6 persons but can be easily doubled for a large crowd. Amazing fresh off the grill, Pollo Asado also makes great leftovers. I always like to marinate and grill more than we can consume in one meal as I usually serve the first half with rice and beans for dinner, and the remaining half I use as filling for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas or as topping for nachos and salads to speed up next day’s lunch.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thigh meat
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 4 oranges, juiced (about 1 cup)
- 2 limes, juiced
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 4 ounces achiote paste
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 head garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
Instructions
- Trim chicken of any excess fat. Wash and drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, achiote paste, bouillon powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until well-combined.
- Place chicken, onions, garlic and the juiced oranges, limes, and lemons (the skins) in the bowl. Massage meat to fully coat with marinade. Cover bowl and marinate meat for at least 2 hours or 4 hours for maximum flavor.
- Over hot coals, grill chicken for about 7 to 10 minutes on each side or until thermometer inserted in the center reads 165 F and the outside is nicely charred. Remove from heat and allow to rest for about 3 to 5 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
William Sweeney says
This sounds so good to eat!! I love trying new chicken recipes, this sounds like one that my kids will love!
Lalaine says
My niece and nephew loved it. They won’t touch the rice or the beans but they couldn’t get enough of the chicken 🙂
Andrea says
My mouth is already watering 🙂
Lalaine says
Thanks, Andrea 🙂
Cindy Ingalls says
It’s so fun to try out new cuisine, especially from different cultures. I love the idea of doing a theme night.
Lalaine says
Yes, it’s always fun to try different cuisines. Dinner meals are never boring 🙂
Liz Mays says
I’m going to get some achiote paste stat. This is too good to pass up. The chicken looks amazing! Pinned!
Lalaine says
You can pick up some at Walmart 🙂
breanna says
OMG yum! I love anything Mexican Food. Your pictures are beautiful!
Lalaine says
I love anything Mexican food, too. I can eat all day every day 🙂
Jacqui Odell says
That looks really yummy and healthy for you.
Lalaine says
Yes, it has simple ingredients and none of the fat you get from frying 🙂
tara pittman says
This is a great way to BBQ. I will use this idea for my next get together.
Lalaine says
I hope you do, it’s a nice change of flavor for your BBQ party 🙂
Melanie Smith says
Pollo asado is so delicious! My husband loves it. I will try this recipe.
Lalaine says
He’s going to love this, so good with rice and beans and fresh salsa 🙂
angie says
would love to go to a barbq like this oh look at all the good eats
Linda says
This sounds great! I am going to try this week. I think my family will love it, and it will be something new.
Lalaine says
Yes, please, give it a try. I am sure the family will enjoy the delicious Mexican feast 🙂
Carol Cassara says
Who doesn’t like easy peasy recipes? I am adding this to my menu plan for next week! Sounds very good.
Lalaine says
Hooray for easy peasy recipes, right? Who wants to be stuck in the kitchen preparing elaborate meals when we can out and about enjoying the beautiful outdoors? 🙂
Terri Beavers says
I’ve never made POLLO ASADO but it sounds absolutely scrumptious. I can’t wait to try this, I’ve been looking for something different to try this weekend.
Lalaine says
Scrumptious indeed 🙂 The meat is moist and flavorful. Do give it a try, it’s a delicious change of pace from hamburgers and stuff we usually throw on the grill 🙂
Christine - The Choosy Mommy says
I can just smell this now!!! I really can’t want to give it a try as this is a recipe that I would probably make all summer long!
Lalaine says
Yes, this is just the kind of thing to serve al fresco and enjoy all summer long 🙂
Rachel @ Coffee, Cake, Kids says
That looks and sounds delicious! I adore Mexican food
Lalaine says
You and me both! I just love the big, bold flavors of Mexican food 🙂
Robin Masshole Mommy says
That sounds so good. I can’t wait to try this. I will be soon, though.
Lalaine says
I hope you, I am sure you’ll love it 🙂