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.”
Leigh Anne Borders says
Mexican foods are one of my favorites! I love the tastes and textures. This recipe does incredibly delicious!
Lalaine says
Mine, too! I just love the big bold flavors of this cuisine.
Rosey says
I’m sure that this would be a crowd pleaser. Excellent that it works well for leftovers too.
Lalaine says
It was crowd pleaser, indeed. Everyone at our party enjoyed the food and I didn’t have any leftovers even with the good amount I prepared 🙂
Nikki Wayne says
Oh, I want to try this. It looks really yummy. Mexican food is a must-try.
Lalaine says
Thanks, Nikki.
Rosey says
That’s smart to use the rest to fill tacos. It sounds really good to me.
Lalaine says
Yes, this pollo asado is perfect for taco-making 🙂
Echo says
This sounds so delicious! I love Mexican style food, so I know I would love this!
Lalaine says
Thanks, Echo 🙂
Beeb Ashcroft says
I can’t believe we’re already a week into August either. Time flies! This dish looks SO good! It might be dinner tonight!
Lalaine says
Where does time go, right?
I do hope you give it a try. Easy and delicious!
Akhil Sharma says
Yummy and delicious. I will share this recipe with others too, as it is simple and unique. Thank you
Lalaine says
Thank you, Akhil. 🙂
Jasmine Watts says
Yumm… That looks delicious! I would love to try out your recipe.
Lalaine says
Thanks, Jasmine 🙂
deanna says
This looks so amazing. I am going to try it this weekend. Yum! Pinned!
Lalaine says
It’s perfect for weekend grilling 🙂
Liz Mays says
Oh yum! That flavor sounds amazing with chicken. This would be a lot of fun to try.
Kathy says
That looks so good! I’ll have to give this a try soon. I bet I’m going to love it too.
Lalaine says
I hope you do:)
Sami | The Classic Brunette says
Pollo asado is my absolute favorite! I love the spice and always use it for tacos. Definitely going to try your recipe out!
xo
Sami
http://www.theclassicbrunette.com
Lalaine says
I always double the recipe as it’s really good for making tacos the next day 🙂
Amy Jones says
Sounds quite good! I love anything with chicken in it and this recipe sounds really nice
Lalaine says
Yes, I love anything chicken as well. It’s the perfect canvas for any flavor or seasonings you can think of and this pollo asado is definitely one of my favorite ways to prepare it 🙂
Elizabeth O. says
I’m glad you had a lot of fun in Vegas! It’s hard not to have a great time there. This recipe looks so good, it got me craving for some barbecued chicken! I’m definitely giving this a try.
Lalaine says
Thank you and yes, it’s hard NOT to have a great time in Vegas. So much fun stuff to do.
I hope you give the recipe a try, you’ll enjoy it especially with all the fixings 🙂
Heather Pfingsten says
This looks absolutely delicious! I love that it is so simple, a quick meal, and packed full of protein. Printing your recipe now, thank you!
Lalaine says
Thanks Heather 🙂