Authentic Pollo Asado Recipe (Grilled or Oven-Baked)
Make juicy, flavorful pollo asado at home! This easy recipe brings authentic Mexican grilled chicken to your table with bold citrus marinade and two easy cooking options: grill or oven. It's perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, backyard BBQs, and warm-weather cookouts!
Ingredients
- 4whole chicken legs (or 2-3 lbs of your favorite cut of chicken)
- ½onion (roughly chopped)
- 5garlic cloves (smashed and peeled)
- ½ cuporange juice (freshly squeezed)
- ¼ cuplime juice
- 2 tbspavocado oil (or olive oil)
- 2 tspcumin
- 2 tspsea salt
- 1 tsporegano
- 1 tspground black pepper
Directions
- 1
Place the chicken in a large resealable bag.
- 2
Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth to make a marinade.
- 3
Pour the marinade over the chicken and seal.
- 4
Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours, turning the bag once.
- 5
When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the marinade and set the marinade aside.
Grill method
- 1
Preheat grill to 350 degrees F, and grease the grill grates to prevent from sticking.
- 2
Place the chicken skin-side down over direct heat and cover for 10 minutes, until browned and crispy.
- 3
Flip the chicken and place over indirect heat. Baste the skin with the marinade.
- 4
Cover and grill for 25-30 minutes, basting with the marinade 2-3 more times. The chicken is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
- 5
Rest chicken for 5 minutes before serving.
Oven method
- 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Place chicken on the baking sheet in a single layer.
- 3
Bake for about 40 minutes with skin-side up. Baste with the marinade halfway through. The chicken is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
- 4
Rest chicken for 5 minutes before serving.