Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled)

Pollo Asado, oven roasted on a sheet pan or grilled on a grill. A delicious Mexican orange and paprika marinade which makes juicy and flavorful grilled chicken.

Posted On: Apr, 11 |  Author:
Perfect for summer BBQ, memorial day cookout or any day healthy chicken dinner.
Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled)
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Flavorful chicken (roasted or grilled) marinated in orange, lime juice, garlic, paprika, herbs, and spices. Pollo Asado is Mexican (or Cuban depending upon spices) take on grilled chicken where citrus tenderize chicken, and herbs, spices make it juicy and flavorful. The beautiful orange color is so tempting. You will love the flavors.

Today, I'm sharing both cooking methods to make pollo asado; 1) Grilled 2) Oven Roasted. Plus vibrant made-from-scratch Pollo Asado marinade that you can use with any kind of meat. Even sauted shrimp tastes amazing with such bold and citrus flavors.

So, let's make some Pollo Asado!

Chicken marinating in Pollo Asado Marinade

Pollo means chicken. Asado means roasted. In simple words, pollo asado is chicken roasted. Some sources claim that pollo is slang word. We are not going to dig deeper in name but talk about the flavor; how delicious and simple this homemade pollo asado recipe is.

Pollo Asado Marinade:

Pollo Asado recipe, like any good roasted chicken starts with marinating the chicken in Asado marinade. Marinade is combination of two main components: citrus and asado seasoning.

In a best tasting Pollo Asado, I look for bright citrus notes, garlic, and aroma of oregano and smoked paprika.

My Pollo Asado seasoning is blend of roasted cumin, Spanish smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and oregano. I add orange juice and lime juice, mix with olive oil, and fresh crushed garlic to make a paste like marinade. This marinade tenderize the chicken, infuse in ton of flavor, and yields a dark-spiced (not that spicy but darn delicious) chicken roast. Heavenly Pollo Asado it is!

Let's break apart few things that I do differently for Pollo Asado Marinade:

Achiote or Paprika: Like many other Cuban/Mexican Chicken recipes, all flavor of pollo asado comes from citrus, and spices. The beautiful orange-red color of chicken is either Achiote Paste Or Spanish Paprika. Even though I have used achiote paste for this recipe.. The recipe I'm sharing here uses Smoked Paprika. I feel achiote is not that easy to find and the smokey flavor of paprika gives good flavor boost to the pollo asado.

However, if you are after that red-orange color, I have also shared the Achiote Mariande recipe in the notes. 

Citrus: Most common citrus for asado marinade are: orange and lemon juice. I love the flavor of orange, but replace lime in place of lemon juice. Lime is perfect to cut the rich smoky flavor of smoked paprika. Since my recipe is paprika based, lime is the way to go. If you are planning to use Achiote Paste. I must tell you that achiote powders are often pre-seasoned with some citrus and spices. So, if you using only achiote and no paprika, you can use lemon juice.

Delicious Roasted Pollo Asado

I promised to share two ways to prepare Pollo Asado: Grilled and Oven Roasted. (these pictures show oven roasted chicken)

Oven roasted is great for weeknights and any time of the year when switching-on outdoor grill is not an feasible option. Grilling makes perfect sense for sunny days ahead. Late Spring and summer, The season of grill is here. On weekends, Vishal want to only eat grilled. My job is only to get the chicken marinated and ready. Grilling is his job. So, I keep lots of marinade recipes handy to make my life easier. 

Let's discuss both cooking methods, one at a time.

Pollo Asado in Oven:

To roast chicken in oven, pre-heat oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray pan with oil, reserve marinade (to use later) before placing chicken on sheet pan. Roast until internal temperature on instant thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I like to broil for last 1-2 minutes for more roasted flavor. (optional)

Bone-in chicken thighs take 30-35 minutes. Boneless chicken cooks quickly. (25-30 minutes)

Note: Check chicken temperature sooner to avoid dry chicken. For more flavor and moisture, after first 15 minutes, rotate the pan, and baste chicken with reserved marinade (twice, every 5 minutes).

Pollo Asado on Grill:

Pollo Asado or any time grilling chicken, grill preheated to 375 to 400 Fahrenheit works best. This temperature keeps chicken moist and cooks evenly. Medium temperature don't let chicken dry out or cook fast from outside and leave inside raw.

Note: Always only flip the chicken when one side is done. Don't hurry or flip too many times. 

Pollo Asado - oven or grill prepare method

I hope this will make to your grill coming weekend. If you haven't started grilling yet (like us with still snowing outside). Oven roasted Pollo Asado recipe is great way to bring summer into kitchen even without grill. 

Mexican Grilled Chicken Pollo Asado

If you like Grilled Chicken, I'm sure you will enjoy these other recipes on blog: (all can be adapted to cook in oven too)

Chicken Souvlaki
Chicken Fajita
Malai (Cream) Chicken Kabobs
Hawaiian Chicken Skewers

Oh, and don't forget to pin this recipe for later.

Enjoy!

Pairing Ideas:

Spicy Mango Salsa Easy Cilantro Lime Rice Instant Pot Garlic Brown Rice

Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled)

4.8 (12 reviews)
Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled)
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Mexican () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 3 lb Chicken - Serves: 4
(Total time does not include marination time.)

Ingredients

Directions

  • 1. Prepare Ingredients for Pollo Asado Marinade:  Mince garlic, juice lime and orange, and collect remaining ingredients to make marinade.
  • Step for Recipe - Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled) 2. Prepare Pollo Asado Marinade:  Pollo Asado Marinade: In a wide bowl, combine all marinade ingredients. Taste and adjust salt and lime to sharp bold taste before adding chicken. Reserve 1/4 cup aside for basting and add remaining marinade in a large bowl.
  • Step for Recipe - Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled) 3. Marinate:  Add chicken. Rub marinade paste over the chicken, cover all sides. Cover and refrigerate for at-least 30 minutes to marinate. (up-to overnight).
  • 4. Preheat Grill or Oven::  Heat grill to medium heat, about 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. (Oven instructions in notes) When ready to grill, brush hot grill with oil. Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade.
  • 5. Grill:  Grilled Pollo Asado: Place marinated chicken on the hot preheat oiled grill. Cover and grill chicken until internal temperature (in thickest part of thigh) reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (about 20-30 mins). After first 10 minutes, light brush chicken 2-3 times with marinade reserved in Step - 2. Additional Notes: (Oven instructions in notes)
  • Step for Recipe - Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled) 6. Serve with side of beans, rice, salsa. Add to tacos or burrito bowls. Extra splash of lime before serving is highly recommended.
Savita's Notes:
  1. *Oven Roasted Pollo Asado: To roast in oven, pre-heat oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. In step-3, place chicken on sheet pan . (reserve marinade). Roast until internal temperature on instant thermometer reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Broil last 1-2 minute for more roasted flavor. (optional) Bone-in chicken thighs take 30-35 minutes. Boneless chicken cooks quickly. (25-30 minutes) Check chicken temp sooner to avoid dry chicken. For more flavor and moisture, after first 15 minutes, rotate the pan, and baste chicken with reserved marinade (twice, every 5 minutes). Discard the remaining marinade.
  2. Achiote Powder Marinade: When using achiote powder , replace paprika in above ingredients list with a tbsp achiote powder. Use half of lime juice and half of salt. Taste and adjust both after tasting.
  3. Time Saving Tip:  Put all marinade ingredients in blender and puree to smooth consistency. 
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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30 Responses

  1. Exceptional, seems it would also work as a taco as well.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  2. I suggest 425 20 minutes flip baste 20 more minutes.
    ★ ★ ★ ★
  3. This was delicious. I used chicken thighs, and I also had some wings left over, so thew those in there. Put them on the grill. Perfect! The wings were devoured first. I will be eating this chicken all week. This is a nice recipe, and I may try it on some fish.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  4. 😋 yummi
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  5. That marinade sounds so good. What a lovely dinner idea. I bet my family would love this. I'm going to save your recipe and give it a try.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    🙌 I recommend marinade overnight for a delicious Pollo Asado. Happy Cooking!
  6. Oh my that marinade sounds fantastic. I am always looking for new chicken recipes and this looks so flavorful. Thanks for sharing. Im making it tomorrow!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Thanks. Marinade is the heart and soul ingredient of Pollo Asado. :) Happy cooking!
  7. Oh wow - the marinade on this looks simply ahmazing! Such a mouthwatering dish!
    Thanks 🙌
  8. Your marinade is so delicious. I can just imagine how flavourful this chicken must be. I will try this recipe soon. Thanks for sharing.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    This is very zesty and flavorful marinade with balanced flavor of herbs and heat. You will love it. Happy grilling season. :)
  9. Love how delicious this came out. It was super easy and the family loved it. Thanks!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Thanks for letting me know.
  10. Can your roast a whole chicken?
    Yes, you can roast whole chicken. In that case, margination time and cooking time will need to be adjusted. Let me know if I can help by providing more details.
  11. made a half portion of this to marinade chicken wings to bake in the oven. they turned out so good and full of flavor, great recipe!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
  12. Would this go good with calabacitas?
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    It will be great with calabacitas! Enjoy!
  13. Please send me your newsletter
    Hi Nathalie, I added you on my email list. You should see the Newsletter in your mail box. Enjoy!
  14. Please send me newsletter
    Hi Kathy, sure. You will have it Monday in your inbox. I have added you to the mailing list.
  15. Great recipe! Added a little more liquid, grilled and then baked to finish. Came out very tender and juicy!
    ★ ★ ★ ★
  16. I would like to print and make the Pollo Asado Chicked recipe but when I click print, it will not print and tells me to contact you. Sounds like a great recipe and would love to have it.
    Hi Carolyn, I have not setting to ask me for print. Print does not support printing from IMac. Please try from a window's phone. Let me know if you are willing to receive email, I can email you ingredient list. I hope it helps.
  17. What do you serve it with for sides ?
    Pollo Asado has bright flavor of citrus and paparika. I love serving side of Mexican-style rice and beans, or a refreshing summer salad. I have few suggestions above the recipe card. ( highly recommend some salsa on side). I hope it helps.
  18. I made this today and it was so delicious! I served it with a tomato and mango salad - so good. I made it in the oven because I was out of propane, but for Sunday dinner with friends we will try the grill method.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Diana, thanks for sweet feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed. Tomato Mango Salad sounds refreshing. I can imagine how well it will go with Pollo Asado. Happy grilling!