Broiler Pollo Asado Recipe

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Chicken is one of the most widely-consumed meats in the world, and consumption of this particular meat is only growing. With that in mind, every culture and cuisine has its own abundance of chicken recipes. If you are in the mood for a simple yet strikingly bold and zesty chicken dish for your dinner, then Mexican pollo asado is the one for you. Essentially translating to "roasted chicken," pollo asado really packs in much more flavor than your average roast, and this broiler version helps ensure a perfectly crispy texture, too.

In this broiler pollo asado recipe, from the kitchen of recipe developer Jennine Rye, succulent chicken thighs are marinated in a bright, citrusy and spiced mixture of orange and lime juice, garlic, chipotle paste, cumin, coriander, paprika, and oregano. Then the marinated thighs go under the broiler until lightly charred, for a simple chicken dish with flavors that are out of this world. This recipe is easy enough to assemble that it makes a great meal option for a work night, but also flavorful enough to serve to a crowd.

To begin this broiler pollo asado recipe, first you will need to gather the ingredients. For the marinade you will want olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, achiote paste, granulated onion, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. You will additionally need boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

Add the olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, garlic cloves, achiote paste, granulated onion, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper to a food processor.

Blend for 15 to 20 seconds to make a marinade.

Coat the chicken thighs in the marinade. Set aside for at least 30 minutes to marinate.

Preheat the broiler to 425 F.

Prepare a grill tray by lining it with aluminum foil and greasing the grates with a little extra oil.

Place the marinated chicken pieces on to the prepared grill.

Place the chicken under the broiler and cook for 6 minutes.

Turn the chicken and cook under the broiler for another 6 to 8 minutes, until cooked through and lightly charred.

Serve right away, garnished with cilantro as desired.

• Easy Brazilian Rice Recipe
• Mexican Rice Soup Recipe
• Corn Salad Recipe
• Grilled Mexican Street Corn Recipe
• Mexican Kale Salad Recipe

This pollo asado recipe is absolutely bursting with flavor and makes a great centerpiece for a wide variety of dishes, from protein bowls to tacos. If you are looking for some ways to switch up this recipe, there are some great options available to you. A simple way to change up this recipe is to use a different cut of chicken. Perhaps you prefer lean chicken and tend to reach for a chicken breast, or alternatively, you can use bone-in and skin-on cuts like drumsticks, wings, or chicken thighs. These types of chicken all work well in this recipe, but you will just need to adjust your cooking times accordingly, and make sure that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F before serving.

If you prefer your chicken extra zesty or with added spice, you can easily adapt the marinade to your personal preferences. Add another tablespoon or two of lime juice and a handful of fresh cilantro to the marinade to keep things really fresh and zesty, or you can add a kick of spice with some chili powder or cayenne pepper to turn up the heat. If you can't locate any achiote paste in the store, try your hand at making your own with this homemade achiote paste recipe. 

The broiler is a great piece of kitchen equipment that can allow you to quickly and efficiently turn out a succulent and lightly charred piece of meat. However, it is definitely not the only way to cook chicken, or the only way to specifically cook this pollo asado recipe. There are a variety of different methods you can use to create this recipe according to your personal preferences and the tools available to you. A simple way to cook this pollo asado is by oven baking it at 425 F until cooked though (roughly 20 to 25 minutes depending on the thickness of the meat). Alternatively, you can cook your pollo asado on the stovetop. Just heat up a little oil in a pan and fry the meat for 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F.

Using your air fryer is another great way to cook this pollo asado recipe, a method that's faster than an oven and uses less oil than the stovetop method. Sipmly marinate the chicken as called for, then instead of lining the pieces up on a grill tray, line them up in your air fryer basket. Air fry for an initial 8 minutes or so, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes (or more time as needed). 

• Indonesian Roast Chicken Recipe
• Whole-Roasted Peruvian-Style Chicken Recipe
• Tandoori-Style Boneless Chicken Thighs Recipe
• Broiled Jalapeño Poppers Recipe
• Tequila and Lime Grilled Chicken Recipe