This Pollo Asado recipe is a fantastic and authentic version of the classic roast chicken commonly found in Puerto Rico, Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean. A bold citrus marinade keeps the chicken juicy and makes it super flavorful!
When I think of roast chicken at it’s finest, pollo asado is where it’s at for me. Classic flavors like garlic and citrus combine to make the juiciest and more tender chicken you’ll ever eat. This recipe is so simple yet so flavorful (and it’s easy on the wallet too). So if you’re ready to put a Latin twist on your standard roast chicken recipe, try my recipe for Puerto Rican roast chicken.
Pollo asado always reminds me of visiting my Abuela’s house in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Right near her house, there was a food truck that only sold roast chicken and boiled viandas (root starchy vegetables like green bananas, yuca and yautia). It was the best fricking chicken I’ve ever had in my life. Puerto Rican roast chicken is truly the most delicious, flavorful chicken you’ll ever eat.
What Ingredients Do You Need To Make Pollo Asado?
What makes pollo asado stand out is the delicious spices and herbs we use. Puerto Rican recipes in general are known for its spices and bold flavors. There’s nothing shy about Latin cooking, and this recipe is no exception. My citrus marinade packs a punch with classic Latin spices like Sazon, garlic powder, oregano and cumin. We round out those flavors by using orange and lime juice, and blend everything together with a bit of oil.
What are the Best Cuts of Chicken To Use for Pollo Asado?
The best cuts for pollo asado are:
- A whole chicken (my personal fave!)
- Drumsticks
- Thighs
- Bone-in Breasts
- Split Whole Chickens
- Wings
I personally love using dark meat for several reasons. For one, it’s super authentic, plus dark meat tends to bold up well to roasting because it’s much harder to overcook. Also, dark meat can stand up better to bold flavors and acidic marinades. Chicken breast tends to be overcook quickly, if you aren’t super careful.
What Can I Serve With Pollo Asado?
In Puerto Rico, pollo asado (and most other proteins) are served with rice beans, plantains, and some avocado or simple green salad. Here are some of my favorite Puerto Rican recipes to serve with your Puerto Rican roast chicken.
- Arroz Con Gandules (Puerto Rican Rice with Pigeon Peas)
- Arroz Amarillo (Spanish Yellow Rice)
- Habichuelas Guisadas (Puerto Rican Stewed Beans)
- Tostones (Fried Plantains) with Mayoketchup
- Avocado, Tomato & Watercress Salad
- Tropical Guava Barbecue Sauce
- Coconut Cream Cheese Flan
Pollo Asado (Puerto Rican Roast Chicken)
Ingredients
- 4 lb whole roasting chicken or a mixture of chicken legs, thighs, and/or breasts
- 1/4 cup Achiote oil, canola or olive oil
- Juice of 1-2 limes or lemons
- 3 teaspoons Sazon seasoning with Coriander and Annatto
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Sofrito Butter
- 1 stick salted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sofrito
Optional Marinade Additions
- 2/3 cup orange juice juice of 2-3 fresh oranges
Instructions
Pollo Asado Recipe
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Combine the oil, citrus juices and spices in a bowl or measuring cup. Stir to combine.
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Place the chicken into a zip top bag or glass container, then pour the marinade all over the chicken. Be sure to thoroughly coat the chicken with the marinade. Cover and place the chicken in the fridge to marinate for a minimum of 4 hours, up to 8 hours.
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Preheat your oven or grill to 350 degrees F.
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Cook the chicken until a thermometer reads 170°F in the center, about 20-25 minutes per pound. Serve hot.
Sofrito Butter Injection (Optional)
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Melt 1 stick of salted butter in a microwave until melted.
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Add 1/2 cup of fresh sofrito, stir to combine.
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After marinating the chicken with the citrus marinade, add the sofrito butter to a flavor injector and inject your pieces of chicken. Roast the chicken per instructions above.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Acidic marinades can change the texture of meat if you marinate it for too long, so don’t overdue the marinade. If you’re using white meat chicken, err on the side of caution and only marinate for 4 hours max.
Can’t find sazon seasoning? Make your own with my homemade recipe!
8 Responses
Can I use this to roast a chicken in a conventional oven?
If yes, Do you have an idea of how long and what temp it needs to be?
You can definitely make this recipe in the oven. Roast at 400F for 15 minutes and then reduce to 350F and cook until the chicken registers 165F with a meat thermometer and the juices run clear.
Hello again, so I can marinate overnight then? A whole chicken?
Marinade max time is only 4 hours per the recipe instructions.
So I made an 8lbs chicken and doubled the ingredients and it was good but probably needed even more because it was tasty but a bit bland. I wanted to put a picture up because it looked amazing and my husband absolutely loved it! 🙂
So thank you for this recipe! 🙂
Makes sense to add even more seasoning to the chicken since chicken pieces marinate faster than a whole bird, glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Delicious! I did marinate over night. I only used chicken thighs. Amazing! Thank you for another great recipe
Thank you so much!