Easy Grilled Pollo Asado Recipe (Grill or Oven)

This Whole30 and paleo pollo asado recipe is a delicious and authentic Mexican grilled chicken recipe with the most flavorful marinade. This chicken can be grilled or baked to perfection and is an easy, delicious meal with so many ways to serve it! 

What is Pollo Asado?

Pollo Asado is a Mexican dish consisting of grilled or roasted marinated chicken. “Pollo” is the Spanish word for chicken, and “asado” means grilled or roasted. The chicken is typically marinated in a mixture of citrus juices, garlic, and spices, then grilled or roasted to perfection. It is often served with rice, beans, and tortillas and can be enjoyed as a main dish or used as a filling for burritos, tacos, and more! 

Sometimes it is made with achiote powder, but it is not required. Achiote powder is commonly used in Latin American cuisine to add color and flavor to dishes. It has a slightly sweet and peppery taste and can be used to give the chicken a reddish hue. 

For this recipe, I wanted to make it as simple as possible, so I skipped this ingredient. The resulting marinade lacks absolutely nothing in flavor, and I know you will love it! 

What Makes This Recipe Great

If you are looking for a delicious and authentic pollo asado recipe, you have come to the right place! This is a dish I’ve loved every time I go to a Mexican restaurant, and the meat is always so juicy and packed with flavor. After testing various homemade versions several times, I’m so excited that I can easily recreate this Mexican grilled chicken in my kitchen.

This chicken is easy and is one of my favorite paleo Mexican recipes. You’ll get the most authentic flavor by cooking them on the grill, with char marks and all. I think this is the best way to cook them, however, if you don’t have a grill, you can bake them in the oven as well. They’ll still turn out fantastic. 

Tender, juicy chicken with tons of flavor just in time for BBQ season!

Watch a Short Video of This Recipe

Ingredient Notes

See the recipe card below for detailed ingredient information. 

When it comes to creating an authentic pollo asado recipe, it’s ALL about the marinade. It creates that delicious, citrusy flavor and makes the meat so juicy. It’s made with a blend of Mexican spices and citrus juices that make the most flavorful chicken!

You’ll find many variations of the marinade for this popular Mexican grilled chicken recipe, but this combination is my favorite after experimenting a few times. All of the ingredients are easily found at the grocery store, making this recipe super easy!

• Onion
• Garlic
• Fresh orange juice
• Fresh lime juice
• Avocado oil or olive oil
• Ground Cumin
• Sea salt
• Oregano or Mexican Oregano
• Ground black pepper

I used whole chicken legs. However, you can also use bone-in chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken thighs, breasts, or your favorite cut of meat. The result is a tender, juicy chicken that is mouthwateringly good! 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the chicken in a large resealable bag, then combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth to make a marinade.
2. Pour marinade over the chicken and seal to close. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours, turning the bag once.
3. When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the marinade and set the marinade aside.
4. Choose your cooking method. You can use the oven or grill. Keep in mind that the cooking time may need to be adjusted based on whether you use a gas grill or a charcoal grill. 
5. The marinated chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F at the thickest part!

Grill Method

1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, or 350 degrees F, and grease the grill grates to prevent them 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 chicken for 25-30 minutes, basting with the marinade 2-3 more times. The meat is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
5. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before serving.

Oven Method

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking dish or 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 meat is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
4. Rest the chicken at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.
5. If not serving right away, cover with aluminum foil and keep in the oven on warm. 

Expert Tips

• You can use your favorite cut of chicken for this paleo and Whole30 pollo asado recipe. I just love skin-on whole chicken legs because it’s the juiciest and the most flavorful cut, in my opinion. However, feel free to use breasts, thighs, or just drumsticks!
• Since this is a bone-in chicken recipe, no need to pound the meat to even thickness. The dark meat will turn out juicy and flavorful, even if it’s a little overcooked! If you end up using chicken breast, you can pound it.
• The marinade’s citrus gives this delicious paleo Mexican chicken its distinct flavor. If you have other citrus fruits on hand, you can use different combinations with the same amount without affecting the flavors too much.
• I highly recommend marinating the chicken for the full 8 hours to get all the marinade ingredients infused into the meat. However, I did it for just 2 hours when I was short on time, and it was still delicious.
• Do not marinate for longer than 8 hours. The acidity of the citrus can toughen up the chicken meat if it’s sitting in the marinade for longer than that.
• I highly recommend an instant-read thermometer for the most tender and perfectly cooked chicken because every grill and oven is different. I have this one, and I always use it when cooking meat.

How to Serve Pollo Asado

You can serve this dish with many various sides and in so many ways! You can make pollo asado tacos or burrito bowls or serve it with simple sides. Some of my favorites that are not necessarily paleo are:

• grilled corn on the cob
• corn tortillas or Siete Foods Tortillas
• beans
• cheese
• Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice
• sour cream

To keep this recipe Whole30-friendly, you can serve it with:

• pico de gallo or your favorite salsa
• guacamole
• tostones
• cauliflower Mexican rice
• lettuce wrap
• cilantro

Storage Tips

• Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve with your favorite sides! 
• To freeze, wrap the cooked chicken tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, then reheat and serve. 

Try These Delicious Recipes

Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas (Paleo, Whole30)

3-Ingredient Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

Paleo Chicken Yakitori aka Japanese Chicken Skewers (Whole30, Keto, AIP Option)

Lemon Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Paleo, Whole30, Keto, AIP Option)

Paleo Huli Huli Chicken

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