Grilled Paleo Pollo Asado Recipe

This Whole30 and paleo pollo asado is a delicious and authentic Mexican grilled chicken recipe with the most flavorful marinade. You can also bake in the oven if you don’t have a grill!

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 chicken restaurant, and the meat is always so juicy and packed with flavor. After testing out various homemade versions several times, I’m so excited that I can easily recreate this Mexican grilled chicken in my own kitchen.

Paleo Pollo Asado Recipe

This paleo and Whole30 pollo asado is actually very easy and it’s one of my favorite paleo Mexican chicken recipes. You’ll get the best and the most authentic flavor by cooking them on the grill, with char marks and all.

However, if you don’t have a grill, you can bake them in the oven as well. They’ll still turn out fantastic!

Ingredients in Paleo & Whole30 Pollo Asado Marinade Recipe

When it comes to creating an authentic pollo asado recipe, it’s ALL about the marinade. It’s what creates that delicious, citrusy flavor and also makes the meat so juicy. Here are the ingredients to making a delicious paleo pollo asado marinade recipe that’s gluten free:

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

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 you have to do for the gluten free pollo asado marinade recipe is to blend all the ingredients together until smooth. You then marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours (preferably for the full 8 hours) before grilling or baking! So simple and easy.

Substitutions and Tips for This Recipe

• 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 chicken breasts, thighs, or just drumsticks!
• Since this is a bone-in chicken recipe, no need to pound chicken to even thickness. The dark meat will turn out juicy and flavorful even if it’s a little overcooked! If you do end up using chicken breast, you can choose to pound it.
• The citrus in the marinade is what 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’ve done 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.
• For the most tender and perfectly cooked chicken, I highly recommend a probe thermometer because every grill and oven is different. I have this one, and I always use it when cooking meat.
• If you don’t have a grill, using the oven will work just fine and the instructions are included in the recipe box.

How to make Pollo Asado Step By Step

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. Add the 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. TO GRILL: Preheat the grill, then cook skin side down first. Flip the chicken and grill while basting until cooked through.
5. TO ROAST IN THE OVEN: Preheat the oven, then bake skin side up. Baste with the marinade halfway through.

The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F at the thickest part!

What to Serve with Pollo Asado

You can serve this dish with many various sides! Some of my favorites that are not necessarily paleo are:

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

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

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

Other recipes you might love…

• 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