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5 from 5 votes

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! 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Marinating Time8 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: authentic pollo asado recipe, mexican grilled chicken, pollo al asado, pollo asado marinade recipe, pollo asado recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 373kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 whole chicken legs or 2-3 lbs of your favorite cut of chicken
  • 1/2 onion roughly chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
  • 1/2 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the chicken in a large resealable bag.
  • Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth to make a marinade.
  • Pour the marinade over the chicken and seal.
  • Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours, turning the bag once.
  • When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the marinade and set the marinade aside.

Grill Method

  • Preheat grill to 350 degrees F, and grease the grill grates to prevent from sticking.
  • Place the chicken skin-side down over direct heat and cover for 10 minutes, until browned and crispy.
  • Flip the chicken and place over indirect heat. Baste the skin with the marinade.
  • Cover and grill for 25-30 minutes, basting with the marinade 2-3 more times. The chicken is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
  • Rest chicken for 5 minutes before serving.

Oven Method

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place chicken on the baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes with skin-side up. Baste with the marinade halfway through. The chicken is done when the thickest part of the meat reaches 165 degrees F.
  • Rest chicken for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

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 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 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 pollo asado recipe Whole30-friendly, you can serve it with:

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 leftover pollo asado, 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. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1whole chicken leg | Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 1275mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg