Pollo Al Asado

Pollo al Asado is one of our favorite Chipotle copycat recipes! Made with a tasty and spicy yet smoky marinade, it’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. This pollo asado recipe is a total winner!

Pollo Al Asado

Chipotle fanatics, this pollo asado Chipotle recipe is just as good — maybe even better — than the restaurant version. If you’ve never tried it before, pollo al asado is essentially marinated grilled chicken. It may be simple, but don’t let that fool you. It’s delicious and hearty, plus it’s so easy to make!

The marinade is where all of the flavor of this dish comes from. It’s a bit on the spicy side thanks to the added chili powder, and that smokiness comes from the cumin and smoked paprika. 

Enjoy pollo al asado in a Mexican bowl with fresh veggies, rice, and beans. Or, add it to a tortilla to create a burrito. It would also taste great as a taco filling! The possibilities are endless — add this pollo asado Chipotle recipe to your weeknight dinner menu for a unique update on chicken!

Why you will love this recipe

• Packed with flavor
• Versatile — add this chicken to a variety of recipes!
• Perfectly seared on the grill
• Ready in just 5 simple steps

How to Make Perfect Pollo Al Asado

Prep the ingredients. Cut the chicken breasts into 2-3 filets each and set aside. Place the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to blend.

Marinate the chicken. Put the chicken in a bowl or a Ziploc bag along with the marinade. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

Grill. Preheat a cast iron skillet or grill pan over high heat. Add the chicken filets and sear both sides until grill marks appear and the chicken is cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side.

Serve and enjoy! 

Pro Tips

• Make sure to use high heat. Remember, you can use a cast iron skillet, grill pan, or even your outdoor grill to make this pollo asado recipe. The key is to preheat it over high heat — it will help create those beautiful grill marks that are associated with asado (roasted in Spanish) recipes! 
• Don’t overcook. Chicken breasts will dry out quickly if you cook them for too long. When the filets start to turn golden brown on the outside, use a food thermometer to determine if they are fully cooked. When the temperature hits 165 degrees F, you can remove your pollo al asado from the grill.
• Play around with the spice levels. If you like spicy foods, feel free to add more chili powder to the marinade. You can also use cayenne pepper or ground chili peppers instead!

Key Ingredients and Substitutions for Pollo Al Asado

Chicken Breasts: Opt for chicken breasts for this pollo asado recipe. They’re easy to find and cut into filets. That said, if you have another cut of chicken at home that you’d like to use, go for it! You may need to adjust the cooking time, but the flavor will be the same.

Citrus Juice: You’ll need both lemon and lime juice to recreate pollo asado from Chipotle. It adds a touch of freshness and zing that works wonderfully with the other marinade ingredients!

Spices and Seasonings: For the marinade, of course! Fresh cilantro, cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and chili powder come together to create a Mexican-inspired marinade that takes chicken breast from ordinary to extraordinary!

Garlic and Onion: Also for the marinade. These aromatics add the final touch of flavor. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this Pollo Asado Chipotle Copycat

What is pollo asado?

Pollo means chicken in Spanish, and pollo asado means roasted or grilled chicken. This pollo asado recipe is just that! Marinated chicken is grilled to perfection and can be used in a variety of different ways. Pollo al asado is also a very popular Chipotle menu item.

How long to marinate chicken?

You can marinate chicken anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours. That said, leaving it to sit for around 30 minutes will give you a burst of flavor and moisture — as long as the cuts of meat are small. That’s why a shorter marinade time is perfect for this pollo asado Chipotle recipe. The chicken breast filets are small enough to soak up the flavor in just 30 minutes.

What does pollo asado taste like?

Pollo al asado is bright, smoky, and a little spicy. The citrus juice adds a touch of zing and freshness too. The simple yet impactful marinade of dried herbs and seasonings does much to add flavor to this dish — don’t skip it!

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5 from 1 vote

Pollo Asado

Pollo al Asado is one of our favorite Chipotle copycat recipes! Made with a tasty and spicy yet smoky marinade, it’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. This pollo asado recipe is a total winner!

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword chicken, Chipotle Copycat, Pollo Asado

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Waiting Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 416kcal

Author The Bewitchin Kitchen

Ingredients

• 3 lb chicken breasts

Marinate Ingredients

• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
• 6 clove garlic cloves
• 1/2 medium red onion
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp dry oregano
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder

Instructions

• Cut chicken bread into 2-3 filets each. Don’t chop them too thin so they are juicy after cooking.
• Place all the ingredients for the marinade into a large bowl or mixer jar. Then, use a hand mixer to blend them.
• Combine chicken fillets with the marinated sauce and stir well for an even coating. Cover it with film paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the iron cast grill over the stove in high heat. Then, add chicken filets and sear from both sides until they get the asado looking and they are cooked through. Avoid overcooking to get juicy chicken.
• Enjoy this Pollo Asado as part of a Mexican Bowl, a wrap, or as a taco filling.

Notes

 

Tips

• Make sure your grill, whether it’s an iron cast grill or another type, is preheated over high heat. A well-heated grill helps create those beautiful grill marks and the signature “asado” look on the chicken.
• When searing the chicken, be vigilant not to overcook it. Chicken breasts can dry out quickly if cooked too long. Aim for a golden brown exterior and cook them until they are just cooked through to keep them juicy.
• Adjust spiciness by using more chili powder or including cayenne pepper or ground chili peppers.

 

Recipe Notes

 

This Pollo Asado is a Chipotle copycat recipe. It provides the essence of Mexican cuisine through the flavorful marinade. Taste-wise, this chicken is zesty, fresh, and slightly spicy, while the cumin and smoked paprika infuse a smoky depth. The texture of Pollo Asado is juicy and slightly crispy exterior from the searing on the grill.

Pollo Asado’s versatility shines through as you have a plethora of serving options at your disposal. You can enjoy it in a Mexican Bowl, where the chicken’s vibrant flavor complements an array of fresh vegetables, rice, beans, and toppings. Wrap it in a tortilla for a satisfying burrito, or serve it as a taco filling with your choice of salsa and garnishes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 73g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 218mg | Sodium: 988mg | Potassium: 1387mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 668IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

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