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Mexican Grilled

Savor the Flavor: Easy Mexican Grilled Chicken Recipe

Enjoy this easy Mexican grilled chicken recipe, bursting with vibrant flavors from citrus and spices, perfect for dinner any night.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Marination Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade
  • 1 cup orange juice substitute with lemon juice for a different citrus flavor
  • 1/4 cup lime juice provides tartness and depth
  • 1/4 cup olive oil adds moisture and richness
  • 4 cloves garlic freshly minced
  • 2 tablespoons achiote powder or paste; swap with paprika if unavailable
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin contributes warm, nutty notes
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander offers a citrusy, floral hint
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
  • to taste sea salt or kosher salt vital for seasoning
  • to taste ground black pepper or use white pepper
For the Chicken
  • 4 pieces chicken (thighs, legs, or breasts) bone-in or boneless, skin-on or skinless

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • grill or oven
  • Meat Thermometer

Method
 

Instructions
  1. In a large mixing bowl or resealable bag, combine the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, achiote powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk or shake until well combined.
  2. Add your choice of chicken thighs, legs, or breasts into the marinade, making sure each piece is well coated. Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or ideally 4 hours in the refrigerator.
  3. When you're ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat, or preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and prepare a baking pan with aluminum foil.
  4. Remove the marinated chicken from the bag or bowl, and place on the grill skin-side down for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F-165°F.
  5. For oven preparation, arrange the marinated chicken skin-side up on a wire rack in the baking pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping midway, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  6. Once cooked through, remove the chicken from the grill or oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving with lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 30gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 450mgSugar: 3gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Aim for 4 hours for maximum flavor absorption and use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F.

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