Fans of Chipotle Mexican Grill will recall that the chain finally introduced a fresh chicken option to its menu in 2022 after 30 years. This must be a really special and tasty chicken meal. The chicken in this copycat recipe is juicy and delicate, with a smokey taste and a touch of spice.

The chicken is not only delicious but also quite simple to prepare. The marinade may be made ahead of time in a food processor or blender and needs no special attention. Marinating the chicken in the fridge overnight will make for a flavorful grilled meal the following day.

Fun Fact on Chipotle: Free burrito coins (and cards) are available! The coins are extremely rare, and nobody knows how to obtain them other than by purchasing them on eBay for $35. At that price, you’d be better off buying the burrito yourself.

What is Pollo Asado?

Pollo Asado is a traditional Mexican cuisine that consists of chicken marinated with Pollo Asado spice, grilled, and served with salsa, lime, and tortillas. Chipotle Mexican Grill’s version in the United States is created with chicken thighs marinated in a vibrant, boldly flavored marinade and topped with fresh squeezed lime juice and cilantro.

Ingredients

Chicken

• 3 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), trimmed

• 1 Tbsp neutral oil (for grill/pan)

Marinade

• 1 can (7 oz / 200 g) chipotle peppers in adobo

• 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice

• 3 Tbsp orange juice

• ¼ cup fresh cilantro (leaves & tender stems)

• ½ small white onion, roughly chopped (about ½ cup)

• 5 garlic cloves

• 2 Tbsp achiote paste (or substitute: 2 tsp ground annatto + 1 tsp sweet paprika)

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp dried oregano (Mexican, if available)

• 1½ tsp kosher salt (use 1 tsp if table salt)

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1–2 tsp brown sugar or honey (optional; balances heat)

• 2 Tbsp neutral oil

Finish (optional but very “Chipotle”)

• 1 Tbsp lime juice + 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro for tossing after cooking

Instructions

1) Blend the Marinade

Add all Marinade ingredients to a blender and blitz until smooth. Taste; it should be tangy, smoky, a little sweet, and moderately salty.

2) Marinate

Pat chicken dry. Add to a bowl or zipper bag with ¾ of the marinade (reserve the rest in the fridge for finishing). Coat well, press out air, and marinate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight (12–24 h).

3) Grill (or Stovetop/Oven)

• Grill: Heat to medium-high (425–475°F / 220–245°C). Oil grates. Grill thighs 5–7 min per side until charred at the edges and 175°F/80°C internal (breasts to 165°F/74°C).

• Cast-iron: Preheat pan over medium-high with a thin film of oil. Cook 5–7 min per side to the temps above.

• Oven (broil): Rack 6–8 inches from broiler. Broil on a foil-lined sheet 5–7 min per side until nicely blistered and cooked through.

4) Rest, Chop, and Glaze

Transfer chicken to a board and rest 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, simmer the reserved marinade in a small pan 2–3 minutes (boil briefly to make it safe and slightly syrupy).
Chop chicken into ¾-inch pieces, toss with a spoon or two of the hot glaze plus a squeeze of lime and cilantro (the Finish). Season to taste.

Yield: Serves 6–8 (about 3 lb/1.4 kg chicken)
Best cut: Boneless, skinless thighs (juicier than breasts)

Share the image below to your Pinterest board if you like this Chipotle-style Pollo Asado!

Serve It Like the Restaurant

• Bowls/Burritos/Tacos: Cilantro-lime rice, black beans, corn salsa, pico, avocado, cotija, lime wedges.

• Meal prep: Keeps 4 days refrigerated. Reheat quickly in a hot pan.

Is Pollo Asado Too Spicy?

You can adjust this recipe’s spice level to suit your personal preference. Despite this, classic Pollo Asado can be a little spicy. Adding citrus notes will significantly reduce the spice content, and the amount of heat is negligible for most.

Add more citrus than what is called for in the recipe if you want to skip the spice completely.

A Guide to the Perfect Pollo Asado

• Marinade – the marinade has so much flavor that you only need to marinate the chicken for a short period, but I still recommend marinating it for at least 30 minutes. Give the chicken time to marinade in the fridge the night before if you can. Adding citrus juices like lime and orange will enhance the chicken’s taste and help it retain its moisture. Marinate the chicken a day ahead and let it sit in the fridge overnight to save time on preparation. A double batch of marinated chicken can be prepared and stored in the freezer for later use.
• Chicken, thighs, or breasts – boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts are a great option. If prepared right, they can both be juicy cuts of chicken you can use with the Pollo Asado marinade. Thighs have more fat than chicken breasts, so they don’t dry out as much when cooked. If you want to have leftovers or use the chicken for meal preparation, I suggest using chicken thighs, so the flesh doesn’t dry out.
• Grilling, pan-searing, or air-fried – Regarding the preparation approach, grilling the chicken yields the most outstanding results in terms of taste. Good charring and a pleasant smokey taste develop in the marinade. However, whether pan-fried or air-fried, chicken is excellent any time of year.