A delicious recipe for Mojo Cuban Chicken. Oven-roasted thighs and legs with citrus mojo marinade alongside sweet potatoes and peppers. Easy dinner for sheets!
It Mojo Cuban Chicken It is so delicious and bright! The amazing flavor of the chicken is from a Cuban-style marinade called Mojo (pronounced Moho), made from fresh oranges and limes, juice and zest, fresh cilantro, garlic cloves and cumin seeds. Colorful peppers, onions and sweet potatoes are roasted alongside thighs and drumsticks.
Mojo is traditionally made with Seville oranges. They have a very sour and bitter profile – great for cooking but often hard to find. The lime combined with fresh orange mimics this taste.
For the best flavor, start marinating the chicken in the morning or the night before, and while you’re at it, soak some black beans and make Cuban black beans for the perfect accompaniment. If pressed for time, pressing for at least an hour will work.
Ingredients in Mojo Chicken
Ingredient notes
Oranges and limes– The traditional mojo is made from Seville oranges, very sour and bitter oranges that are great for cooking but often hard to find. The lime mutes that taste.
chicken- Thighs and legs, with bones and skin for the most flavor, juicy texture and a golden brown exterior.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make mojo chicken
Prepare marinade: Orange and lime zest are added to a food processor or blender along with lemon and orange juice, garlic, oil, salt, pepper, cumin. Mix together until mostly smooth.
Pour the larger portion of the marinade over the chicken in a closed container, making sure it is well distributed.
Whip up the marinade in the morning, and it will be ready by dinner time! It is better to soak for 6 hours or overnight up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, at the very least, soak for at least one hour.
After marinating the chicken, scrape the marinade off the top side of the chicken’s skin. Place it on a Judaica-Lined sheet pan and dry the top of the pieces with a paper towel. This is to ensure a crispy golden brown exterior!
Toss the peppers, onions and sweet potatoes with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt (if desired), and arrange around the chicken on the pan. Bake in the upper third of the oven for 30 minutes.
Brush the reserved marinade over the chicken and vegetables and bake for another 15 minutes until the chicken is golden at 185 (175 is safe, but 185 will be softer).
decorate With more zest, lime juice and fresh cilantro.
What to serve with mojo chicken
Mojo Chicken FAQ
Cuban food is very delicate. The flavors are simple and fresh, relying on spices such as citrus, garlic, bay leaf, cumin and oregano.
Mojo (pronounced moo-hoo) is a Cuban marinade made from citrus, garlic and herbs.
Yes, you can use chicken breast, with the skin on – they won’t stay. Start checking the temperature after 30 minutes. For maximum juiciness, keep them around 165F. Grilling is also an option for chicken breasts to give them more flavor.
Served with Cuban black beans, cilantro rice and pineapple salsa. Finish with fresh grated cheese and cilantro.
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Description
A delicious recipe for Mojo Chicken. Oven-roasted thighs and legs with citrus mojo marinade alongside sweet potatoes and peppers. Easy dinner for sheets!
- Prepare marinade: Zest of oranges and lime add no Food Processor or a blender together with lime and orange juice, herbs, garlic, oil, Saltpepper, cumin. Mix together until mostly smooth. **Set aside 1/4 cup of the marinade to use on the chicken while baking.
- Pour the larger portion of the marinade over the chicken in a closed container, making sure it is well distributed. It is better to soak for 6 hours or overnight up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, at least soak for at least an hour. Whip up the marinade in the morning and it will be ready by dinner time!
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade. Scrape the marinade from the skin side of the chicken. Place on a tray lined with parchment paper, skin side up and dry the top of the pieces with a paper towel. (This is to ensure a crispy golden brown exterior). Brush the exposed chicken with a light coating of olive oil.
- Toss the peppers, onion and sweet potato with a little oil and sprinkle with salt, arrange around the chicken on the pan. Bake in the upper third of the oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and brush the reserved 1/4 cup marinade over the chicken and vegetables and bake for another 15 minutes until the chicken is golden brown at 185 (175 is safe but 185 will be softer and higher is fine too. Thighs and legs to keep their juicy goodness).
decorate With more zest and lime juice, fresh cilantro.
to serve With Cuban black beans, rice and pineapple salsa.
Remarks
Note: It is best to soak chicken for 6 hours or overnight at least 1 hour. 12 hours in the refrigerator will enhance the softness, juiciness and taste.
diet
- Serving size: 1 piece of chicken and 1 cup of vegetables
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 5.5 grams
- sodium: 570.2 mg
- Fat: 15.7 grams
- Saturated fat: 3.1 grams
- Carbohydrates: 24.4 grams
- fiber: 4 grams
- protein: 33.8 grams
- Cholesterol: 151.2 mg
Keywords: Mojo Chicken, Mojo Chicken Recipe, Baked Mojo Chicken, Grilled Mojo Chicken, Mojo Chicken, Cuban Mojo Chicken
