This marinated, baked, Cuban Mojo chicken is so juicy and so tender. Every single bite is a flavor bomb explosion in your mouth. Top it off with a delicious pineapple-avocado salsa, made from super fresh ingredients, that makes it the perfect side for this heavenly dish. Oh and the best part? It’s really easy to make!
Mojo Chicken
This colorful and tasty Cuban Mojo chicken tastes just as good as it looks. It has the best combination of ingredients, making it one of the most flavorful ways to enjoy baked chicken.
Trust me when I say this, you’ll become obsessed with the combination of these flavors. They each balance each other out, creating a harmonious result of a tangy, sweet and sour chicken.
How to Make Cuban Mojo Chicken
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- You make your marinade by adding all the Mojo Sauce ingredients in the blender. You then divide it into two halves. (One half of this Mojo sauce will become your chicken marinade and the other half will be the base for the pineapple-avocado salsa.)
- Once your chicken has marinated, simply pop it in the oven with some onions, and let it cook for 35 minutes, until golden brown.
- Meanwhile add the remaining Mojo sauce to some chopped avocado, pineapple and cherry tomatoes to make the fresh pineapple-avocado salsa.
- Serve along with steamed rice, black beans, and anything else you like (it would be great with some fried plantains).
That’s it! Easy peasy!
Cuban Mojo Marinade Recipe
Traditionally, the base of the Cuban Mojo Chicken sauce is a mix of citrus juice, garlic and olive oil. For this recipe, we use delicious fresh oranges, together with a combination of herbs. The outcome is SO GOOD.
If you haven’t tried marinating chicken in Mojo sauce you are missing out. But we’ve got you covered! By marinating the chicken, you ensure that all these delicious flavors and aromas from the orange juice, herbs and spices are infused into the chicken.
Ideally, you want to marinate your chicken for three hours in the refrigerator. The more time you allow the chicken to marinate, the more intense and flavorful your chicken will be. You will need a bit of patience and to plan a little ahead, but trust me, it’s SO worth it! If you are running short on time, marinate at least 20 minutes.
Fresh Pineapple Avocado Salsa and serving suggestion
This is the ultimate summer salsa, that’s really, really easy to make. You simply use some of the Mojo sauce as the base of the sauce and then add chopped pineapple, avocado and cherry tomatoes. It’s SO refreshing, and SO delicious!
The best way to complete this dish is to add some steamed rice and black beans to the side. They are the perfect addition to this delicious Cuban Mojo Chicken recipe!
Cuban Baked Chicken
Baking the marinated chicken is the best way of keeping the chicken succulent and keeping those flavors strong. It also means that you are not having to keep an eye on the chicken, just pop it in the oven and come back to it 35 minutes later. It’s the perfect dish to make if you don’t have time to stand at the cooker!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Marinate the chicken as long as you can (ideally, for at least 3 hours) to get the maximum flavor.
- When ready to cook, place the chicken in a pre-heated oven.
- Use free range / organic chicken.
- Cooked chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165ºF.
Cuban Mojo Chicken is the perfect easy weeknight meal
You really should try making this full of flavor Cuban Mojo Chicken as soon as possible!! You will love it! It’s the perfect weeknight dinner that will be requested again and again by your family! It’s also great for weekend dinners with friends! It’s easy, it’s refreshing and so full of flavor!
Be sure to try these other baked chicken recipes for easy weeknight dinners!
- Marinated Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
- Garlic and Herb Baked Chicken Wings
- Baked Chicken Fajitas (Healthy Sheet Pan Fajitas Recipe)
- Mexican Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos
This mojo chicken recipe is the answer for anyone looking for a flavorful meal. That marinade is the secret to perfectly juicy, zesty, tasty chicken. So delicious, everyone is sure to love it!
More Delicious Chicken Leg Recipes!
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Cuban Mojo Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in chicken leg quarters
- ½ cup orange juice
- ⅓ lime juice
- 3 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 1 lime zest
- ½ tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black ground pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 onion quartered
Pineapple-Avocado Salsa
- ½ avocado
- 4 ounces pineapple diced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
Sides (optional)
- ½ cup black beans rinsed & drained (optional)
- 1 cup steamed rice optional
Instructions
Mojo Chicken
- Preheat oven at 350°F
- Add to the food processor, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, lime zest, cumin, oregano, salt, and black ground pepper.½ cup orange juice, ⅓ lime juice, 3 garlic cloves, ¼ cup cilantro, 1 lime zest, ½ tbsp cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black ground pepper
- Process for 10 seconds. You don’t want the sauce to become too creamy.
- Add the olive oil and process for 5 seconds, just to combine ever so slightly.½ cup olive oil
- Add the chicken and chopped onion in a large bowl.4 bone-in chicken leg quarters, 1 onion
- Pour half of the mojo sauce over the chicken and onions. Cover with cling film, and marinate in the fridge for 3 hours.
- Set aside the remaining half of the mojo sauce for later use.
- When the chicken is done marinating, add chicken and onions the the baking tray, together with the sauce it marinated in.
- Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
Pineapple-Avocado Salsa
- Meanwhile, chop up the pineapple, avocado, and cherry tomatoes into small pieces and add them in a small bowl. Mix in the remaining half of Mojo sauce you saved earlier. Your salsa is ready!½ avocado, 4 ounces pineapple, 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- Drizzle pineapple-avocado salsa over baked chicken, serve with steamed rice and beans, and enjoy!½ cup black beans, 1 cup steamed rice
This recipe was contributed by Michaella at Well + Yum.
Ms. Cuban says
I made this and it was a disaster. I even followed instructions from other reviewers, a little sear first in an iron skillet. But I still ended up with a tasteless chicken dish that was under cooked. And… I marinated for more than 24 hours. Leave this own alone
Becky Hardin says
I’m sorry this recipe didn’t quite work out for you!
JONESCRUSHER says
The GOYA food company makes a fantastic Mojo marinade. You can find it at Wal mart. Look in the foreign food aisle.
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for the tip!
Mark says
Great chicken recipe
Melissa Boyer says
It was so yummy
Becky Hardin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Melissa!