Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs (Printable)
Juicy thighs marinated in citrus-garlic mojo sauce, roasted to golden perfection with zesty Cuban flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
→ Mojo Marinade
02 - 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
03 - 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
04 - 1/4 cup olive oil
05 - 6 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
11 - Zest of 1 orange
→ Garnish
12 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
13 - Lime wedges
# How-to Steps:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, smoked paprika (if using), and orange zest to make the mojo marinade.
02 - Add chicken thighs to the marinade, turning to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 6 hours for best flavor).
03 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet or in a large roasting pan. Reserve leftover marinade.
04 - Roast for 30–35 minutes, basting once or twice with the reserved marinade, until chicken is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
05 - Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley and serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- The marinade does double duty, infusing flavor AND keeping the chicken incredibly moist
- Crispy skin with tender, juicy meat underneath is basically the holy grail of chicken
- Most ingredients are probably already sitting in your pantry right now
02 -
- Pat the chicken skin dry before marinating if you want it extra crispy, excess moisture is the enemy of good browning
- Room temperature chicken marinades more evenly, so take it out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you start
03 -
- Make extra marinade and drizzle it over rice or roasted vegetables, it is that good
- Letting the chicken rest might feel like torture when it smells this good, but it keeps everything juicy