Asado chicken is a straightforward, effortless, and tasty meal that can be whipped up in under 30 minutes.
If you’re looking for an uncomplicated meal that’s ready in under half an hour, this is the dish for you.
It’s also great for entertaining because it’s very versatile.
You can use just about any kind of meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc.) and add different vegetables to suit your taste buds.
The only thing you really need to keep in mind is that you should always choose quality cuts so the flavor is consistent and not too gamy.
And if you don’t have all these ingredients on hand, you can always substitute them with what you do have.
We’ve got everything you need right here, including a full list of ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and lots of other helpful information along the way.
What is the origin of chicken asado?
The word “asado” comes from the Spanish language and means “roasted”.
In Mexico, this type of cooking is called “cocina pobre”, which literally translates into “poor food cooking”.
Asado is usually served at family gatherings, especially Christmas parties where everyone gets together and shares their favorite recipes.
In Peru, it is known as “chicken asada” because the original dish used beef but now you can find it using chicken as well.
However, it isn’t called “chicken asada” because it uses beef. Instead, they call it “pollo asado” which simply means “roasted chicken”“.
So while “chicken asada” may be technically incorrect, “pollo asado” is actually more accurate.
You’ll probably see both terms used interchangeably.
In fact, there are even some people who insist that “chicken asada” is the official name of the dish when in reality, “pollo asado” is the proper terminology since it uses chicken.
What are the traditional ingredients in chicken asado?
There are many different types of meat that can be used in the preparation of this dish but the most popular ones are the breast fillet, leg, thigh and drumstick.
There are also some regional differences depending where you live.
In Argentina, they usually use chicken legs and thighs while in Chile they prefer using breasts and drumsticks instead.
You’ll often see people refer to the cut of meat as “filet” but that doesn’t mean it’s the same as a steak.
Instead, filet refers to the part of the animal that was left after removing the bone from the cut of meat.
That means that a filet mignon would be the tenderloin portion of the cow.
So, when you’re ordering chicken asado, you want to ask for filet o’fertilidad, which translates to “fertility filet”.
The most important ingredient in the chicken asado recipe is the marinade which adds flavor and helps retain moisture.
It’s best to marinate the meat for at least two hours before cooking it.
You can find recipes online that call for things like soy sauce, wine, vinegar, garlic, onion, oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
But there’s no need to go overboard with all those spices because they can overpower the natural flavors of the meat.
Another key element is the chile en escabeche.
It has a subtle smoky flavor that complements the natural flavor of the meat.
To make the chile en escabeche, you’ll need dried red peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Roast the peppers over an open flame until blackened.
Remove the skins and place the charred peppers into a bowl.
Once cooled, peel off the skin and remove the stems and seeds.
Use a blender to puree the peppers, onions and tomatoes and then add the mixture to a large bowl.
Add enough olive oil to cover the mixture by one inch and whisk together until well combined.
Once the marinade is done, take the meat out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
Then, pour the marinade onto the meat and rub it all over.
Place it back in the fridge for another 20 minutes.
Make sure you leave plenty of time so the meat dries out completely.
After it’s been marinating for a few hours, you can start preparing the rest of the dish.
How is chicken asado typically cooked?
The main ingredient for this classic Argentinean meal is chicken.
You can cook it whole or cut into pieces depending on how large your serving size will be.
For example, if you’re making a small portion, you can simply roast it whole.
But if you want to serve a larger group, you can cut it up before cooking.
This way you’ll get more servings out of each piece.
You can also marinate it first to help tenderize it and enhance its flavor.
The best part about this dish is that it’s usually served with rice and beans, which makes for a complete protein diet.
There are two ways to cook this dish – the traditional way and the modern way.
We’ll go over both below.
Traditional method
This is one of the most common methods used to prepare chicken asado.
You start by removing the skin from the chicken and then place it in a pan or pot with some olive oil.
Next, season it with salt and pepper.
Then you add onions, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, oregano, bay leaves and red wine vinegar.
After letting it simmer for at least 20 minutes, you can serve it with white rice and black beans.
Modern method
If you’d like to try something new, you can skip the traditional method and go straight to the modern method.
To start, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius).
Then, remove the skin from the chicken and discard it.
Wash the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
Season it with salt and pepper and let it sit while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
Once the chicken has been seasoned, put it in a baking dish and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes per pound (450 grams) depending on the thickness of the chicken.
After it’s done, take it out of the oven and let it cool down for 10 minutes.
Cut it into smaller pieces and set aside. In another pan or pot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the onions until they become translucent.
Add the garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano and bay leaf, and let it continue to cook for 1 minute.
Finally, pour in the chicken broth, bay leaves, tomatoes, and red wine vinegar, and let it come to a boil.
Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Once it’s done, turn off the heat and allow it to cool down completely.
Now, toss in the chicken pieces, stir gently, and serve immediately with rice and black beans.
What are some popular ways to serve chicken asado?
You can either cook the meat on its own or you can marinate it first before cooking.
Chicken asado is traditionally served over rice, but you can also enjoy it on top of tortillas or even on crackers.
The following are some of the most common ways people serve chicken asado:
Ensaimada
A typical Spanish sandwich where they put chicken asado inside a bread roll and top it with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, and mayonnaise.
Chuleta de pollo con salsa verde y crema
This one is a classic.
They take a boneless chicken breast and make a thin cut across the grain, then fry it until crispy.
Next, they sear the chicken and pour in a green sauce with onions, pepper, parsley, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Then, they finish it off by serving it with a dollop of crema and a few slices of avocado.
Pollo al pilon
They take boneless chicken thighs and season them with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
Then, they pan fry them until golden brown.
They remove from the pan and set aside.
They then saute onion, celery, carrot, bell peppers, zucchini, and corn in the same pan while stirring constantly.
Once the veggies are tender, they return the chicken to the pan and stir until coated in the veggies.
Then, they finish it off with a splash of white wine and cover with aluminum foil.
They let the chicken sit in the oven for 15 minutes before removing the foil and continuing to bake it for another 10 minutes.
Finally, they serve it with a side of crema.
Bistec encebollado
This one is a simple grilled steak with chimichurri sauce.
They take a sirloin steak and rub it with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
Then, they grill it until medium rare.
They remove it from the grill and thinly slice it against the grain.
They then toss it in a bowl with chimichurri sauce, which is a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, and chili flakes.
Corderita de pollo
This one is similar to the ensaimada.
Instead of using a bread roll, they use a small flour tortilla.
They take a boneless chicken breast and make a thin cut across the grain.
Then, they fry it until golden brown.
Next, they sear the chicken and pour in a green sauce with onions, pepper, parsley, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Then, they finish it off by serving it with a dollop of crema.
There are many more ways to prepare chicken asado, but those are some of the most popular ones out there today.
How long does it take to cook chicken asado?
Chicken asado takes around 20 minutes to prepare and cook, but you can easily cut down the cooking time by using frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts.
These are already seasoned, so all you have to do is defrost them overnight in the fridge and then pop them into the oven when you’re ready to eat.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Chili powder
Cumin powder
Onion powder
Lemon juice
Sour cream
Cilantro leaves
Avocado slices
Method
Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add the garlic, chili and cumin powders and onion powder to the pan.
Fry until the spices start to turn golden brown, then remove from the pan and set aside.
Add more olive oil to the pan and add the chicken.
Cook the chicken for 5 minutes per side and then put it back in the pan.
Sprinkle lemon juice over the chicken and stir.
Cover the pan with foil and place it in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
Take out the chicken and let it rest for 2 minutes before cutting it up.
Cut the chicken into pieces and serve it with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro.
What are some tips for cooking chicken asado?
The most important thing when making chicken asado is to buy the best cut of meat you can afford.
The more expensive the cut, the better.
That’s because it means better flavor and texture.
You want the meat to be tender but still juicy.
So look for cuts like breast or leg.
Those tend to be leaner, which makes them juicier.
You’ll also want to check out the fat content in your beef.
Because there’s much more fat in the meat than muscle mass, it helps keep it moist and tender.
Leaner cuts of meat will dry out quicker, so keep that in mind too.
When buying beef, choose fatty cuts over lean ones.
For example, flank steak is a good choice because it has a lot of fat in it.
However, it may take longer to cook than other cuts, so you might want to consider using it in another dish first before serving it with chicken asado.
When you cook chicken asado, make sure you let it rest after removing it from the heat. Just leave it in the pan for 5 minutes.
Then carefully remove the meat from the pan and put it on a plate.
Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
What are some common mistakes people make when cooking chicken asado?
There are a few things to avoid when preparing authentic chicken asado recipes.
First, never cut the meat before cooking.
That’s why they call it “asado” which means “roast”.
Also, never use anything besides salt, pepper and olive oil.
And lastly, don’t overcook the meat.
You want it to be medium to medium rare.
What are some ways to make chicken asado more flavorful?
One of the most important things when making a chicken asado recipe is choosing good quality meat.
That means choosing cuts from the loin or breast area, which are considered tender and juicy.
When shopping for meat, look for the darkest color possible, which indicates that the muscle fibers are well marbled, meaning they contain fat.
The best cuts for preparing chicken asado include:
Pollo al carbon
Tocino de pollo
Picos de Pollo
Pollo con carne
Cabezas de gallina
Cabezas de puerco
Huevos cocidos
If you want to get creative and try something different, you can also use a whole chicken instead of boneless breasts, but make sure you follow the same cooking method.
Another thing you might want to consider is adding spices.
Most people think that spicy food is bad for you, but it actually has many health benefits.
Spices like cumin, turmeric, paprika, chili powder, and oregano help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
They also boost your metabolism, which helps burn calories and keep you feeling fuller longer.
What are some common side dishes served with chicken asado?
The most commonly paired sides are potatoes, rice, beans, quinoa, and salad.
Chicken asado is often served with mashed potatoes, rice, beans, and quinoa.
These are all staples for any South American country, and they go well with the spicy flavors from the marinade.
If you want to add more veggies to your asado, try adding sautéed spinach or kale, sweet potato fries, or roasted broccoli.
Some people like to serve it with a light salad for a lighter meal.
Other options include avocado slices, pickled red onions, mango salsa, and sour cream.
But if you’d rather skip the sides altogether, you can still enjoy your asado by pairing it with something else, such as bread, tortillas, or even a sandwich.
Chicken Asado
Equipment
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast boneless skinless
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Cumin powder
- Onion powder
- Lemon juice
- Sour cream
- Cilantro leaves
- Avocado slices
Instructions
- Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the garlic, chili and cumin powders and onion powder to the pan.
- Fry until the spices start to turn golden brown, then remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add more olive oil to the pan and add the chicken.
- Cook the chicken for 5 minutes per side and then put it back in the pan.
- Sprinkle lemon juice over the chicken and stir.
- Cover the pan with foil and place it in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Take out the chicken and let it rest for 2 minutes before cutting it up.
- Cut the chicken into pieces and serve it with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro.
Video
Nutrition
I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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