Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs (Printer-Friendly)

Juicy thighs marinated in citrusy mojo sauce, roasted until golden and crispy.

# 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
11 - Zest of 1 orange

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
13 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and orange zest until well combined.
02 - Add chicken thighs to the marinade, turning to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to 6 hours for optimal flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange chicken thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet or roasting pan. Reserve remaining marinade for basting.
04 - Roast for 30-35 minutes, basting once or twice with reserved marinade, until skin is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The marinade does double duty infusing the meat with flavor while creating an incredible crispy skin
  • It comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent all day cooking something special
  • The leftovers (if you have any) make an amazing lunch the next day
02 -
  • The acid in the citrus can make the meat mushy if marinated longer than 6 hours
  • Pat the skin dry before roasting if you want it extra crispy
  • Letting the chicken rest before cutting is absolutely crucial for juicy meat
03 -
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly so take it out 20 minutes before roasting
  • A few minutes under the broiler at the end creates next level crispy skin
  • The marinade works equally well on pork chops or even fish fillets

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