Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs take bone-in chicken thighs and marinate them in a mix of orange juice, cilantro, and garlic. Flavorful and tender, and perfect for grilling.
I am always looking for new ways to use chicken thighs. It is one of my favorite meats to use. Not only is it cost effective, but they are also super flavorful and less prone to drying out.
For Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs, the secret ingredient is-- Orange juice! Orange juice is a great way to add flavor and sweetness more naturally and without added sugar.
The other two key components are cilantro and garlic. I love how fresh cilantro makes this marinade, and the vibrant green color is a big plus. The whole time I was making this recipe, from creation, to marinating time, to grilling, I could not believe how good it smelled!
I love making my own marinades in the blender. There's often no chopping involved, and all the mess stays contained to one small area. They are completely customizable and the ingredients can be kept clean.
When making this, you can choose how long you marinate the chicken. Anywhere were from 2-12 hours works. I don't suggest going over 12 hours, because of the acid in the orange juice. When a marinade contains acid (vinegar, citrus juice, etc.) it begins to break down the muscle fibers of the meat. This is good in short increments, but too long and it will mess with the integrity of the meat.
This marinade can be used for other meats as well. It would be great for pork tenderloin or shrimp!
Looking for a side dish to serve with this? Why not try Buttery Lemon Herb
Rice!
For another delicious marinade, try this Brown Sugar Bourbon Marinade.
Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeno
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ tsp. cumin
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in blender and pulse for about 15-20 seconds, or until it reaches a consistent texture that can easily coat the chicken.
- Pour marinade over chicken in a glass dish, and let marinade coat chicken for 2-12 hours.
- Turn on grill to medium high heat and cook chicken 15-20 minutes, until lightly charred on the outside and the internal temp. reaches 165.
Nutrition
Melissa Szymczak says
Thank you for the grilling recipe and also the hint about how long to marinade. I didn’t know that there should be a limit on how long before grilling to put it together. Now that they weather is getting better I’ll have to try it.