Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs (Printable)

Tender chicken thighs in a zesty citrus-garlic mojo marinade, roasted until golden and juicy

# 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

# Directions:

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 Hints:

01 -
  • The marinade does double duty, infusing meat with flavor while creating a gorgeous golden glaze
  • Most of the work happens hands-off while the chicken marinates and roasts
  • Leftovers, if you somehow have any, make incredible tacos or salad toppers
02 -
  • I once skipped the resting step and all those beautiful juices ran right onto the cutting board, learn from my mistake
  • The skin will not crisp properly if you crowd the pan, use two baking sheets if needed
  • Marinating longer than 6 hours can make the citrus break down the chicken texture too much
03 -
  • If the chicken skin is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for effortless cleanup later

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