This chicken al pastor recipe tastes just like the one from Chipotle - it has all of the authentic flavors you know and love. It's made with tender and flavorful chicken thighs and juicy pineapple, all tossed in a smoky smooth sauce. This recipe will be such a crowd-pleaser, you'll be asked to make it over and over again, I guarantee it! Plus, it's super quick and easy to make. In fact, you can make it in less than 30 minutes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
It's a traditional Mexican recipe, made right at home. The citrusy smoky flavors give you that perfect blend of sweet and savory, and the chicken always comes out tender and moist.
A crowd pleaser. Everyone loves a good taco night, and this chicken al pastor recipe is perfect for when you need a simple yet delicious dinner for your family or group of friends.
This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored easily, making it the perfect solution for when you want to meal prep a few dinners for the week.
Easily customize your chicken al pastor recipe for even the pickiest eaters. Whether you enjoy your chicken al pastor to be on the sweeter or spicier side, this recipe can be readily adapted to fit whichever flavor profile you prefer.
Ingredients You'll Need
Chicken thighs - about 1.5 lbs, skinless and boneless
Pineapple juice - the staple citrus flavor
White vinegar - to complement the acidity of the pineapple
Lime juice - a tangy zest
Onion - chopped
Garlic powder and dried oregano - for a fragrant earthiness
Cumin and Chile powder - to add that classic smoky flavor
Cinnamon - for a sweeter spice
Achiote paste - a traditional spicy Mexican flavor
Chopped pineapple - fresh pineapple is best, but canned and packed in water works great too
How to Make Chicken al Pastor
1. Prepare the chicken and al pastor marinade. You'll first want to cut the chicken thighs into 4-6 pieces and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Then, add the pineapple juice, white vinegar, lime juice, onion, garlic powder, dried oregano, cumin powder, chile powder, cinnamon, and achiote paste to a blender or food processor.
Simply blend the ingredients until a smooth sauce is formed.
2. Marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, pour the mixture over the chicken and allow the thighs to marinate in the fridge for 1 to 4 hours.
3. Cook the chicken. Once the chicken is done marinating, heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a few spoonfuls of the marinade to the bottom of the pan to establish a good base and ensure the chicken comes out juicy and flavorful.
Then, simply add your chicken and cook it for 7-8 minutes on each side until charred, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
4. Add the pineapple. Toss the remaining marinade into the skillet and add the chopped pineapple. You'll only need to cook for a few minutes until the pineapple is nice and browned.
5. Serve warm and enjoy. Assemble your chicken al pastor in warm tortillas and top with some cilantro, jalapenos, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Tips to Make the Best Recipe
Allow your chicken to marinate for at least one hour in the fridge. The longer the chicken can marinate, the more flavorful it will be.
Chicken thighs are generally juicier than other meat options, however, chicken breasts or pork will work well too.
If you're not in the mood for chicken al pastor tacos, try using this recipe to make your own Chipotle bowl, salad, or even assemble the chicken and pineapple onto skewers for a delicious small plate.
If you don't have any achiote paste, adobo sauce - or chiles in adobo - make great substitutions.
Storing and Reheating Your Chicken Al Pastor
In the fridge: If you have any leftovers, I recommend storing your chicken and pineapple mixture separately in airtight containers. They can then be kept in the fridge for roughly 3-4 days.
In the freezer: Once your chicken al pastor is completely cool, transfer the chicken and the pineapple mixture into separate freezer-safe containers and freeze 'em for up to 3 months.
Reheating: I personally like to reheat my leftovers using the stove. You can do this by first reheating the chicken in a pan with oil for a few minutes until it has reached your desired temperature. Then, add your pineapple and cook until it is nice and warm throughout.
You can also use the microwave by placing everything in a microwave safe bowl and reheating in intervals of 30 seconds until warm.
More Chicken Recipes
- Chicken and rice meal prep
- Chick-Fil-A chicken tortilla soup
- Lemon chicken soup
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Healthy orange chicken
How To Make Chicken Al Pastor That Tastes Like Chipotle
This chicken al pastor recipe tastes just like the one from Chipotle - it has all of the authentic flavors you know and love. It's made with tender and flavorful chicken thighs and juicy pineapple, all tossed in a smoky smooth sauce. This recipe will be such a crowd-pleaser, you'll be asked to make it over and over again, I guarantee it! Plus, it's super quick and easy to make. In fact, you can make it in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For The Chicken
- 1.5lb. chicken thighs, skinless and boneless
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For The Sauce
- ⅓ cup pineapple juice
- 1 ½ tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 tablespoon achiote paste
- 2 tablespoon chile powder
For finishing
- ½ cup chopped pineapple, from a can (packed in water) or fresh
Instructions
- Cut the chicken thighs into 4 to 6 pieces. Season the chicken to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add pineapple juice, vinegar, lime juice, onion, garlic powder, cumin powder, dried oregano, cinnamon, achiote paste, and chile powder in a food blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture over the chicken. Allow the chicken to marinate for 1 hour to 4 hours.
- Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add a few spoonfuls of the marinade into the skillet.
- Add chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes per side or until charred.
- Add the pineapple and remaining marinade. Cook for another few minutes.
- Serve warm with some flour tortillas or all by itself.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 252mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 28g
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