Mojo Chicken Recipe is loaded with citrus and garlicky flavor. Grill, bake or air fry this chicken for an amazing weeknight meal.
Get My Easy Grilling Cookbook Bundle for 75% OFF
This Grilled Chicken Recipe is loaded with flavor and easy to make. We eat a lot of grilled chicken and the simple mojo marinade ingredients makes this recipe a family favorite.
We love trying different marinades for our chicken. If you like to change up your chicken recipes, try this Mexican Chicken Marinade.
Table of Contents
What is Mojo Chicken?
Mojo Chicken is one my favorite chicken dishes. The combination of the orange juice, tons of garlic and other simple spices makes this Cuban mojo marinade taste amazing.
This classic marinade can be used as a marinade or as a dipping sauce.
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Orange Juice
- Juice of 2 limes
- Cloves Garlic, minced
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped
- Dried Oregano
- Ground Cumin
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients.
Variations Ideas
- Change Chicken – Feel free to change the chicken and make this recipe with bone-in chicken breasts or chicken tenders.
- Additions – This recipe can be made with a mix of citrus juice. We love the flavor of fresh orange juice and fresh lime juice but we have added in lemon juice for additional flavor. We also recommend adding in orange zest and lime zest for added flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – Place the chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.
Step 2 – In a separate bowl, mix together the orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, chopped cilantro, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 3 – Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated.
Step 4 – Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the chicken to marinate and absorb the flavors.
- Step 5 – Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Step 6 – Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Step 7 – Place the chicken thighs on the hot grill and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is well-marked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°Fahrenheit.
- Step 8 – Once cooked, transfer the grilled chicken thighs to a plate and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Step 9 – Then the chicken is ready to serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Dish to Marinate – Make sure to use a non-reactive dish like glass or plastic when marinating. Marinate for at least 2 hours, but overnight is ideal for full flavor penetration.
- Rest Chicken – Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after grilling. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and juicy meal.
- Check Chicken – Make sure to use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious chicken with all your favorite grilled side dishes. You can even serve with black beans, rice, and salsa. This chicken is so light and refreshing that we even love to served topped with fresh orange and lime slices, pineapple chunks with avocado.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend the chicken for at least 2 hours for amazing flavor. But we like marinate overnight to plan ahead.
We have even made this chicken in the oven. Place in a baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days. When ready to reheat, we recommend reheating in the oven or air fryer.
More Easy Grilled Chicken Recipe
If you make this grilled mojo chicken recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Mojo Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- Juice of 2 limes
- cloves garlic minced
- tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro finely chopped
- teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, chopped
- cilantro, dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated.
- Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the chicken to marinate and absorb the flavors.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid. Discard the remaining marinade.
- Place the chicken thighs on the hot grill and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is well-marked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°Fahrenheit.
- Once cooked, transfer the grilled chicken thighs to a plate and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Then the chicken is ready to serve and enjoy!
