These Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs might be my favorite thing to come out of my kitchen this month. I am straight up obsessed and don’t be shocked if the Mojo marinade starts showing up on other recipes in the near future.
Pro Tip - The recipes for these posts do not call for the Mojo marinade, but it would pair perfectly with: Stove Top Beans, Crispy Rice, and my Chicken Burrito Bowl
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
A traditional Mojo sauce can include any number of seasonings and aromatics, but it’s largely based on Orange Juice! Today we’re spicing it up with tons of garlic, some shallot, cumin, oregano, and some salt and pepper. The result is a perfectly balanced marinade that infuses flavor into the chicken thighs and also gets reduced as a drizzling sauce.
The orange juice is the perfect base to this recipe and if you happen to have any leftovers, you know there’s a plentiful selection of WGC recipes you can use to use up the rest of the carton!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Garlic Cloves
- Shallot
- Kosher Salt
- Lime Zest
- Ground Cumin
- Dried Oregano
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Orange Juice
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
*For the full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below
How to Make Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs
Step 1: In a high-powered blender, combine all the marinade ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour â…“ cup of marinade into a small bowl and reserve it for the dipping sauce.
Step 2: Toss the chicken with the remaining 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and add the remaining marinade. Marinate in the fridge for at least an hour and up to a day.
Step 3: Transfer the reserved sauce to a non-stick skillet and reduce over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Drizzle over the grilled chicken and serve.
Step 4: Prepare a grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil the grill grates. Place the chicken on the grates. Let the chicken char for 30-60 seconds and then immediately decrease the heat to medium low. Grill the chicken for approximately 10-15 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F for thighs and 150°F to 155°F for breasts), turning every 5-7 minutes.
Tips & Tricks
Most Mojo Chicken recipes don't have a dipping sauce - but because this marinade is so freaking delish, make sure to reserve some and then reduce it down over medium high heat so you can drizzle it on top!
Also - this is such a versatile recipe that you can add it to burrito bowls, rice bowls etc. It's one of my go-to ways to make chicken!
FAQs
What is the best method for cooking chicken thighs?
I love chicken thighs over HOT heat like a grill or a cast iron skillet!
Are chicken thighs better boneless or bone-in?
Boneless and Skinless are EASIER. Bone in lend for more flavor. But in a recipe like this, with the marinade and the sauce, you can do boneless and not risk boring chicken.
How long should I cook chicken thighs on the grill?
Chicken thighs cook a bit longer than breasts, so these will grill for 5-7 minutes on each side.
More Awesome Chicken Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Cuban Mojo Chicken
Equipment
- Glass Measuring Pitcher
Ingredients
Mojo Marinade
- 6 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 medium shallot roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 lime zested (approx. 2 teaspoons grated lime zest)
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup Orange Juice
- â…“ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- â…“ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- In a high-powered blender, combine all the marinade ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour â…“ cup of marinade into a small bowl and reserve it for the dipping sauce.
- Add the chicken to the remaining marinade. Marinate in the fridge for at least an hour and up to a day.
- Prepare a grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil the grill grates. Place the chicken on the grates. Let the chicken char for 30-60 seconds and then immediately decrease the heat to medium low. Grill the chicken for approximately 10-15 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F for thighs and 150°F to 155°F for breasts), turning every 5-7 minutes.
- Transfer the reserved sauce to a non-stick skillet and reduce over medium high heat for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Drizzle over the grilled chicken and serve.
This is the tastiest grilled chicken I’ve ever made. Followed exact recipe. Will not disappoint .. Fantastic recipe.
Grilled, broiled and even airfried! can’t go wrong with this marinade, Amazing!
Probably the best Mojo chicken recipe I have tried. It was so freaking good!
Made this the other night with yellow rice and the cucumber avocado salad. It was a hit! Husband asked to add it to the dinner rotation. Easy to make and so good!!
This looks amazing! We have a vegetarian in the family - any suggestions for using part of the marinade with tofu?
I'd do more of a sauce of a hard seared tofu!!
Love your recipes! Do you think this could work in the oven (our grill is being repaired). Or would the oven be a bad idea with this kind of marinade? If you think it would work, any guesses on oven temp/time? Thanks!
would totally work! I'd use a meat thermometer to determine when it's done as I havent tested in the oven and cant say for sure
I made this using the broiler in my oven and it came out AMAZING - will definitely do it on the grill once it's warmer 🙂
I was marinating this recipe in the fridge overnight when hubby invited steak loving friends for dinner. Served the grilled mojo chicken alongside the grilled tenderloins. Cooked marinate down and drizzled it over chicken. Guests loved the chicken just as much as the beef! Will be making it again for sure!
WOW this was good. Served with rice, avocado and a quick slaw made with some of the sauce. Cannot wait to make this again.
So delicious. The sauce is everything!! And we made it with beans and rice like you suggested. Can’t wait to make this again!
These chicken thighs are so delicious. I really like chicken thighs over breasts. I love how you do many recipes with chicken thighs. Thanks Gaby! So good!!
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The marinade was easy to make and the end result was extremely flavorful. If you make it in a skillet make sure to scrape up the browned parts - they were amazing!
Could this be baked in the oven?
I made this last evening, and everyone of all ages loved it! It's so delicious and I'm eager to try the marinade with other meats....I think it would be delicious with steak and salmon!
This sounds delicious. What kind of side dish do you recommend pairing this with ?? Can’t wait to try it!
i'd do a side of steamed rice and a pot of black beans and some mango salsa
We had oven roasted sweet potato slices, salad and corn on the cob! It was a great meal!
Always looking for new ways to be creative with chicken! Yum!