Best Cuban Chicken Recipes

ONE-PAN CUBAN CHICKEN WITH RICE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large straight-sided ovenproof skillet, brown bacon over medium-high, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon cumin, salt, and pepper. Brown in skillet, turning once, about 10 minutes; transfer to plate.
• Remove fat from skillet. Add oil, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 minutes.
• Add rice, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and oregano. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add broth, beans, and bacon; season with salt and pepper. Nestle in chicken, skin-side up. Bring to a boil, then cover and transfer to oven. Roast until liquid is absorbed and chicken is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; serve.

CITRUS-SPICE CARIBBEAN/CUBAN MARINADE FOR PORK, BEEF, CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a heavy-duty Ziploc bag or glass pan.
• Add your choice of pork, beef, chicken or fish.
• Marinate for at least two hours.
• Prepare in your preferred method of cooking.

CUBAN GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a container large enough to hold all the pieces (I used an extra-large zip-loc bag).
• Combine the garlic, sour orange juice, salt, vinegar, pepper, oregano and cumin in a small bowl. pour the marinade evenly over the chicken; cover chicken (or close bag and smush it around); refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Heat oven to 450°. Arrange chicken in one layer in a roasting pan; pour the marinade evenly over the top of the chicken.
• Roast the chicken in the lower third of the oven, stirring during the last 10 minutes to coat with the sauce, until it is cooked through and the sauce begins to caramelize, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken to a platter, spoon garlic sauce over the pieces.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender, about 5 minutes; add garlic and continue to cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
• Stir tomatoes, chicken, red bell pepper, raisins, olives, red wine vinegar, oregano, cumin, and bay leaves into the onion mixture; cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes more. Remove and discard bay leaves before serving.

CUBAN BAKED CHICKEN WITH SWEET PEPPERS AND YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Melt the butter with the oil in a large deep skillet, with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook until well browned, about 6 minutes. Turn chicken and cook until other side browns lightly, about 2 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the peppers and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir until the rice is coated. Pour in the broth, stir to distribute the rice evenly. Increase the heat to high and boil until liquid begins to be absorbed into the rice, about 2 minutes. Nestle the chicken in the rice. Cover and transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the rice is tender and chicken cooks through, about 25 minutes.
• Remove the cover, fluff the rice and stir in the peas. Cover and let sit to warm the peas, about 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper. Serve.

BAKED CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Add onion, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, allspice, onion powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour, or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces, reserving marinade in the bowl. Pan-fry chicken until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Pour reserved marinade on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until juices run clear, about 40 minutes.

CUBAN CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Place chicken tenders between 2 sheets of heavy plastic on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound chicken with the smooth side of a meat mallet until flattened out. Place chicken in a resealable plastic bag and add enough mojo marinade to cover the chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove chicken tenders from the marinade, drain, and place in the skillet. Cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Add sliced onions to the same skillet, adding a bit more oil if necessary, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from skillet.
• Cut Cuban bread into 4 rolls. Slice each in half lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Cover the bottom and the top of each roll with yellow mustard. Assemble the sandwich by placing pickle slices on the bottom, followed by chicken, Swiss cheese, and onion. Cut each sandwich in half at an angle, and serve.

CUBAN CHICKEN WITH YELLOW RICE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large deep skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken and brown on both sides until golden and almost done. Remove to a plate, sprinkle with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• Pour water into skillet and add garlic. Bring to a boil and add rice and stir. Add chicken back to pan on top of rice and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Cook until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon peas and roasted red pepper over top. Cover again and cook 3-5 more minutes.

CUBAN ROASTED CHICKEN (POLLO ASADO CUBANO)

Steps:

• Rinse chicken, pat dry. Place chicken breast up in foil-lined shallow roasting pan. In mortar, place garlic, salt, oregano and black pepper, mash them well together. Mix garlic mixture with butter and lemon juice. With your fingers, carefully separate skin from breast, massage 1/2 of mixture gently between breast and skin, then spread the remaining mixture evenly over the whole chicken. Tuck wings under and tie legs together. The chicken will taste better if marinated overnight.
• Place pan in center of rack and cook for 55 minutes at 350° F, basting occasionally. Cook uncovered at 400° F for 5-7 minutes.

JENNY'S CUBAN-STYLE SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine onion, garlic, bell pepper, and potatoes. Stir in tomato sauce and wine; season with cumin, sage leaf, and salt and pepper. Place chicken legs in slow cooker, and pour mixture over chicken. Cover, and cook on Low heat until juices run clear, about 6 to 8 hours.

CUBAN CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add to the pot, and brown in batches on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate. To the pot, add half the onions and half the green peppers (reserve remaining half for another use, such as Round 2 Recipe Black Bean and Pork Stew). Cook until softened, about 3 minutes, and then add the garlic and chile powder and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the rice and let it toast for 2 minutes. Add 4 cups water, tomato sauce, and olives and give it a stir. Put the chicken back into the pot. Bring it to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender, 30 to 35 minutes. (Reserve 2 cups rice for another use, such as Round 2 Recipe Rice Cakes with Creamy Cilantro Sauce.) Serve garnished with cilantro.

CUBAN-INSPIRED SLOW COOKER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place 1/2 of the chopped onion in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place chicken breasts on top and cover with remaining onion. Add black beans and diced tomatoes.
• Whisk together broth, orange juice, wine, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and thyme; pour into the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook until chicken is falling apart and no longer pink in the center, on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Shred chicken and return meat to the pot for 5 to 10 minutes to allow it to soak up the juices. Serve over cooked rice.

CUBAN-STYLE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN FRICASSEE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine onion, garlic, bell pepper, and potatoes.
• Stir in tomato sauce and wine; season with cumin, sage leaf, and salt and pepper.
• Place chicken legs in slow cooker, and pour mixture over chicken.
• Cover, and cook on Low heat until juices run clear, about 6 to 8 hours.

CUBAN-STYLE SLOW COOKER MOJO CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine fruit juices, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, cumin, pepper flakes, coriander, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Pulse several times until mixture is well blended and smooth.
• Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour juice mixture over all, cover, and cook on High setting until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 2 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Shred cooked chicken with two forks, adding a little liquid from the slow cooker, if desired. If serving as a main dish, remove chicken to a plate, cover, and keep warm.
• Strain liquid into a 1-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the liquid is reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl and stir until there are no lumps. Add cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, stirring continuously. Allow mixture to boil about 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat when the sauce is thickened. Adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve whole chicken breasts with sauce, if desired.

VIRGINIA'S CUBAN GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients except the chicken. Add the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
• Grill chicken over hot heat until cooked through.

CUBAN CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a medium saucepan, and cover with cold salted water. Place the pan over high heat, and bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until chicken turns opaque, about 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the water; set aside until cool enough to handle. Cut into 1/8-inch dice, and set aside in a large bowl.
• Place the potatoes in a saucepan; cover with cold salted water. Place pan over high heat, and bring water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, and simmer potatoes until fork tender, about 10 minutes. Remove potatoes from water; set aside to cool. Peel, cut into fine dice, and add to the chicken.
• Add the diced red pepper, eggs, onion, peas, and cilantro to the chicken mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Add the mayonnaise, and mix until combined.
• Place about 1 tablespoon salad on top of each aranita. Garnish with julienned red peppers and cilantro leaves, and serve.

CUBAN-SPICED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CHORIZO AND RICE

Steps:

• Whisk first 11 ingredients in medium bowl for marinade. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag; add marinade. Seal bag; turn several times to coat chicken. Refrigerate chicken at least 4 hours and up to 1 day, turning bag occasionally. Using tongs, transfer chicken from bag to plate, allowing excess marinade to drip back into bag. Reserve marinade.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large wide pot over medium heat. Add chorizo and sauté until beginning to brown and fat begins to render, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to medium bowl. Increase heat to medium-high. Add half of chicken, skin side down, to pot. Sauté until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Pour off all but 3 tablespoons fat from pot; discard excess fat. Add chopped onions; sauté 4 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Add chopped bell pepper and chopped garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 2 minutes. Mix in rice, stirring to blend with vegetables. Add 2 1/2 cups broth, tomatoes with any juice, paprika, saffron, and reserved marinade. Bring to boil, stirring to blend. Return chicken, chorizo, and any accumulated juices to pot, pressing chicken partially into rice.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Arrange piquillo pepper strips over chicken pieces. Cover and continue to simmer until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through, adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if rice is dry, about 10 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer rice and chicken to large shallow bowl. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges and serve.

CUBAN-STYLE GRILLED MOJO CHICKEN WITH GREENS, AVOCADOS AND MANGOES

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Whisk vegetable oil, orange juice, orange peel, honey and soy sauce in small bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Make chicken:
• Stir cumin seeds in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until seeds are fragrant and slightly darker in color, about 2 minutes. Transfer seeds to medium bowl. Add minced garlic, minced chili and salt to seeds; mash mixture with back of fork to form coarse paste. Heat olive oil in same skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Pour hot olive oil over garlic mixture; stir to blend. Let stand 15 minutes. Whisk in orange juice and lime juice. Pour marinade into 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish and cool. Add chicken to marinade; turn to cnd cool. Add chicken to marinade; turn to coat. Cover chicken and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
• Combine mangoes and avocados in medium bowl. Add 6 tablespoons dressing and toss to coat.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Grill chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to work surface. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut each chicken piece crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices.
• Place lettuces in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat thoroughly. Season to taste with salt and pepper; mound lettuces on 6 plates. Arrange 1 sliced chicken piece atop lettuces on each plate. Spoon mangoes and avocados alongside chicken. Sprinkle salads with cashews. Serve, passing any remaining dressing separately.

CUBAN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts in a gallon sized zip bag or a large bowl with lid.
• In a medium bowl, combine all other ingredients for the marinade. Pour the marinade over the chicken and place in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the chicken until it is cooked through and no longer pink, and nicely browned outside.
• Garnish with lime wedges; serve with yellow rice and black beans.

CUBAN CHICKEN STEW (GUISADO DE POLLO)

Steps:

• Mix the garlic, salt, pepper and paprika to a paste.
• Rub into the chickens thoroughly, inside and out.
• If possible, season the chickens the day before they are to be used.
• Heat the olive oil in a saucepan or casserole.
• Add the onions and saute for 5 - 15 minutes, stirring frequently; remove & set aside.
• Add the chicken pieces & brown well on all sides; remove & set aside.
• Pour the wine into the pot & deglaze, using a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom.
• Return the onions & chicken pieces to the saucepan along with the bay leaf.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 1 hour.
• Add small additional amounts of water if needed.
• Add the potatoes and stir gently.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes
• Correct seasoning.
• Add the beans, olives, and pimentos and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• The flavour will be greatly improved if the stew is prepared early in the day and reheated before serving.