Cuban Mojo Chicken Thighs (Printable)

Juicy chicken thighs in a vibrant garlic-citrus mojo marinade, roasted golden and crispy with bold Cuban flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3½ lb)

→ Mojo Marinade

02 - ½ cup fresh orange juice
03 - ¼ cup fresh lime juice
04 - 6 garlic cloves, minced
05 - ¼ cup olive oil
06 - 2 teaspoons dried oregano
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
09 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the fresh orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, olive oil, dried oregano, ground cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, chopped cilantro, and mint until well combined.
02 - Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable plastic bag or shallow dish. Pour the mojo marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight for maximum flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off, and arrange the thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet. Discard the remaining used marinade.
04 - Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the skin is deeply golden and crisp and the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 165°F.
05 - Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve alongside lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The mojo marinade does all the heavy lifting, so you get restaurant level flavor with almost zero effort.
  • Those crispy golden skins will make everyone at the table close their eyes on the first bite.
02 -
  • If you crowd the baking sheet the chicken will steam instead of roast, so give each thigh plenty of breathing room.
  • A quick 2 to 3 minute broil at the end changes everything if you want that crackling skin texture.
03 -
  • Poke a few small holes in the chicken skin with a fork before marinating so the mojo seeps all the way down to the bone.
  • Let the baking sheet preheat in the oven for a few minutes before adding the chicken for an instant sizzle on the bottom.

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