Royalty Fast Food

I couldn’t wait to prepare this chicken at home as it’s now my new favorite protein at Chipotle. This chicken al pastor is bursting with flavor from the pineapple, Morita pepper, and spice mixture that creates the tastiest adobo.

WHAT IS AL PASTOR?

This chicken is made using a marinade known as al pastor. Pineapple and chilies are the primary ingredients of al pastor. In the best way conceivable, this chicken is flavorful with a touch of sweetness. Typically, this Mexican marinade is made with pork loin and served in the style of street tacos.

INGREDIENTS

Al Pastor Chicken

• 1 Lb Chicken breast
• 6 Guajillo peppers
• ½ Cup onion, chopped half a medium onion
• 4 Garlic cloves
• 1 Tablespoon Achiote
• 1 Cup Pineapple juice
• ¼ Chile Morita Only use a small piece
• 1 Cup Pineapple chunks For garnish
• 1 Lime for serving
• ¼ Cup Cilantro For garnish
• 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt

Achiote seasoning

• ¼ Cup Annatto seeds
• ¼ Cup Vinegar
• 1 Garlic clove
• 3 Cloves
• 20 Peppercorns
• ¼ Teaspoon cumin

INSTRUCTIONS

Achiote

1. Combine all ingredients in an immersion blender and process until a thick paste forms.
2. One teaspoon Kosher salt, one cup Annatto seeds, one cup vinegar, one clove garlic, three cloves, twenty peppercorns, and one teaspoon cumin.
3. Keep it in a lidded glass jar. Store this in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Al Pastor Marinade

1. Remove the seeds and stems from the Guajillo peppers after cleaning.
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2. Six Guajillo peppers should be softened after 15 minutes of boiling water cooking with the Chile morita.
3. Mix 6 guajillos, 1/4 of the Chile Morita, and the remaining marinade ingredients until thoroughly blended.
4. ½ cup chopped onion, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon achiote, and 1 cup of pineapple juice For up to 24 hours, refrigerate.
5. Place the chicken in a baking dish and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven or an air fryer until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
6. Halfway through cooking, turn the chicken. Depending on how thick the chicken is, it may take up to thirty minutes.
7. Add the pineapple pieces, onion, cilantro, and lime juice just before serving.

Method Step-by-Step

Step. 1

Here’s a brief rundown of how to prepare this dish. You can print the recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the information, including the proportions of the ingredients.

Step. 2

Prepare your achiote seasoning first. The Latin spice achiote, which is manufactured from annatto seeds, gives food a vibrant orange or crimson hue.

Step. 3

Achiote is used to enhance flavor and color. To make it, combine the annatto seeds, vinegar, cloves, garlic, cumin, ancho powder, and pepper. Then we’ll prepare the marinade for the al pastor next. First, bring the dried chilies to a boil in water until they become tender.

Step. 4

Mix the peppers, pineapple juice, onion, garlic, and achiote until a thick marinade forms. Then marinade the chicken for at least two hours and up to twenty-four hours, cover, and then refrigerate. After this, you can optionally add some chopped cilantro and pineapple. Wrap in plastic wrap.

I serve this chicken al pastor with corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, and pineapple slices for tacos. This fragrant, juicy chicken is ideal for adding some spiciness to any salad or rice dish.