The BEST Way to Make Chicken Al Pastor At Home – No Vertical Spit Necessary!
It’s no secret that we love tacos here at Plays Well With Butter. Over the years, I’ve become obsessed with recreating the flavors of my favorite taqueria tacos at home.
I’ve found one of the most home cook-friendly ways to do this is by using a trusted sheet pan to bake my taco meat or filling of choice in the oven and then finish under the broiler to crisp it up.
This exact method has allowed us to make our favorite chicken carnitas, pollo verde, and chicken fajitas at home without having access to the traditional equipment typically needed to achieve their signature crave-worthy flavors.
this Recipe for Later!
So when it came to developing a chicken al pastor recipe and recreating my favorite restaurant al pastor, I knew I had to give this method a try.
This al pastor-marinated chicken bakes up on a sheet pan with pineapple until juicy and tender, and then it’s finely diced and finished under the broiler for a crisp and caramelly finish. It’s seriously so easy and downright craveable.
Homemade chicken al pastor?! Taco Tuesday will never be the same.
Blend Up A Homemade Al Pastor Marinade
At the heart of this chicken pastor is asimple al pastor marinade. Made with 10 simple ingredients in less than a minute (thanks to a blender!), the marinade is what gives the signature flavor and brilliant color of traditional al pastor to the chicken.
You will need…
- Achiote paste – A key ingredient that gives al pastor its signature earthy flavor and bright red color. More about achiote below!
- Orange juice and brown sugar – For a nice sweetness in the marinade that helps create crispy, caramelly edges as the chicken pastor cooks.
- Apple cider vinegar – Just a splash, which helps offset the sweetness of the OJ and brown sugar.
- Aromatics – Namely fresh garlic, chipotle peppers, ancho chili powder, cumin, and dried oregano.
5 from 10 reviews
Featured Review
I want to take a bath in this marinade. I was SHOCKED at how delicious the marinade smelled in my blender as soon as it was thrown together. Instant flavor that will make your mouth water. Waiting for the chicken to marinade is the ultimate test of patience!
Rachel
Read More Reviews
What is achiote paste? ⇢ Achiote is a seasoning made with ground annatto seeds. It is commonly used in Mexican and Central American cuisine. Achiote is earthy and bitter in flavor, giving traditional al pastor (in my experience) its signature flavor and color. You’ll most commonly find achiote available as a ground seasoning or as a paste, both of which you can easily find at your local Mexican market or online. I use achiote paste for this chicken al pastor. See the Recipe Notes below for some more details!
Marinade Time
The chicken can soak in the al pastor marinade for at least 6 hoursandno more than 3 days.
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Stainless Steel Silicone Tongs
Buy Now →How to Make Chicken al Pastor, Sheet Pan-Style!
Aside from the richly flavored al pastor marinade, the other kinda magical part of this chicken pastor recipe is that it’s a sheet pan recipe.
The chicken bakes until juicy and tender, then your oven’s broiler does its magic, creating crispy, caramelized bits that mimic street cart-style al pastor tacos. It is so good, and it couldn’t be easier!
1
Transfer the chicken to a sheet pan. Transfer the marinated chicken to a quarter baking sheet. Be sure to drain and discard any excess marinade so the chicken roasts evenly. Why? ⇢ Too much moisture can lead to steaming the chicken al pastor rather than roasting and will prevent the crispy texture we’re after. Lastly, pile on a few cups of finely diced pineapple, stirring to lightly coat it in the al pastor marinade.
2
Bake the chicken pastor.Pop the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is just nearly cooked through. It takes about 15-18 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken.
3
Dice the chicken intobite-sized pieces. Pro Tip! ⇢ I like to go for a really fine dice, matching the size of the finely diced pineapple. This makes it a little bit easier to stuff the chicken al pastor into tortillas!
4
Broil for caramelized al pastor chicken.Place the diced chicken back on the sheet pan with the pineapple. Pop it under the broiler for a few minutes, until the edges of the chicken and pineapple are beautifully browned and crispy. Seriously the easiest al pastor ever!
No Broiler? Try the Grill!
If you do not have a broiler in your oven (or if you don’t feel like turning on your oven for dinner), you can also create a similar smoky, crispy, caramelized effect usinga grill or grill pan. Grill the al pastor chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked through. Easy!
Step-by-Step Video
Serving Suggestions and Toppings
Ease and flavor aside, the other thing to love about this chicken al pastor recipe is its versatility.
You can use it to create any of your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes at home – chicken al pastor tacos,burritos,burrito bowls,taco salads,nachos,tostadas…you name it! The possibilities are truly endless.
No matter how you serve it be sure to load up on your favorite toppings! Here are a few ideas to get you started…
- Fresh veggies– Thinly slicedjalapeno, finely dicedwhite onion or pickled red onions, matchstick radishes, etc.
- Queso frescoorshredded pepper jack, orsour creamoryogurtfor extra tang. If you want a fun dairy-free sauce, tryone of our three varieties of cashew crema!
- Mashedavocado, or a big ol’ dollop ofguacamole!
- Loads of freshlime juiceandfinely chopped cilantro
- Salsa– Quick tip for my fellow Minneapolitans, I’ve been keeping my fridge stocked with a handful of fresh salsas from Vivir (in North East). They are so good!
I’m seriously so excited for you to try this easy Chicken al Pastor recipe. I’m 100% obsessed with it, and I’m pretty sure you will be too.
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutteronInstagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡
Easy Sheet Pan Chicken al Pastor Recipe
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 10 reviews
- Author: Jess Larson
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: Tacos, Burritos & Enchiladas Recipes, Main Dishes
- Method: Sheet Pan, Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican & Tex-Mex
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Sheet Pan Chicken al Pastor! Made with an earthy, citrusy and sweet al pastor marinade and baked on a sheet pan with pineapple until completely juicy and tender. Finish under the broiler for a craveable crisp and caramelly finish. Great for chicken al pastor tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, and more. Easy, fast, flavorful and versatile!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs(see Recipe Notes)
- ½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
- al pastor marinade, below
- 2 cups finely diced pineapple
- for serving, as desired: charredcorn tortillas, cilantro lime rice, black beans, Mexican cremaorcashew crema,pickled red onions, freshly choppedcilantro,queso frescoorcheeseof choice,salsa of choice, lime wedges, etc.
for the al pastor marinade:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2–3 chipotle peppers, from a can packed in adobo sauce
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or honey, or agave)
- 1 tablespoon achiote paste (see Recipe Notes)
- 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Prep the al pastor marinade and marinate the chicken: Add all listed marinade ingredients to a blender. Blend until combined. Add the chicken thighs and thinly sliced yellow onion to a large bowl. Pour the al pastor marinade over top and toss to combine. Marinate in the refrigerator (covered) for at least 6 hours or up to 3 days.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, arranging the oven racks such that one is in the center of the oven and one is 6-8 inches under the broil. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up, as desired, and set aside.
- Bake the chicken: Transfer the marinated chicken and onions to the prepared baking sheet, draining and any excess marinade. Add the diced pineapple to the baking sheet. Toss to combine with the chicken and onions, spooning a little extra al pastor marinade into the mix as necessary to coat the pineapple with the sauce. Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes. The chicken should be nearly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oven to chop, and meanwhile preheat the broiler.
- Dice the chicken al pastor: Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and carefully chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place the chopped chicken pastor back on the baking sheet.
- Broil for crispy chicken al pastor:Place the baking sheet under the broiler. Broil 4-5 minutes, turning the pan halfway through, until the al pastor chicken are browned and slightly crisp.
- Serve: Place the crispy chicken pastor in tortillas for tacos or a bowl with rice and beans for burrito bowls, finishing with your favorite taco night toppings of choice: sour cream/Mexican crema, pickled red onions, cilantro, etc. Enjoy!
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead? Yes. I prefer using chicken thighs in this recipe since they’re flavorful and stay really nice and juicy through roasting + broiling, but you can swap them out with breasts if you prefer. Either pound the breasts out flat or cut them in half lengthwise (butterflied) to ensure they roast up evenly. Skip broiling (Step 5), as the breast meat will dry out.
- What is Achiote paste? Achiote is a seasoning commonly used in Mexican and Central American cuisine. Achiote is made with ground annatto seed, which is earthy and bitter in flavor and gives traditional al pastor (in my experience) its signature flavor and color. You’ll most commonly find achiote available as a ground seasoning or as a paste, both of which you can easily find at your local Mexican market. It’s also readily available online. If you’re in a pinch, you can easily make a quick achiote substitute using pantry ingredients, but if you’re serious about replicating the signature flavor of al pastor, I highly suggest stocking up on some achiote.
- Storage and freezing: Leftover chicken al pastor will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days. It’s also a wonderful freezer staple since you can easily thaw it out and use it on tacos, nachos, taco salads, burrito bowls, etc. for an easy dinner down the road. To freeze, transfer cooled chicken al pastor to a freezer bag or container.(These are my absolute favorite!)Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost by placing in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, or by submerging the freezer bag/container in room temp water for 20-25 minutes.
- 15-Minute Meal Prep: Nearly all of the active prep work for this sheet pan chicken comes from prepping the marinade and chopping the onion/pineapple. Get it all done in advance to get a head start on your chicken al pastor – it’ll take 15 minutes, tops:
- Thinly slice 1/2 yellow onion, storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Peel, core and finely dice 1 pineapple, storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You’ll need 2 cups diced for your chicken al pastor. You can use the rest in other dishes or for snacking throughout the week, or freeze for later.
- Prep the marinade according to Step 1 of Recipe Directions, above. Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Marinate the chicken and onion for at least 6 hours prior to cooking or up to 3 days.
Recipe & Food Styling by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography byRachel Cook, Half Acre House.
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