Grilled Sazón Chicken

By James Kimble June 30, 2024 5 mins read 994 Views

This Grilled Sazón Chicken bursts with incredible flavor. These chicken thighs are marinated with Sazón, citrus juice, and chilis, then grilled over charcoal, resulting in a smoky and tender texture with a perfectly seared exterior. The result is fantastic!

Of course, you can cook this fantastic chicken on a pellet or gas grill. We’ve also developed an oven-cooked method for this Grilled Sazón Chicken recipe! See below for details.

What is Sazón?

Sazón is a Latin spice blend that is used to season meats, vegetables, rice, and beans. This earthy spice mixture contains cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. It also contains crushed annatto seeds called achiote, which provide a rich red color and a slight smokiness to the seasoning. For a faster, more convenient solution, you can use achiote powder instead of crushing annatto seeds.

Try our MSG-free Sazón Rub recipe for this grilled chicken recipe.

Ingredients

10-12 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
Extra virgin olive oil
Sazón spice mix
Jalapeno OR serrano pepper
Limes
Cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
Wood suggestions: apple, cherry, or pecan

How to make Grilled Sazón Chicken

Trim off any excess fat from the chicken thighs. Blot them dry with paper towels.
Place chicken in a large glass dish.
Blend the olive oil, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro (or parsley), Sazón, chili pepper, garlic, and onion in a food processor or blender. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the marinade is too thick.
Pour mixture over chicken. Use tongs to turn the chicken and coat them well. Cover dish with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
Prepare grill for 350 degrees F, indirect cooking (two-zone set up). For a little smoky flavor, add wood chips or chunks to the fire.
Place marinated chicken on the indirect side of the grill, close lid, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Turn chicken, and cook for another 12-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Move chicken thighs over direct heat, and sear them for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Chicken thighs are best cooked to an internal temperature of 175 degrees F. Check several pieces to confirm doneness.
Transfer cooked chicken to a clean serving platter. Garnish with chopped chili and fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.
Store leftover Grilled Sazón Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Rewarm at 325 degrees in the oven or on the stovetop for better flavor and consistency.

Serving Sazón Chicken

This recipe makes enough for 6 people with 2 chicken thighs per person, or 12 people with 1 chicken thigh per person.
Plan on 1 piece per person if serving appetizers, additional proteins, and side dishes at your gathering. For those with large appetites, plan on 2 pieces, and double the recipe if you are serving more than 6 people.
Pair your Grilled Sazón Chicken with one of these delicious side dishes for the perfect meal!

Tips

Cooking method: Bake this Sazón chicken in the oven for 35-40 minutes in a 375-degree oven. Aim for an internal temperature of 175 degrees F.
Make-Ahead: You can certainly season the chicken and store it in resealable plastic bags in your freezer for up to a month. Thaw them out as needed and cook as directed.
Chicken: While this Grilled Sazón Chicken recipe calls for boneless, skinless chicken thighs and legs, you can also use a whole fryer, skinless chicken breasts, or a whole chicken. Adjust seasonings and cooking times accordingly. Use 1/2 cup of Sazón seasoning in the marinade for a whole chicken and 1/4 cup for 4 medium breasts.

Easy Chicken Recipes for the Grill or Smoker

Grilled Sazón Chicken

These chicken thighs are coated in a flavorful Sazón mixture, then grilled over charcoal. Of course, you any type of grill you use or oven for this recipe!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American BBQ, Fusion, Latin American

Keyword bbq chicken, sazon, sazon grilled chicken

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 583kcal

Equipment

Grill or oven

Ingredients

10-12 chicken thighs boneless, skinless
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Sazón
1 large serrano or jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
1/3 cup chopped white onion
2-3 cloves garlic peeled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cilantro or flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

Trim off any excess fat from the boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
Place the chicken dish in a large glass dish, or large zip-top bag.
Blend the olive oil, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the cilantro (or parsley), sazon, salt, chili pepper, garlic, and onion in a food processor or blender. Add a tablespoon or two of water if the marinade is too thick. Taste, and adjust salt and seasoning to taste.
Pour mixture over chicken thighs. Use tongs to turn the chicken and coat them well. Cover dish with plastic wrap, or seal container, and place it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
Prepare grill for 350 degrees F, indirect heat (two-zone cooking). For a hit of smoke, add apple, cherry, or pecan wood chips or chunks to the fire.
Place chicken thighs on the cooler part of the grill, close lid, and cook for 12 minutes. Turn chicken, and cook for another 12-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Move the thighs over direct heat, and sear them for a few minutes per side, until nice and golden brown. Chicken thighs are best when cooked to an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees F. Check several pieces to confirm doneness.
Once cooked, remove chicken from the grill and transfer to a a clean serving platter. Garnish with the reserved chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley. Serve with extra lime wedges.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Rewarm in the oven or on stovetop for better flavor and consistency. Leftover chicken can be chopped and used in nachos, tacos, soups, stews, and more!
See notes section below for oven cooking instructions.

Notes

Tips:

Cooking method: Bake chicken thighs in the oven for 25-30 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Strive for an internal temperature of 175 degrees F. As always, it’s a good idea to have a digital food thermometer.

Make Ahead: You can certainly season the chicken and store in resealable plastic bags in your freezer for up to a month. Thaw them out as needed and cook as directed.

Chicken: While this recipe calls for chicken thighs, you can also use a whole fryer chicken, chicken breasts, or cook a whole chicken. Use a ½ cup of Sazón for a whole chicken, and ¼ cup for 4 medium breasts. Adjust cooking times accordingly.