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5.0 from 15 votes

Pinchos De Pollo

Smoky, mouth-watering Pinchos De Pollo, AKA Puerto Rican Chicken Skewers, are a beloved island street food that's easy to make at home! Get ready for a little piece of heaven!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Marinating Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 6 skewers
Calories: 623 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: South American , Puerto Rican

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs boneless and skinless chicken thighs, about 5 to 6 $5.97
  • 2 tsp adobo* $0.10
  • 1 1/2 tsp sazón** $0.19
  • 2 tsp salt $0.16
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil, plus a touch more for greasing $0.09
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce $1.16

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Then chop the chicken into bite-size pieces (about 5 to 6 pieces per thigh).
  2. Add the adobo, sazón, and salt to a large bowl and mix.
  3. Add the chopped chicken thighs to the bowl along with the cooking oil and mix until the chicken is thoroughly covered. Cover with plastic wrap or parchment directly on the surface of the chicken and marinate for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
  4. Half an hour before you pull the chicken, soak at least 6 wood skewers in water so they don't burn. It's best to soak a few extra skewers just in case one of them breaks.
  5. When you're ready to cook, preheat a grill pan on high. Then thread a thigh's worth of chicken pieces on each skewer, about 5 or 6 chunks. You want the chicken chunks close but not pressed tightly against each other. Brush both sides of each skewer with BBQ sauce, about 1/2 cup total.
  6. When the grill pan is smoking hot, brush it with a touch of cooking oil. Then, place the skewers on the grill pan, making sure not to crowd the pan or place the skewers too close to each other.
  7. After 5 minutes, brush 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce on the top surface of the chicken. Next, flip the chicken, and brush another 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce on the top layer. Cook for 5 more minutes, until char develops and the internal temperature of the chicken registers at 160°F. Now all you have left to do is eat! Buen provecho!

Notes

  • *If you cannot source adobo, mix your own and then use the amount called for in the recipe. Store the rest in an airtight container.
  • 2 Tbsp salt1 Tbsp garlic powder1 tsp ground oregano1 tsp onion powder1 tsp black pepper1 tsp ground cumin1/2 tsp turmeric
  • **A packet of sazón contains about 1.5 teaspoons of sazón. If you cannot source sazón, use the following:
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon ground cumin1/4 teaspoon ground coriander1/3 teaspoon ground annatto1/8 teaspoon turmeric1/8 teaspoon ground oregano
  • Sazón and adobo share a lot of similar ingredients but are used at different points in the cooking process and will develop slightly different colors and flavors.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1skewer Calories 623kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 37g (74%) Fat 43g (66%) Sodium 1531mg (64%) Fiber 1g (4%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6skewers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 623

% Daily Value*

Serving 1skewer
Calories 623kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 37g 74%
Fat 43g 66%
Sodium 1531mg 64%
Fiber 1g 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.