Pollochón (Lechón-Flavored Roast Chicken)

Inspired by the flavors of Puerto Rican lechón, this roast chicken is seasoned with garlic and oregano.

Active Time Total Time Servings

15 mins 1 hr 35 mins 4 to 6

Why it Passed the Test

• This recipe delivers outsize flavor with minimal marinating time.

• The dish transforms a handful of simple ingredients through smart techniques, delivering deep flavor and buttery-tender texture.

• A platter of this roasted chicken feels special yet remains accessible for a weeknight.

I tested this pollochón recipe as part of our cookbook roundup, and after tasting the results, I called it “life-changing chicken.” I was blown away by how much flavor the chicken picked up after only 45 minutes of marinating time and by how buttery-tender it was after roasting. This recipe has become a new favorite, as I have since cooked this dish multiple times.

Pollochón, or lechón-flavored roast chicken, is a bold take on roast poultry that’s rooted in Puerto Rican culinary traditions. The name nods to lechón — a classic roast pork dish beloved across the island — but here the spirit of that seasoning is applied to chicken with extraordinary results. This dish begins with a vibrant adobo paste you make by blending peeled garlic cloves, olive oil, adobo seasoning, oregano, vinegar, and freshly ground black pepper. The paste transforms the chicken during a brief marination time, infusing it with savory, tangy, herbal notes that deepen as it roasts.

Unlike simple spice rubs that sit atop the surface, this paste is massaged under the skin and over every nook of the bone-in chicken pieces (I prefer to use thighs), ensuring each bite is well seasoned. The vinegar brightens the flavor, while the garlic softens and melds into the meat. After cooking, the garlic lets go of any sharpness, offering richness and roundness rather than heat. When roasted at a high temperature and finished under the broiler, the chicken skin caramelizes to a deep, inviting color that crackles with texture.

Whether you’re entertaining or elevating your weeknight dinner, this chicken delivers deeply satisfying flavor without complicated steps. It’s a showcase of how thoughtful seasoning and straightforward technique can turn familiar ingredients into something memorable.

Keys to making this a weeknight dish

When I make this recipe, it takes an hour and a half from start to finish. One ingredient choice is the secret to that timeframe: pre-peeled garlic cloves. The marinade calls for half a cup of peeled garlic cloves, so if you started with whole garlic heads, separating and peeling the cloves would add significant time to your prep. I love to buy pre-peeled garlic at my local Asian market. They’re always very inexpensive and quite fresh — because, I presume, they’re prepared on-site. To shave off even more prep time, you could blend the adobo paste up to a week ahead; then you’ll just need 45 minutes of marinating time and 30 minutes of roasting. If you can get the chicken in the marinade not too far ahead (no more than 6 hours, according to the recipe), all you’ll have to do is roast it for 30 minutes.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen 

• Use pre-peeled garlic cloves to reduce the amount of prep required.

• Broil on foil to make cleanup easy, as some excess marinade is bound to burn onto the pan.

• If you marinate the chicken ahead of time in the refrigerator, bring it back to room temperature before roasting to ensure even cooking.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup peeled garlic cloves (from about 2 heads)

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup adobo seasoning, homemade or store-bought

• 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves or 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

• 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and/or drumsticks

Directions

1. Combine garlic, olive oil, adobo, oregano, vinegar, and pepper in a blender or food processor.  Blend or process on high speed until a smooth paste forms, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

   
   

2. Place the chicken pieces and 1/2 cup adobo paste in a large bowl. Using clean hands, massage the adobo into the chicken, trying to get it underneath the skin so it's evenly coated. (Add up to 1/4 cup more adobo, if desired.) Cover and marinate at room temperature for 45 minutes or in the fridge for up to 6 hours (bring to room temperature before roasting if refrigerated).

   
   

3. Preheat to 400°F with a rack in the center of the oven. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.

   
   

4. Place chicken on the prepared pan (skin side up if using thighs) spaced at least 1 inch apart. Scrape all the adobo from the bowl onto the chicken.

   
   

5. Roast the chicken until light golden and sizzling on the pan, about 30 minutes. Switch the oven to broil on High. Broil until the skin turns deep golden and starts to blister on top, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Make ahead

The adobo rub can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.