El Pollo Loco, is a Mexican-inspired fast-food chain. It's know for its delicious flame-grilled chicken that's bursting with flavor. While a trip to the restaurant may not always be feasible, you can recreate the magic of El Pollo Loco chicken in the comfort of your own kitchen in under an hour.
Mexican food is one of my favorite foods. As a child my Mom and Dad would take us here because they thought is was healthier for us. I love some delicious baked chicken taquitos, or some Mexican brownies for dessert. You can even browse our full list of Cinco de Mayo recipes which will give you lot's of other great Mexican recipe ideas!
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Ingredients
This recipe contains more than our typical 5 ingredients but is perfect for making on a weekend when you've got a little extra time. You will need:
- water
- salt
- pepper
- garlic clove
- pineapple juice
- lime juice
- saffron or tumeric
- yellow food coloring (optional)
- whole fryer chicken
Substitutions
This recipe is naturally gluten free. It's also naturally dairy free too!
El Pollo Loco Chicken Calories
A chicken breast from El Pollo Loco has around 200 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 36 grams of protein and approximately 600 mg of sodium.
But...if you have an intolerance or allergy to MSG it is rumored that El Pollo Loco uses MSG. Sigh.
El Pollo Loco Secrets
There are a few secrets that El Pollo Loco doesn't tell you. If you are going to eat there, here are a few tips:
- El Pollo Loco has a secret menu and you can order burritos, chicken tortilla soup and bowls "carb free."
- Chicken breasts at El Pollo Loco are cooked and served with skin. But you can order it "skin free."
Can You Really Cook a Rotisserie Chicken in an Hour?
This chicken can be made with just a few shortcuts in an hour by first browning the whole chicken on the stovetop prior to baking. The juices of the chicken get sealed in and then bake making for a delicious juicy chicken that tastes just like the restaurant version!
Storing
You can store your cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. I also love deboning the cooked chicken and freezing it in the freezer for up to one month. It's perfect for using for a lunch salad or meal later!
FAQ
Yes, you can use chicken breast if you prefer. Keep in mind that bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces will yield the most flavor and juiciness, but boneless, skinless chicken breast can also be used. Adjust the cooking time accordingly to prevent overcooking.
Absolutely! The marinade can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply whisk the ingredients together and keep them in an airtight container until ready to use. Allow the marinade to come to room temperature before adding the chicken.
How to Make El Pollo Loco Chicken
Equipment
- grill
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 whole garlic clove
- 2 tablespoon pineapple juice
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 pinch saffron can substitute tumeric for saffron
- 1 teaspoon natural yellow food coloring optional
- 1 whole 3-4 pound fryer chicken
Instructions
- Stir in a bowl or blend in a blender all marinade ingredients (minus the chicken). Store one cup of the marinade away. You will use the rest of the marinade.
- Remove the gizzards and insides of the chicken. Remove the backbone of the chicken. (Often called the spatchcock, butterfly or flat roast method) You can see a video of how to remove the backbone of the chicken here. Rinse the chicken.
- Pour the remaining marinade into a bowl and place the chicken in the bowl. Allow chicken to sit in the marinade for 45 minutes to an hour, flipping chicken over halfway through marinade time.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees or a grill to medium low heat. Heat a pan to medium heat and place on the stove. pour a tablespoon of oil in the pan. Once pan is heated, place the chicken in butterfly position and cook for 2-3 minutes covered. Flip the chicken and cook on the other side for an additional 2-3 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and arrange in a roasting pan or arrange on the grill.
- Cook the chicken on the open grill for 30-40 minutes turning often. Or cook chicken in the oven at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is done. (Do not turn the chicken if cooking in the oven). Brush additional marinade on the grilled chicken once or twice and brush and pour remaining marinade on top of the cooked chicken prior to baking. Cook until chicken reaches approximately 165 degrees farenheit.
- Remove from oven and cut chicken into eight pieces with a large knife. Serve.
Jan
The whole family thoroughly enjoyed this chicken. Thank you, will be making it again 🙂
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
This was so easy to make and such a treat for my kids. We love having juicy, tender chicken on hand for dinners and quick lunches.
Vitali
Love chicken in all varieties. Tried this copycat recipe and find it incredibly tasty. Definitely goes on my favorites list. And thanks for tips about secret menu!
Michelle
Gave this a try last night and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Ksenia
This tastes even better than the original! I have to say, being able to make this delicious dish at home was a special treat. Going out to eat is nice, but thanks to this recipe we were able to save money and feel like we’re dining out without the hassle
Shushana
What means whole garlic clove .
burntapple
One garlic clove. Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
burntapple
OMG this was SOOO good!!!