23 Simple Side Dishes To Serve With Your Pollo Asado
Pollo asado chicken has tons of earthy flavors with a hint of acidity and citrus. And you might have heard about it in Chipotle’s 2023 menu, but pollo asado is a classic Latin American recipe. Every country and region has its own twist, but they’re all incredibly delicious.
What is Pollo Asado?
Pollo asado is perfectly seared chicken marinated in bold Mexican spices, red peppers, and a mixture of citrus juices like lemon juice, lime juice, and fresh orange juice. Some spices include chili powder, dried ancho chili, and achiote powder (or achiote paste), and it depends. There is no one way to season pollo asado. The most flavorful chicken combines all sorts of spices.
I’ve also experimented with soy sauce, and it turned out so delish, with tons of umami flavor.
Try this Chipotle copycat pollo asado recipe with fresh cilantro.
Try These Cuts For The Best Chicken Asado
When you make seared chicken, you can use boneless skinless chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs rather than bone-in chicken thighs or chicken legs for chicken pieces for taco night.
You can also roast chicken using a whole chicken and roasted in the oven.
Cooking Methods (And Tips For Indoor Cooking)
You don’t need a charcoal grill or outdoor grill to make good chicken asado. If you’re a city person like me, then you know that we always find ways to adapt. So, I love making this recipe using a cast iron griddle or skillet. It’s an easy stove top alternative.
However, if you have an outdoor grill, you get those real smoky grill marks and smoky flavor unique to a grill.
A Pre-Marinated Pollo Asado Alternative
Trader Joe’s pollo asado (autentico) is pre-marinated, saving you a load of time. The time spent marinating the chicken can vary but can last at least 2-4 hours.
You only need to finish the cooking process and fresh, warm corn tortillas for the best pollo asado tacos.
Delicious Pollo Asado Sides
Here are some of my favorite sides with this classic chicken recipe for an easy weeknight or weekend family dinner.
Cilantro Lime Rice
A delicious blend of cilantro and fresh lime juice with jasmine rice.
2. Black Beans
This canned black bean recipe takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. It uses a hint of avocado oil (or olive oil), canned black beans, diced onions, fresh tomato, ground cumin, and salt.
Mexican black beans are similar. You can make them from scratch by soaking dried black beans in water overnight.
3. Guacamole
Fresh avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, and a hint of salt. That’s all that it takes for the best guac.
4. Warm Tortillas
To make pollo asado tacos, quickly warm corn tortillas on a skillet and serve with your favorite toppings. I love fresh-cut cilantro, sour cream, and fajitas in my tacos.
5. Air Fryer Yuca Fries
Crispy, air fryer yuca fries are a treat made with less fat and as good as the classic yuca frita recipe.
6. Air Fryer Sweet Plantains
Ripened plantains that turn starchy plantains into sweet goodness. Then air-fried to a perfect sweet crisp.
7. Chimichurri Rice
If you have leftover rice or a pot of freshly made rice, combine fresh hand-cut chimichurri sauce with it to give your rice a bit of a kick.
8. Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Homemade with corn tortillas, this recipe is simple to make in an air fryer. You can also try this on a baking sheet.
If you love the lime tortilla chip from Chipotle, finish these with lime juice.
9. Lentejas (Lentils)
This lentil recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients. Pair these two for a filling dinner.
10. Twice Fried Plantains (Patacones)
Top these salty, crispy patacones (crispy plantains) with the chicken for a slightly different take.
11. Crispy Yuca Fries
Crispy and naturally gluten-free yuca fries are mild, nutty, and perfect when paired with seasoned seared chicken.
12. Air Fryer Plantain Chips
Plantain is thinly sliced, air-fried, and turned into crispy heaven.
13. French Fries
I mean crispy fries. What else can I say? Whether crinkle fries (my fave), shoestring fries, or classic french fries, these are incredible with chicken, and the kids love it.
14. Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy sweet potato fries pair perfectly with pollo asado, adding natural sweetness and contrast.
15. Fajitas
Slowly cooked onions and sweet peppers are naturally sweet and simple to make.
Sauces
16. Ancho Aioli
Earthy flavors, with tons of flavor, perfect for dipping or adding to a pollo asado bowl.
17. Cherry Pepper Aioli
Spicy cherry peppers with garlic make the perfect aioli.
18. Chimichurri Aioli
Hand-cut chimichurri aioli is herbaceous and zesty.
19. Creamy Chimichurri Sour Cream
Why use plain sour cream when you can combine it with herby chimichurri?
20. Hand Cut Chimichurri Sauce
Freshly hand-cut herbs like cilantro and parsley are delicately mixed with fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar, lime juice, and extra virgin olive oil. It’s an easy recipe.
21. Aji Picante
This Colombian empanada sauce doesn’t only work with empanadas. I love the brightness and herbiness in this mildly spicy sauce.
22. Pico de Gallo Sauce
Tomatoey, oniony, cilantro, and jalapeno sauce with a hint of lime juice.
23. Salsa Verde (Tomatillo Sauce)
With its slight acidity, salsa verde is my favorite salsa. My favorite dish in this classic New York Mexican restaurant, Rosa Mexicano (a New York institution), is their roasted chicken suizas with tomatillo sauce (salsa verde), chihuahua cheese, and crema. It’s incredible!
Trader Joe’s has a delicious salsa verde, which you can save in the fridge for taco Tuesdays.
Share and Comment
Share and tag me with your favorite sides. I’d love to know your favorites, and to see photos of your creations.
