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Home » Recipes » Chicken Recipes

March 13, 2021

Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken

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Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken is the juiciest and most flavorful chicken and is a meal prep dream!

An overhead shot of a serving platter full of sheet pan mojo chicken this Recipe
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This recipe was originally published April 23, 2020. It was updated with new photos, a recipe video, and additional recipe tips on March 13, 2021.


Table of contents

  • <This Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken is...
  • What is mojo seasoning or mojo chicken?
  • Recipe ingredients:
  • Recipe substitutions:
  • How do you make sheet pan Mojo chicken?
  • Are chicken breasts or chicken thighs better for this recipe?
  • How do you easily juice a lime?
  • How do you zest a lime or orange?
  • How do you zest citrus without a Microplane zester?
  • How do you easily peel garlic?
  • How can you serve this chicken for meal prep?
  • What can you serve with this chicken?
  • Storage and freezing directions:
  • What tools do you need to make this chicken?
  • More delicious & easy chicken dinner recipes:

Make dinner this week in a cinch with this Juicy Cuban Mojo Chicken. Chicken thighs or breasts quickly marinate in a citrus and herb marinade before baking on a sheet pan.

You'll have enough chicken to last you a few dinners, making this dish a favorite meal prep recipe! Below I'll share my favorite ways to enjoy this chicken throughout the week and will supply all the tips to make this a no-fail recipe for you!

An overhead shot of a piece of mojo chicken on a white plate

Do you ever look at the week ahead and wonder "what in the world am I going to feed my family for all these meals this week?!"

Yeah, me too! It can get so overwhelming -- and especially in this time of quarantine when we're all home for all the meals. Aside from ordering out, I've learned I have to get creative about making enough food for us while not being back slaving at the stove for every meal!

So last week it hit me-- now's the time to focus on getting my meal prep game in place! To create habits and recipes I can draw on now and in the future when life gets back to normal and we need to meal prep to keep up with and fueled for our busy lives.

A pinterest pin for "cuban sheet pan chicken" with an overhead shot of a pan of the chicken

One of my biggest meal prep takeaways is to make large batches of food we can then work into various meals throughout the week.

For example -- a large batch of barbecue chicken I can then serve with beans, on a rice bowl, in tacos, or on a salad later in the week. Or, a big tray of roasted vegetables I can add to any meal in the following days without having to reheat the oven.

I've been doing this for about two weeks now, and let me tell you-- it's been a game-changer! I can't recommend highly enough.

At first, I felt ridiculous-- cooking up huge sheets of chicken or full pressure cookers of shredded meat -- but then, on a following day when I was walking to the fridge to figure out what to eat for lunch, I felt a huge wash of relief when I realized that lunch was already taken care of for me!

Whaaa?! Who is this person who's finally getting ahead of the game?! It feels victorious, folks!

And you, too, can get ahead of the game with me with this easy Cuban chicken recipe. After whisking together a quick citrus, garlic, and dried herb marinade, we'll let the chicken (white and/or dark meat-- whichever you prefer!) soak in it for 30 minutes, before baking it in a hot oven.

An overhead shot of a plate of sheet pan mojo chicken with orange slices, cilantro, and lime

Then, we'll have enough chicken for a few days, and victory will be ours! Below, I'll offer many ideas for how to serve it throughout the week, as well as helpful tips and pro-tips on how to make delightfully juicy & tender chicken every time!

So come along with me and we can say "goodbye" to dinner dread and "hello" to a week of yummy & stress-free meals ahead!

An up close side shot of a piece of the cuban chicken on the baking pan

This Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken is...

  • Tender
  • Succulent
  • Zesty
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Perfect for meal prep
  • Ready in under an hour
  • Full of mouth-watering Cuban flavors!

You pretty much can't lose by making this juicy Cuban chicken!

An up close over head shot of sheet pan mojo chicken on a serving platter

Table of contents

  • This Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken is...
  • What is mojo seasoning or mojo chicken?
  • Recipe ingredients:
  • Recipe substitutions:
  • How do you make sheet pan Mojo chicken?
  • Are chicken breasts or chicken thighs best for mojo chicken?
  • How do you easily juice a lime?
  • How do you zest a lime or orange?
  • How do you zest citrus without a Microplane zester?
  • How do you easily peel garlic?
  • How can you serve this chicken for meal prep?
  • What can you serve with this chicken?
  • How long does this chicken last?
  • Can you freeze this Mojo chicken?
  • What tools do you need to make this chicken?
  • Check out other healthy and easy chicken dinner recipes:

What is mojo seasoning or mojo chicken?

Mojo seasoning is a classic Cuban seasoning mix. It classically has a sour orange juice base, olive oil, garlic, cumin, oregano, and salt.

It can be hard to find the sour oranges in the United States, so we get a similar flavor by using a mixture of lime and orange juices.

All of the ingredients for sheet pan mojo chicken, spices, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, lime juice, onions, orange juice, chicken, orange zest, and lime zest

Recipe ingredients:

  • Boneless & Skinless Chicken - I recommend thighs because they're super juicy, but you can also use chicken breast. Just cut the chicken in half length-wise before marinating so the breasts roast quickly and evenly
  • Olive Oil
  • Lime juice and zest
  • Minced garlic - fresh is best!
  • Orange juice and zest
  • Distilled White Vinegar - adds some brightness to the marinade
  • Cumin & Dried Oregano - classic Cuban seasonings that set this chicken dish apart!
  • Onions - white or yellow onions work
An up-close overhead shot of a piece of mojo chicken on the roasting sheet

Recipe substitutions:

  • Garlic - bottled garlic can work in place of fresh, but doesn't offer as dimensional of a flavor
  • Vinegar - white wine vinegar can substitute for the distilled white vinegar
  • Juice- bottled lime and orange juice can replace fresh
  • Oil - is a classic ingredient in Cuban Mojo chicken, but avocado oil can also work as a substitute
A zested lemon sitting on a cutting board

How do you make sheet pan Mojo chicken?

  1. Whisk the marinade ingredients together.
  2. Add the chicken to the marinade and toss it until covered. Let the chicken marinate for 10-30 minutes in the refrigerator.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil a large rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cut an onion into thin half-moon pieces and scatter over the oil.
  4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place the pieces over the onion at least 1-2 inches apart. Spoon any remaining marinade over the chicken.
  5. Bake the chicken for 24-27 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove from the oven and serve hot!
cumin, oregano, and salt
the marinade in the mixing bowl
the marinade all whisked up
marinating the chicken in the marinade
preparing the chicken to bake on the pan

Are chicken breasts or chicken thighs better for this recipe?

I personally prefer chicken thighs for Mojo chicken because they are so juicy and have a richer flavor.

You can also use chicken breasts, though. Just cut the chicken in half length-wise through the widest part of the meat before marinating. This will help the marinade penetrate the best and for the chicken to cook the quickest.

An overhead shot of the chicken on a roasting tray

How do you easily juice a lime?

If you have a hard time juicing the lime, here's a quick tip to loosen up the juices: just pop your lime in the microwave for 15-30 seconds before juicing.

To make juicing even easier, just use a citrus juicer to express every last drop of that juice!

An up-close shot of a piece of sheet pan cuban chicken on a plate

How do you zest a lime or orange?

To most easily zest a lime or orange you will want a Microplane zester.

Lightly rub the lime or orange back and fort over the Microplane, rotating the fruit once you have the outside of the citrus skim zested off.

Pro-tip: don't zest off any of the pith underneath the skin. The pith is bitter and doesn't have a great flavor..

A hand zesting a lime over a large bowl
A hand zesting a partial zested lime over a large bowl

How do you zest citrus without a Microplane zester?

Though a Microplane zester is the easiest for zesting, you don't need one to make this dish!

To zest without one, just peel the zest off the citrus with a veggie peeler and then finely mince the skin with a knife.

How do you easily peel garlic?

Make peeling garlic a breeze by following the illustrated steps below:

  1. Separate the garlic bulb into cloves.
  2. Cut off the base of each clove.
  3. Laying the side of a chef's knife on the clove, press down on the blade with the palm of your hand to smash the garlic clove.
  4. Remove the garlic skin from the clove-- it should come off easily!
cutting the base of the garlic clove off
Cut the base of the garlic clove off
smashing the garlic clove with a chef's knife
Smash the garlic clove under the side of a chefs knife
Peeling the garlic cloves
Peel the garlic skin off
A pinterest pin for "cuban roast chicken" with an up-close overhead shot of the chicken on a platter

How can you serve this chicken for meal prep?

Here are my favorite ways to serve this chicken for meal prep!

  • With Cuban black beans & rice
  • In a burrito -with beans, cheese, and any of your other favorite burrito fillings
  • On a salad - topped with my favorite cumin lime vinaigrette (recipe below)
  • In tacos - with all your favorite fixings
  • In quesadillas - I got this idea from my friend, Norine. Tuck the chicken with the cheese before toasting the quesadilla on the stovetop!

Either prepare and store your meals for the week as soon as the chicken is out of the oven or assemble your different meals as you go.

To make a quick lime cumin vinaigrette: combine ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, a pinch salt, and ¼ teaspoon dried cumin and whisk!

A  side shot of a large bowl of cuban mojo chicken and black beans.

What can you serve with this chicken?

All of these side dishes go perfectly with Mojo chicken:

  • Steamed rice and black beans
  • Roasted sweet potatoes
  • Roasted Broccoli
  • Salad with cilantro-lime vinaigrette (see my recipe above)
  • Lager beer -- Dos Equis or Longboard Island are two of my favorites
  • White wine - Vinho Verde or sauvignon blace are delicious

Storage and freezing directions:

This chicken lasts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze this Mojo chicken in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For best results, defrost the chicken in the refrigerator 24 hours or reheat on low heat in the microwave.

An overhead shot of a bowl of sheet pan cuban chicken next to the corner of the rest of the bowl

What tools do you need to make this chicken?

  • Large rimmed baking sheet
  • Microplane or zester
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Cutting board
  • Chef knife
  • Heat safe spatula
  • Meat thermometer

More delicious & easy chicken dinner recipes:

  • Mexican Chicken Marinade
  • Walnut Chicken with Brown Butter Sage Sauce
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Veggies
  • Crispy Herbed Panko Chicken
  • Sweet & Spicy Chicken Marinade
  • Sheet Pan Apricot Chicken and Potatoes
  • Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry with Sweet Soy Sauce
  • Pressure Cooker Pineapple Chicken and Rice
  • Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken

If you make and like this recipe, please review and rate it 5 Stars at the top of the recipe card. This helps other people to find the recipes and helps this reader-supported publication, too!

Thank you so much for your feedback and support of Mae's Menu!

sheet pan Mojo chicken on a serving platter

Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken

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Chelsea | Mae's Menu 2023

This Sheet Pan Mojo Chicken is the juiciest and most flavorful chicken and is a meal prep dream!


If you use chicken breasts in this recipe, cut them in half lengthwise through the wider part of the chicken before marinating.
4.88 from 8 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Marinating Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine Cuban
Servings 6 -8 servings
Calories 298 kcal

Equipment

  • Thermapen Mk4 Instant-read Thermometer for meat & more

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil DIVIDED
  • 2 tablespoons distilled vinegar
  • ¼ cup or about 6-8 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 lime -- zested and juiced or about 1 ½ teaspoon lime zest and 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 orange -- zested and juiced or about 2 teaspoons orange zest and ¼ cup orange juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch - ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper depending on your preference
  • 2 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts see my note above for breasts
  • ½ yellow or white onion sliced into thin half-moons

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, whisk together ¼ cup olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, orange and lime zest and juices, cumin, oregano, pepper, and cayenne.
  • Add the chicken to the marinade and toss until all the chicken is covered. Let the chicken marinate in the fridge for 10-30 minutes.
  • While the chicken marinates: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and oil a large rimmed cookie sheet with the remaining 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Scatter the onions on the oiled pan.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade (reserving the marinade) and place the pieces on top of the onions 1-2 inches apart. Spoon the remaining marinade over the chicken.
  • Bake the chicken for 24-27 minutes, or until the chicken pieces are cooked through (or 165 degrees Fahrenheit) &, the garlic is turning golden brown,
  • Remove the sheet pan from the oven and place the plan on a wire cooling rack. Serve hot!

Notes

This chicken lasts covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. For best results, thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator for 24 hours before reheating on low to medium heat.
Fresh minced garlic is best for this recipe, but pre-minced or jarred garlic can work in a pinch.
Marinate the chicken for only 10-30 minutes. The marinade is ultra acidic, so any longer marinating time ill start to over-marinate or "cook" the chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 recipeCalories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 35gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 517mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
Keyword cuban chicken, mojo chicken
Tried and Loved This Recipe?Mention @MaesMenu or tag #MaesMenu!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrea Brambila says

    May 27, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    I'm always looking for sheet pan meals that aren't just seasoned chicken and veggies. I think my husband will love this one!

    Reply
  2. Adam says

    November 21, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    This recipe was the bomb!! Everything came out amazing!! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Mae's Menu says

      December 02, 2022 at 9:47 am

      Hi, Adam!

      Thanks so much for sharing -- so glad to hear you liked it! It's a favorite around here, too. 🙂

      Best,

      Chelsea

      Reply

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MEET CHELSEA MAE PLUMMER

Hi!  Join me in making quick and healthy recipes for active families!  Many of my recipes can be made gluten-free or lactose-free because life with food allergies doesn't have to lack flavor!
A bit about me: I'm a self-taught home cook of 20+ years, food lover, runner, and dog lover!

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