Name: Pollo Horneado (Dominican Roasted Chicken)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 125 min
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken; 4 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp sofrito (or sazón casero); 1 sour orange (naranja agria) (or the juice of ½ lime and ½ orange); 1 tbsp adobo; 1 tsp oregano; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper

Pollo horneado is in constant rotation in my house because it’s so easy and so so delicious. Dominican roasted chicken is super crispy on the outside but seriously juicy on the inside, it’s an absolute show stopper.

And that’s why you’ll find recipes like this pollo al horno, pernil Dominicano, and lasagna at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table; they’re not only delicious but also beautiful to look at. Even if you don’t want to make a whole chicken, use this recipe to make piernas de pollo al horno!

How to clean your chicken before cooking

I always clean my meat before seasoning and cooking it, especially when working with whole chicken. In a large bowl, I’ll combined white distilled vinegar and lemon juice then place the chicken in the bowl for 10-15 minutes, moving it around to remove any debris.

Pollo Horneado ingredients for Dominican Roasted Chicken Pollo al horno navida navideno

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How to butterfly or spatchcock chicken

Butterflying or spatchcocking a chicken means removing the backbone to flatten it, which helps it cook evenly and faster. It’s a great way to get crispy skin and juicy meat!

To do this, start by patting the chicken dry and placing it breast side down. Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut along both sides of the backbone, starting at the tail end and working your way up to the neck, removing the backbone completely. Flip the chicken over, press down on the breastbone to flatten it, then pull the wings and legs out to the side.

Step by step instructions

In a bowl, combine butter, sofrito, the juice of sour orange, adobo, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Use a kitchen brush to coat the whole chicken evenly with the mixture on both sides.

Pollo Horneado (Dominican Roasted Chicken) Pollo al horno navida navideno

Cover the chicken with foil and cook in a preheated oven at 350°F for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Remove the foil, increase the temperature to 425°F, and cook uncovered for 40 minutes, basting halfway through. Buen provecho!

Easily make this tu pollo navideño

This is the perfect baked chicken recipe to make for the holidays, just add some potatoes, veggies, and fresh herbs to the roasting pan, For Navidad, I’d serve this pollo horneado with moro de gandules and ensalada rusa!