Also known as pio pio chicken, this recipe is inspired by a traditional Peruvian grilled chicken dish that is smoky and sweet with a bright sauce full of fresh flavors.
Fire up the grill and enjoy this traditional Peruvian chicken dish. Just don’t forget the sauce!
This is another great chicken recipe like Incredible Baked Chicken, and pairs well with this recipe for Caribbean black beans and rice.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Marinade: Marinating the pio pio chicken is an important step to taste the depth of flavor this recipe provides. The ingredients for the Peruvian grilled marinade include:
- soy sauce
- garlic
- lime
- honey
- cumin
- coriander
- paprika
- salt and pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Ingredients for Green Sauce
Green Sauce
- Greek yogurt
- jalapeño
- garlic
- cilantro
- kosher salt
- lime
Variations
Broiled: If you don’t have access to a grill, you can use your broiler and it will work just as well.
Kid-Friendly: This dish is kid-friendly. Omit the jalapeno if little ones are fans of spice!
Peruvian Chicken with Green Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Grill preferred
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken thighs you can substitute chicken breast if you prefer
Marinade
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves- finely minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons honey or sugar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons paprika or smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Green Sauce
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ jalapeño seeded and finely chopped optional
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- juice of 1-2 limes
Instructions
- Combine olive oil, soy sauce, lime, honey, spices and salt. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Seal the bag and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator, turning once, for 1 hour. The chicken can be marinated for up to 4 hours.
- Heat the grill or broiler to medium high. Arrange the chicken on a broiler pan skin side down and broil until brown and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and broil until cooked through (to 165 F), about 10 minutes longer.
- While chicken is cooking, make the Green Sauce. To make the Green Sauce, place all the ingredients in a food processor and combine well.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
