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puerto rican baked chicken

5 Must-Try Puerto Rican Baked Chicken Secrets for Juicy Flavor


  • Author: lucy
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Halal

Description

A flavorful Puerto Rican baked chicken recipe featuring drumsticks marinated in a blend of sofrito, adobo, and spices, then oven-baked to juicy perfection.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 lb chicken drumsticks (about 10–12)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice (or white vinegar)
  • 2 Tbsp sofrito (store-bought or homemade)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
  • 2 tsp adobo seasoning
  • 1 tsp sazón seasoning (optional, for color and flavor)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (reduce if your adobo is salty)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 small onion, sliced (optional, to bake alongside)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken dry. In a large bowl, mix olive oil, lime juice, sofrito, garlic, adobo, sazón (if using), oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
  2. Toss chicken until fully coated. Cover and marinate 30 minutes (or up to overnight).
  3. Heat oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with foil and set a wire rack on top. Lightly oil the rack.
  4. Place drumsticks on the rack. Add sliced onion around the chicken if using. Spoon any extra marinade over the top.
  5. Bake 35 minutes. Flip drumsticks and bake 10–15 minutes more, until deeply golden and the internal temp hits 165°F.
  6. For extra crisp edges, broil 1–2 minutes at the end (watch closely).
  7. Rest 5 minutes, then serve hot (great with rice and beans).

Notes

  • For crispier skin, use a wire rack when baking.
  • Marinate longer (up to overnight) for deeper flavor.
  • Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 drumstick
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 120mg

Keywords: puerto rican baked chicken, puerto rican chicken recipe, oven baked chicken drumsticks, baked chicken legs, juicy baked chicken, latin chicken dinner