The holidays are always a good excuse to gather the family around and enjoy a great memorable meal together. In Mexico, most families prepare a roasted turkey or a roasted pork leg or shoulder. However, some folks prefer a baked chicken, for several reasons, including: chicken might be more affordable, their family may be small, or because they live on a farm and raise their own chickens.
Roast chicken is popular all over the country, and it has a few variations according to the region. Several prefer to add a dried pepper adobo, while others just season it with herbs, like in this recipe. Sometimes, the chicken is even stuffed in the same way a turkey would.
Pollo al horno (Roast Chicken)
I am glad that nowadays, with the internet and social media networks available to everyone, people in other countries can get to learn about our Mexican culture, traditions, celebrations, and customs. That way, they can realize that we are also a civilized and vibrant country.
Back when I first came to the US, people would ask me all kinds of questions that really puzzled me, like if we used forks to eat, if we only ate tamales for our Christmas dinner, washed our clothes by hand, or if we even had universities in Mexico (by the way, the first university established in North America was founded in Mexico City in 1551).
All these questions made me wonder how some people see foreigners, but the time it really hit me was when I went for a job interview for the role of a school teacher and was told that perhaps I was wrong, and meant to be applying for a cleaning position, just because I was Mexican.
That was a long time ago, and I hope that nowadays, before judging someone, people will get to know others better and find out more about their country. I also hope that all parents educate their children to be appreciative of other cultures, so that they may become a Judgment Free Generation.
How to make Pollo al horno Recipe
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Clean chicken by rinsing it inside and out. If it has excess fat, remove it, and pat dry with paper towels. Tuck the wing tips under the body. Season the inside of the chicken well with salt and pepper.
- Mix rosemary, lime juice, lime zest, butter, and mashed garlic to form a paste.
- Brush the chicken with the butter-lime mix all over, then season the chicken with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with a kitchen string. Place chicken in roasting pan.
- Roast the chicken for 1 ½ hours; you can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The breast temperature should read 180 degrees.
- Mix carrots and potatoes, then season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and 2 sprigs of rosemary. After the chicken has been in the oven for 45 minutes, add the potato/carrot mixture to the roasting pan, where they will cook with the chicken juices and flavors.
- Once the chicken is done, remove from oven, and cover with aluminum foil for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with the vegetables. Enjoy!
Enjoy the Holiday season, and I hope you try this easy recipe for a delicious Roast Chicken!
Mely Martinez,
More recipes:
Easy Chicken Stew
Chicken with Creamy Poblano Sauce
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Pollo Al Horno (Whole Roasted Chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 roasting chicken about 4-5 pounds
- Salt and pepper to season
- 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary finely chopped*
- 1 lemon or lime halved
- Zest of lemon
- 4 tablespoons ½ stick of butter, melted or room temperature
- 4 garlic cloves mashed
- ½ head of garlic
OPTIONAL TO SERVE WITH THE CHICKEN
- 2 carrots cut into cubes
- 1 large potato cut into cubes
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 4-6 sprigs of rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Clean chicken by rinsing it inside and out. If it has excess fat, remove it, and pat dry with paper towels. Tuck the wing tips under the body. Season the inside of the chicken well with salt and pepper. Place the half head of garlic inside the chicken cavity.
- Mix rosemary, lime juice, lime zest, butter and mashed garlic to form a paste.
- Brush the chicken with the butter-lime mix all over, then season the chicken with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with a kitchen string. Place chicken in roasting pan.
- Roast the chicken for 1 ½ hours; you can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The breast temperature should read 180 degrees. (If adding the carrots and potatoes, continue to step 5.)
- Mix carrots and potatoes, then season with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and 2 sprigs of rosemary. After the chicken has been in the oven for 45 minutes, add the potato/carrot mixture to the roasting pan, where they will cook with the chicken juices and flavors.
- Once the chicken is done, remove from oven, and cover with aluminum foil for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with the vegetables.
Dayzee
Looks delicious and I'll be trying it! I think the Judgement Free generation has arrived:) My teen and my toddler don't think in terms of colors because they have interacted with many other cultures and have friends with different cultural backgrounds. My teens friends are the same way, sometimes shaming grandparents for bad comments.
mmartinez
So nice to hear about this new young generation has a new point of view of the world. 😉
Teresa
This looks delicious. And so simple. The last time I made a baked chicken was when I was married to my ex husband (from El Salvador) and it came out great. I just haven't made another one....don't know why but I will now. My teen son is half black and half Salvadoran and although to me he looks black outwardly, I feel its better that people just come out and ask him questions they may have about him rather than assume. To me curiosity is an innate human trait but ignorance can be corrected. I'm glad I started following you.
mmartinez
Thank you for your comment. I hope you try to make the recipe and enjoy it with your son. 🙂
Anonymous
Mely,This was delicioso! Thank you for sharing, it was so pretty I took a picture of it:) I made it with fresh rosemary, and the potatoes with carrots. The whole house smells wonderful and my family loved it.
mmartinez
Hello,
Please, if you still have the picture send it to me. i would love to share on our Facebook page. Thank you for trying the recipe. 😉
Chris
That is a beautiful bird! It looks just perfect and makes me want a bite right now.
As far as multi-cultural, I agree. My wife and I come from very typical American, white bread, Christian, conservative, Republican families. But we raised our kids think for themselves and see people as people. Our oldest child married a person who immigrated from African (Senegal), second oldest is dating a young black woman, and our youngest is dating someone that immigrated from South American. I think that it is so cool, that they can do that without facing a lot of judgement (especially since we live in the South of the US where many people think everyone is racist and a redneck).
mmartinez
Wow! Chris, you had done a great job with your kids. Thank you for your kind comment and sharing you family experience.
Anonymous
We are having this again tonight, everyone is hungry for it since the first time I made it. Thank you for the recipe
Carlo
I stumbled on this recipe as a last minute to-do for chicken. This is perhaps the best baked chicken recipe we have ever tried. The seasoning mixture was tremendous, the color of the chicken was wonderful and while I like my meat a little drier and my wife a little more moist, we were both completely satisfied with how this turned out. Also our three year old daughter had such a big portion for a fussy eater. I never write reviews, but the simplicity and flavour of such a wonderful meal warranted a review. Thank you very, very much for sharing :)!
mmartinez
Hello Carlo,
Thank you for your kind comment about the Roast Chicken recipe, I really appreciate it.
Pattie Vazquez
The only thing I can say about this chicken is it’s out of this world, awesome awesome awesome. This is my fourth time making it. Thank you.
Mely Martínez
Hello Pattie,
I'm so glad you like the Pollo al Horno recipe, it is tasty!
Jessica
Me encanto esta receta. En vez de pavo voy a cocinar este pollito para Thanksgiving ♥️
Marta
Hola Mely,
Would like to try this but not sure about something. Ingredients include
1/2 head of garlic but isn't included in the instructions. Help por favor :o)
Mely Martínez
Hello Martha,
You are right, it goes inside the chicken cavity. And remove after roasting. Happy cooking!