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You are here: Home / Food & Drink / Dinner / Pollo Tropical Chicken Recipe | Tropic Pollo Marinade

Pollo Tropical Chicken Recipe | Tropic Pollo Marinade

Last updated on August 17, 2022 By The Kreative Life 109 Comments

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Pollo Tropical Copycat Recipe with Tropic Pollo Marinade - The Kreative Life

When summer hits I love pulling out my grill and firing it up!

There’s nothing like the smell of burning hot charcoals and the perfect seasoning blend for tropic pollo filling the air.

Usually it’s hard for me to find any type of restaurant food that rivals good home cooking, but I must admit that I have found one.

It is not your regular burger and fries joint. Every time I pass by one of these restaurants the drive-thru line is always super long.

Yes, it’s fast food!

The crazy part is that it actually tastes really good! You may not believe it, but trust me, the food is that good!

Pollo Tropical Chicken Recipe – Like No Other

The restaurant I’m talking about is Pollo Tropical.

It has the best fire-grilled, tropical-seasoned chicken I’ve ever tasted. I’m not sure if it’s a national food chain or if it’s just in Florida, but if you so happen to drive by one, I suggest you pull over and check out the menu.

You won’t regret it!


I had my first experience at Pollo Tropical in the late 90’s when I moved to Miami to go to school.

I was already in love with all of the food that Miami had to offer, but finding a fast food restaurant that offered food that truly tasted homemade was amazing!

No more burgers, fries, or pizza for this college gal.

Nope! It had to be Pollo Tropical!

Moving back to Miami almost two decades later and I still prefer Pollo Tropical over any other fast food restaurant.

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Tropic Pollo Marinade – Tried and True

I wanted to try a Pollo Tropical recipe at home and all I can say is that the restaurant now has some competition with my tropic pollo marinade!

Like I admitted before, Pollo Tropical truly has some of the best fast food I’ve ever eaten.

It honestly took me at least four tries before I was able to get this Pollo Tropical copycat recipe just right.

Let me tell you that it definitely wasn’t easy. Even though there aren’t a lot of ingredients and it does include Goya Coriander and Annatto mix, having even the slightest mismeasurement caused this recipe to not taste up to par.

That’s definitely not good in my book.

After all of that trial-and-error, I can finally say that I will not change a thing about this recipe.


Related From The Kreative Life: Chicken Caprese on Flatbread

Related From The Kreative Life: Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers

My family likes it so much that when we plan a cookout, I start marinating the Cornish hens the night before.

It usually is a big hit with the crowd, especially when we have other island-themed recipes like my pineapple cream cheese dip as an appetizer and a Grand Marnier summer breeze cocktail for drinks.

This is what I call pulling out the big guns when I try to impress with my grilling skills!

Pollo Tropical Chicken Copycat Recipe – Not Just for the Grill

The original recipe calls for the chicken to be fire-grilled. When you visit a Pollo Tropical location, you can even see half chickens being fire-grilled in the back.

To be honest with you, there have been some days where I want to make this recipe, but it’s been too darn hot the entire week for me to even consider stepping outside, let alone cooking over a hot grill.

If you’ve been in this Miami heat, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I’ve learned to improvise and cook the chicken in the oven. I’d use an oven-safe grilling rack or a glass casserole dish lightly coated with butter.


I add 2 tbsp. melted butter to the tropic pollo marinade before rubbing it on the chicken.

I found that adding the butter to the marinade adds a little more flavor when it’s cooked in the oven. I’d cook the chicken halves for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 375°.

I still prefer the grilling method because I love that fire-grilled flavor. Nothing can beat it!

Pairing Pollo Tropical Sides

Whenever I make this recipe it’s a must to have black beans and rice. Since I’m not that great at making homemade black beans, I opt for Goya Black Bean Soup.

Yes, I know it’s cheating and that black beans probably aren’t that hard to make, but honestly mine haven’t come out as good as the Pollo Tropical black beans or the Goya brand.

Another one of Pollo Tropical sides that I like is the corn. I like serving my own oven-roasted corn with this chicken recipe. The corn can also be cooked on the grill, as well.

Another must for a side is the dinner roll. No Pollo Tropical chicken meal is complete without the dinner roll.

I found that the Hawaiian dinner rolls go very well with it.

Pollo Tropical Signature Sauces

Pollo Tropical is known for its eight signature sauces. I like making my own fresh grilled garlic salsa to use, but I also like the regular barbecue and the guava barbecue flavors for chicken dipping.

To replicate the Pollo Tropical Hot Sauce I just take my favorite sauce and add a little cayenne pepper.

I do love my foods spicy!

My goal is to figure out how to make the pineapple rum and cilantro garlic sauces. I haven’t quite mastered those yet.


Pollo Tropical Copycat Recipes

Now, that I feel that this recipe is as good as it gets for me, I’m definitely going to keep working on my black bean recipe, so I can stay away from the canned beans.

I also want to try a Tropichop recipe.

Hopefully, it doesn’t take as may trial-and-errors to get it right like this last one.

It’s really been a while since I’ve shared a recipe with you all, so I’m not going to make you wait any longer, but this one was definitely well worth the wait.

I hope you and your family enjoy this Pollo Tropical chicken copycat recipe!

Pollo Tropical Copycat Recipe
4.89 from 26 votes
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Pollo Tropical Chicken Recipe | Tropic Pollo Marinade

Ingredients

  • 3 Cornish Hens De-skinned and Cut into Halves
  • ¼ Cup Sour Orange Juice
  • 1 Tbsp. Pineapple Juice
  • 2 Packets Goya Coriander and Annatto Seasoning
  • 1 Tsp. Salt
  • ½ Tsp. Black Pepper
  • ½ Tsp. Garlic Powder
  • ½ Tsp. Cumin
  • ¼ Tsp. Oregano

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients, except the chicken, into a large bowl. Place the chicken in the bowl and coat with the seasoning mixture. In a single layer, place the chicken in a shallow dish and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Place dish in the refrigerator and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 4 hours.
  2. On a pre-lit grill, place the chicken in a single layer. Allow the chicken to cook for 45 minutes, occasionally turning, or to an internal temperature of 185°.

If you like this chicken recipe, then you may want to cook my Chicken Taco & Rice Casserole for your friends and family to enjoy!


This Pollo Tropical Chicken Recipe is one of my favorite copycat recipes. The tropic pollo marinade is bursting with citrus and tropical flavors to satisfy hungry taste buds.

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Filed Under: Dinner Tagged With: Barbecue, Chicken, Dinner, Grilling, Summer

About The Kreative Life

Hi, I’m Kendra! I’m a Miami Blogger, a mom, a wife, and an amateur food photographer (at least I like to think so). I like to write about crafts, family, diy projects, food, blogging, and marketing tips, and a swell gal to get to know. I love to travel to any place that has warm weather, a beach, and great food!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

    August 17, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    We don’t have Pollo Tropical around here (I have actually never heard of it until now), but if I can make this at home, I don’t need one 🙂 Totally trying this.

    Reply
    • Maribel Yepez-Fernandez

      May 4, 2017 at 1:58 PM

      I live in Miami and eat Pollo Tropical constantly. It is priced right and very healthy. And most important the chicken is delicious!

      Reply
      • The Kreative Life

        May 4, 2017 at 11:54 PM

        Yes, it’s very delicious!

        Reply
  2. Melanie

    August 17, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    We haven’t been able to use our grill as much as we would have liked this summer.

    Reply
  3. Diana Rambles

    August 17, 2015 at 2:29 PM

    This looks fantastic!!
    Diana Rambles recently posted…Green Chile CasseroleMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Kallee

    August 17, 2015 at 6:13 PM

    What a great chicken recipe!

    Reply
  5. Ronda Ogilvie

    August 17, 2015 at 7:15 PM

    Yum this sounds so delicious! I have never heard of Pollo Tropical, but will definitely keep my eyes open for one!

    Reply
  6. Terri Ramsey Beavers

    August 17, 2015 at 7:41 PM

    I am the queen griller in out neighborhood, ha. I love to grill out especially chicken. Thanks for the recipe, I see you have pineapple juice in it so I’m sure I’ll love it. I add pineapple to just about anything I cook, on or off the grill.

    Reply
  7. LydiaF

    August 17, 2015 at 7:42 PM

    Holy cow that looks good! I miss having a grill around. We’re don’t have one in our apartment.
    LydiaF recently posted…Savory Avocado and Lime YogurtMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)

    August 17, 2015 at 9:55 PM

    Copy cat recipes are the best. Taking something and being able to make it at home is amazing! These look delicious!
    Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) recently posted…Back To School Lunch Ideas – Gluten Free + Nut FreeMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt

    August 17, 2015 at 10:25 PM

    We have a Pollo Tropical but have never been. This recipe looks delicious!
    Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt recently posted…Caramel Peach Pound Cake SundaeMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Lucy

    August 17, 2015 at 11:26 PM

    I’ve never heard of Pollo Tropical but this looks absolutely fantastic!! I’m going to have to try this, I love grilling in the summer!

    Reply
  11. Emily

    August 17, 2015 at 11:33 PM

    I haven’t been to Pollo Tropical, but the recipe still looks amazing!
    Emily recently posted…Teething Truths and TrialsMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

    August 17, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    I don’t think we have a Pollo Tropical Restaurant near us, but as a Latina we learn to make arroz con pollo as soon as we can reach the stove! LOL 🙂
    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly recently posted…@worldmarket is opening a store in New York City and I’ve got the Scoop AND some #discounts! #WorldMarketNYC #adMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Cathy @ Our Mini Family

    August 18, 2015 at 12:23 AM

    Mmm your tropical chicken looks fantastic! Gotta try it!
    Cathy @ Our Mini Family recently posted…Why Being a Full-Time Blogger is Invigorating and EmpoweringMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Elizabeth O.

    August 18, 2015 at 2:35 AM

    I love chicken, and although I’m not familiar with Pollo Tropical, I’d still give this a go. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  15. Ron

    August 18, 2015 at 3:49 AM

    Really drooling over this recipe. Next family gathering, I will absolutely try and copy this!
    Ron recently posted…Woman Buys a Bank Building, Transforms It To Her New HomeMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Joanne T Ferguson

    August 18, 2015 at 4:51 AM

    What a gorgeous looking chicken copycat recipe! Great photos that look mouth watering too!
    Joanne T Ferguson recently posted…10 Ways Dilmah School Of Tea Inspires Tea PassionMy Profile

    Reply
  17. victoria

    August 18, 2015 at 7:33 AM

    My kids would surely love this. I haven’t been to Pollo Tropical, but the recipe was really great I can’t wait to try this on our family dinner.

    Reply
  18. Meagan

    August 18, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    This looks amazing! I would love to try making this at home. I have really struggled to make good BBQ chicken. Would love to give this one a shot before the summer ends.
    Meagan recently posted…Back to Basics with Back to School GoalsMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Nikki

    August 18, 2015 at 8:53 AM

    This is one of my favorite dish. I did it last month and my family loves and always wanted it. So I will try your recipe. I’m sure my family would love it.
    Nikki recently posted…Super Bad Book Blast: $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Annemarie LeBlanc

    August 18, 2015 at 9:10 AM

    Thanks for the recipe. This would be a good weekend feast for me and my family. I love mixing pineapple in marinades and casseroles. The flavor is so unique!
    Annemarie LeBlanc recently posted…Travel Media Showcase 2015 Scoop: Bloomington, Indiana Charms With Local Attitude & Flare – New Destination Ideas For You!My Profile

    Reply
  21. Britney

    August 18, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    Yum! I love new chicken recipes so we will try it out!

    Reply
  22. CourtneyLynne

    August 18, 2015 at 9:27 AM

    Ahhhhh I miss having a Apollo Tropical right around the corner!!!! I will have to give this recipe a try! Yummy!

    Reply
  23. Michelle @ Sunshine and Hurricanes.com

    August 18, 2015 at 10:16 AM

    WOW! This looks droolworthy for sure! My hubs is a grillmaster and can’t wait to try this recipe!!!
    Michelle @ Sunshine and Hurricanes.com recently posted…Playing at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of SportsMy Profile

    Reply
  24. Manuela @ A Culitvated Nest

    August 18, 2015 at 10:39 AM

    Some copycat recipes aren’t that great. This one looks so good. I will be trying this!

    Reply
  25. Raquel

    August 18, 2015 at 11:13 AM

    Looks absolutely delicious. It’s great that you included the instructions. I’ve got to try this on the next get-together with my friends.

    Reply
  26. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

    August 18, 2015 at 1:09 PM

    I have no idea what Pollo Tropical is, but I sooooo want these birds.

    Reply
  27. Nicky

    August 18, 2015 at 3:21 PM

    I haven’t heard of Pollo Tropical but the recipe reminds me of a chain restaurant in California called El Pollo Loco. Their citrus marinated chicken was amazing. I pinned this and hopeto try it very soon. It looks amazing and I know my family would love it
    Nicky recently posted…Salted Caramel Sundae & Tips to Create a Great Sundae BarMy Profile

    Reply
  28. Jillian @ Food, Folks and Fun

    August 18, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    Yum, I love a good copycat recipe!
    Jillian @ Food, Folks and Fun recently posted…California Ranch Club SandwichMy Profile

    Reply
  29. Tami

    August 18, 2015 at 10:22 PM

    My son enjoys pineapple on his baked ham. I never thought to use it on poultry. This will be served next week for sure!

    Reply
  30. Travel Blogger

    August 18, 2015 at 11:53 PM

    Man that looks as good as it sounds! I’m going to give this one a try.

    Reply
  31. Bobbie

    November 27, 2015 at 2:38 PM

    We have a pollo tropical we eat there a lot.. I’m one of those people who can eat something and tell you everything in it..this recipe sounds the closest to mine and mine is dead on..I fooled my husband and kids.im going to try this one..thank you…

    Reply
    • eddie

      August 9, 2016 at 5:38 PM

      what’s yours?

      Reply
    • Drew Herrington

      July 28, 2022 at 11:52 AM

      Please share your recipe as well!

      Reply
  32. Marilyn

    February 7, 2016 at 7:14 PM

    I was missing Pollo Tropical chicken and fried yucca, so I googled for a copy cat chicken recipe. This sounds so delicious. I will be trying this! Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      February 8, 2016 at 11:25 AM

      You’re very welcome, Marilyn! I hope you like it!

      Reply
  33. Ester

    April 17, 2016 at 10:30 PM

    Goya Coriander and Annatto Seasoning is, in spanish, Culantro y Achiote, brand name Goya. It’s a great seasoning. Here I can’t publish a picture of seasoning. Cilantro and Culantro are 2 different herbs.

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      April 17, 2016 at 10:43 PM

      Hi, Ester! I love the Goya line of seasonings!

      Reply
      • Ester

        April 17, 2016 at 10:45 PM

        I live here in Miami and we have many Pollo Tropical restaurants. I love it. And Sazon Goya is delicious for many plates in the kitchen. I put it in almost all my plates.

        Reply
        • The Kreative Life

          April 17, 2016 at 10:50 PM

          I live in Miami, too! It’s hard not to miss them around here!

          Reply
          • Ester

            April 17, 2016 at 10:55 PM

            Yes !!!!, my dinner today, precisely, was in Pollo Tropical: 1/4 grilled chicken, black beans, rice and salad… DELICIOUS.

          • The Kreative Life

            April 17, 2016 at 10:56 PM

            Mine too, but I had the 1/2 with waffle fries for my babies! Lol

  34. Ester

    April 17, 2016 at 10:32 PM

    Here the link:

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/34339648?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227034109640&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=72602376872&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=128528731039&veh=sem

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      April 17, 2016 at 10:39 PM

      Thank you for sharing the picture, Ester!

      Reply
  35. david huang

    May 14, 2016 at 5:51 PM

    coriander is the seeds of the cilantro plant

    Reply
  36. Vernita Muhammad

    May 23, 2016 at 4:17 PM

    We have Pollo tropical here in ft. lauderdale, awesome place to eat! Luv the chicken. God’s willing I’m differently trying this this weekend Memorial Day. Thank you

    Reply
  37. Roderick

    July 1, 2016 at 4:07 PM

    Do Polo Tripical have a different recipe for the smaller wings and drumetts? Those are the best!

    Reply
  38. Selena

    July 26, 2016 at 5:40 PM

    Yes, Pollo has Popeyes beat! Will definitely try this chicken recipe

    Reply
  39. Ana Z

    August 26, 2016 at 12:27 PM

    Thanks for the recipe. My son and I are regulars at Pollo Tropical, and I’ve always wanted to try it at home. Our grill isn’t working that great, so I’m going to try to improvise another way!

    Thanks again!

    Reply
  40. Cory

    February 9, 2017 at 5:34 PM

    Hi, at what temperature do you cook the meat at? TIA!

    Reply
  41. Keila

    April 24, 2017 at 1:53 AM

    I can’t wait to try this! My son loves the wings at Pollo Tropical but I’m trying to cook more at home and save some money! I found all ingredients but am confused about the orange juice. I just used regular. I’ve tried ChickFilA copycat and it was good but not the same. Fingers crossed on this. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      April 24, 2017 at 9:36 AM

      Hi, Keila! I use the Goya Brand marinade. You can find it in Walmart in the Hispanic food section. The bottle will say Narnia Africa Bitter Orange.

      Reply
      • keila

        May 2, 2017 at 5:34 PM

        making the second batch tonight now that I have all of the official ingredients. Thanks for educating me about the Bitter Orange. Dinner is going to be GOOD tonight!

        Reply
        • The Kreative Life

          May 2, 2017 at 5:36 PM

          You’re very welcome, Keila!

          Reply
  42. Christy

    June 15, 2017 at 12:53 PM

    Unfortunately, my Pollo here in my area had closed so I am dying to make this chicken! I wonder if it can be roasted in the oven and finished off with the broiler?

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      June 28, 2017 at 11:19 AM

      Hi, Christy! This recipe can be cooked in the oven, but the flavor may be slightly different because it won’t have that fire-grilled flavor.

      Reply
      • Frances

        July 12, 2021 at 1:31 PM

        Hi, I grew up in PR and Pollo Tropical was a must! 🙂 I love love loved their chicken growing up! Thanks for posting this recipe, but I was wondering if I were to use an indoor grill (Ninja Foodi) and either a whole chicken or say bone-in thighs or split chicken breasts… how do these quantities change, do you have a per pound way of knowing???

        Reply
  43. Kristen

    July 1, 2017 at 6:05 PM

    Do you reserve any marinade on the died before chicken to baste? Also if I use just chicken breast ( Just bought a ton and need to use quickly) do I need to add any kind of oil to avoid over drying?

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 1, 2017 at 10:58 PM

      Hi, Kristen! I don’t reserve any of the marinade. If you use chicken breast, adding a little EVOO may help it from not drying out, but I’ve never tried it that way so I’m not sure how it would come out.

      Reply
  44. Dana

    July 15, 2017 at 6:30 PM

    I just made this and it was good although I’m wandering why mine came out very orange. I assume its from the annatto that’s in the Goya seasoning. Was I supposed to use the coriander and annatto or the one without? The picture looks like it doesn’t have annatto in it?

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 15, 2017 at 6:34 PM

      Hi, Dana! The one I use does have annatto in it. My chicken always has a slight orange tint like the picture above. I’m glad you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  45. Mike

    July 17, 2017 at 8:27 PM

    Ate at the new Pollo Tropical at LAN ‘O Lakes,FL last Fri tried this yesterday with skinless. Boneless. Breast and was on target. Not much room for improvement.
    AWESOME!
    PS. 6hr soak. Add tortillas if you want with black beans.

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      August 24, 2017 at 6:58 PM

      Hi, Mike! Adding the tortillas and black beans sound like a great idea!

      Reply
  46. Rob

    August 9, 2017 at 3:19 PM

    I live in Wisconsin and get to Miami about 3x a year. Pollo Tropical is a must at least 2x per visit. Best ‘Fast Food’ EVER! Thank you for this recipe, I can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      February 26, 2018 at 9:00 PM

      It really is a must-try! I hope you like the recipe!

      Reply
  47. Dan

    February 1, 2018 at 10:14 PM

    Made a trip to Florida and had Pollo Tropical. Best chicken I ever had. I live in California and the chicken joints we have here don’t come close to Pollo Tropical. I’m surprised they haven’t expanded there franchise. They sure beat McDonald’s and healthier for sure.
    I got my copy of this recipe. The pinapple is the bomb along with the cilantro.

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      February 26, 2018 at 8:59 PM

      I really wish they would expand because I think they’d do well across the country. Their flavors really are hard to beat. I’m glad you like the recipe!

      Reply
  48. Tadej

    March 13, 2018 at 6:24 AM

    I love its seasonings, thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  49. Tadej

    March 14, 2018 at 4:19 AM

    The meat looks juicy, thanks I will try it.

    Reply
  50. Maria catasus

    May 21, 2018 at 3:00 PM

    This recipe is Amazing !!! Make it All the time!! It taste just like Pollo Tropical yummmyyyy!!! Thanks for recipe!!

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      May 21, 2018 at 3:19 PM

      Hi, Maria! I’m glad that you like it so much! Thank you!

      Reply
  51. Marie

    July 11, 2018 at 12:37 PM

    Hello! Would this recipe be able to used baked if so at what temp and how long..?also should I use a roasting rack pan or would cookie sheet work out lined with foil? Thank u for the recipe! Pollo tropical is delish!

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 26, 2018 at 3:05 PM

      Hi, Marie! Of course it can be baked. When I cook them in the oven I usually use a cookie sheet or a glass casserole dish. I rub butter on the bottom of whatever dish I’m using to cook it in. After I cut them in half, I cook them for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 375 or until the juices are clear.

      Reply
  52. Wes

    July 17, 2018 at 9:59 PM

    I love pollo tropical and hope someone makes a copycat recipe for their garlic cilantro sauce to go with the chicken! I went out and bought the achiote and sour orange marinade right after reading this. BTW those 2 ingredients at the local latin supermarket were around $3, a $10 savings over Amazon,that’s enough to buy the rest of the meal!

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 26, 2018 at 2:54 PM

      I love their garlic cilantro lime sauce! That recipe may be on my to-do list. Thanks for the idea, Wes!

      Reply
  53. Stiven Hales

    July 24, 2018 at 2:02 PM

    I simply made this and this was good although I am wandering why mine arrived out very orange. We assume its from the particular Anatolian that’s in the particular Goya seasoning. Was We supposed to make use of the coriander and Anatolian or maybe the 1 without? The picture appears like it doesn’t have Anatolian inside it?

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 26, 2018 at 2:40 PM

      Hi, Stiven! I always use the one with annatto in it. I usually remove my skin before cooking, like in the recipe, but when I don’t remove it before putting it on the grill (or even baking it) it does come out a little more orange. I’m glad that you like the recipe!

      Reply
  54. Brisbane coffee percolators

    August 9, 2018 at 10:33 AM

    Thinking of what to cook is no more a problem Just Let your Caterer know what menu you would like to offer your guests.

    Reply
  55. Miranda

    December 13, 2018 at 8:44 PM

    I made this recipe for my son’s birthday party and it was a big hit. Everyone loved it! I used boneless chicken breast because it was on sale. Used a meat mallet and a gallon size storage bag to tenderize and it was supper tender. Delicious!

    Reply
  56. Nancy Pecoraro

    January 18, 2019 at 7:46 AM

    All the Pollo Tropicals in Georgia just recently closed! :(‘
    My kids grew up in Broward County. The nearest one is 5 plus hours away! I’m going to try this recipe for sure! What about the cilantro garlic sauce?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  57. Evie

    February 24, 2019 at 1:14 AM

    Looks so yummy! I’ve never tried Pollo Tropical. I’m not sure it we have them out west. But, I’m going to try making these because I’m sure the kids will love it. It’s a shame I don’t have something to compare it to know if I did the recipe justice.
    Evie recently posted…7 Best Gardening Apps For Android Phone UsersMy Profile

    Reply
  58. Alyssa

    March 13, 2019 at 6:40 AM

    Kendra! this looks so good! I love CHICKEN . I’ll have to try this out sometime soon. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  59. Nally

    March 25, 2019 at 12:54 PM

    This is the review you are looking for!! I tried it, i made it!! And let me tell you. You wont be disappointed at all!! It turned out amazingly delicious!! Spot on!!(live in Fl..lol) after scrolling through all the comments not one person mentioned they tried it so i decided to go by the looks. I didnt think it turn out so good since the ingredients are just a handful but i couldnt have been more wrong!! I only let it sit for 30mins so i can onlu imagine if this was sitting overnight!! This will be a staple in our house!! Thank you for sharing your recipe. Truly enjoyed it

    Reply
    • Rina

      October 1, 2019 at 3:43 PM

      Thank you! Cause I was surely looking through the comments for someone who said they TRIED it and LIKE/LOVED it!

      Reply
  60. Janet Hammock

    June 30, 2019 at 11:43 AM

    Awesome chicken recipe. Pollo recently closed all Atlanta area restaurants and I am in withdrawal. Please get recipe for pineapple rum sauce. I have tried several and not the same at all. If anyone can do it, I believe you can.

    Reply
  61. Williams Chris

    November 1, 2019 at 12:35 PM

    POLLO TROPICAL CHICKEN RECIPE is great! To be honest, I’m not good at cooking but I like them, they give me joy and excitement every time I finish the dishes, which is a great thing. With your recipe, just need to follow the instructions and the rest is simple, thank you for sharing them.
    Williams Chris recently posted…Top 5 Best Asphalt Driveway Sealer Consumer Reports for 2019My Profile

    Reply
  62. Jessica Bailey

    January 14, 2020 at 9:38 PM

    Oh my goodness I can’t wait to try this chicken recipe. Orange soda and pineapple juice sounds delicious.

    Reply
  63. Alex Smith

    January 15, 2020 at 2:56 PM

    Wow! Nice chicken recipe i will reach today my wife. You all blog wonderful and helpful for peoples.
    Alex Smith recently posted…Weber Summit 6 burner grill Review 2020My Profile

    Reply
  64. Christina

    March 27, 2020 at 5:05 PM

    Chicken was okay. Wouldn’t really say it’s a pollo tropical copycat. I don’t remember they’re chicken being orange. I had to cut recipe down since I was only using two boneless chicken breasts.

    Reply
  65. Nicole

    April 7, 2020 at 7:31 AM

    Tried it & the chicken is awesome! Thank you!
    Did you ever figure out how to make Pollo Tropical’s Cilantro Garlic sauce? I love this sauce & would put it on everything if I could. Lol. I wish they sold it by the bottle. Would love to know if you figured out how to make it.

    Reply
  66. Carolina

    April 30, 2020 at 4:13 PM

    We usually get pollo tropical once a week but with the whole COVID 19 situation and a small baby, we are not eating out. Your Pollo recipe is a life saver! My family LOVES your recipe over pollo’s! It is amazing in the oven or on the grill! Thank you! ❤️

    Reply
  67. Roberto

    June 5, 2020 at 9:37 PM

    Tried this recipe today and it was delicious! Really close to that Pollo Tropical taste; I had just enough Mojo Criollo marinade on hand instead of the orange + pineapple juices and chicken breast instead of a whole chicken. I know the chicken will taste even better when it’s a mix of white/dark meat and bone next time!

    Reply
  68. Jessica

    July 9, 2020 at 2:12 AM

    Thank you so much for this recipe! I can not wait to try it! I moved to Texas from Miami 8 years ago and I miss the food so much especially the pollo tropical that was down the street from my house!! I’m so happy I found your recipe! Thank you much!

    Reply
  69. Sunnie

    September 24, 2020 at 1:30 PM

    Can’t wait to try this. I found another recipe for the black beans. I am gluten free so whenever we go back home to Florida to visit family I get Pollo Tropical chicken and black beans and rice. Soooo yummy and gf! But no Pollos in Virginia.

    Reply
  70. Brett Brinkerhoff

    October 11, 2020 at 9:19 PM

    Tried this recipe the other day and it is so close to spot on I wouldn’t try to change it. I also used this garlic cilantro sauce recipe I found a couple years ago that is almost a perfect copy of Pollo Tropicals. For everyone asking, here’s a link to the sauce recipe.
    https://asassyspoon.com/cilantro-garlic-sauce/

    Also if you live or visit Florida and love Pollo Tropical you should check out a spot called La Granja. It is very similar and just as good. Can’t beat $3.99 for 1/4 chicken, beans and rice.

    Reply
  71. Amit

    March 10, 2021 at 1:47 PM

    Love it Love it Love it! This looks like such a pretty and yummy dish! I’m totally into grilling this year, so this might just make my list! I would love to make these sometime. Thanks for sharing.
    Amit recently posted…Grill vs Smoker BBQ | Difference, Working, Benefits ComparedMy Profile

    Reply
  72. msdixiemiami

    March 17, 2021 at 2:20 AM

    Thanks for sharing about Pollo tropical chicken recipe tropic polo.
    msdixiemiami recently posted…Health Benefits of Kosher FoodMy Profile

    Reply
  73. Zrealtor

    April 19, 2021 at 6:54 PM

    I tried this and it’s not close. Needs far more salt and something else. Cornish hens may taste different but on chicken this just doesn’t work.

    Reply
  74. Tender Roni

    April 25, 2021 at 1:39 PM

    Hahahaha Im here because my husband realized he spends way too much money at Pollo while he’s working. So, he asked me to make him some pollo tropical at least once a week

    Reply
  75. Nicole

    June 15, 2021 at 1:54 PM

    I’m a Florida native living in Boston and missing Pollo Tropical. When I say this recipe was SPOT ON… it was SPOT ON. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve tried so many copycat recipes before for various things and this one is the closest copycat I’ve ever made. Bravo Kendra! Loved it and it was so easy! (Also, for reference, I couldn’t find sour oranges, so I used 2 parts freshly squeezed orange juice, 1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1 part freshly squeezed lime juice.)

    Reply
  76. Vicky

    July 6, 2021 at 12:50 PM

    I absolutely LOVE Pollo Tropical chicken. I’m wondering if this Goya Packet has MSG in it. Some Goya things do.
    What is sour Orange? Fresh or bottled?
    I would like to marinate chicken pueces like thighs and drumsticks or a whole chicken. Would your recipe be good for a whole chicken? Or how many pieces do you think. Cornish hens are great for a special meal but I want this for everyday meals.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  77. Ed

    March 14, 2022 at 7:20 PM

    Holy cow! Have you ever outdone yourself! Our story, originally from South Florida and very familiar with Pollo Tropical! We used to have a common lunch called “Pollo Thursday”! We moved to the capital and there are no Pollo Tropicals here 🙁

    Ok, so I tried this recipe and followed exactly as written. First child said this tastes like Cuban chicken, like Pollo! Next, the other said not only does it taste like it, it smells like it.Note, I didn’t say anything about your receipe.

    I know you don’t know me, but you’ll never get a better compliment from my kids; thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  78. Floridalocal

    April 17, 2022 at 2:48 PM

    Whoa it’s orange ! I tripled the recipe to make with 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in chunks and skewered to grill. It tasted great but was VERY orange . Similar flavor to Pollo Tropical. I was happy with the results and will make again .

    Reply
  79. Troy

    June 17, 2022 at 10:27 PM

    Finally….this is the one. Pollo has the best chicken at it’s best. but they overcook their chicken and the customer service is just terrible most of the time. I marinated mine 24 hours the first time, but was better when I soaked it fir 48 hours. And it is spot on. I have tried numerous copy cats and my own, but this one is spot on!!! Thank you.

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      July 21, 2022 at 5:44 PM

      Hi, Troy! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  80. Tanvir Ahmed

    August 26, 2022 at 9:03 AM

    Hey Kendra, Every winters me and my all friends are having a bbq party. Now you shared an amazing recipe. And we will try this pollo tropical chicken recipe. Big thanks for sharing this recipe.
    Tanvir Ahmed recently posted…All Clad Grill Pan Review: It Is The Pan That You Are Looking ForMy Profile

    Reply
    • The Kreative Life

      August 26, 2022 at 5:22 PM

      You’re very welcome, Tanvir! I hope you and your friends like it!

      Reply

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  1. Orange Ginger Chicken - The Kreative Life says:
    March 13, 2018 at 12:03 PM

    […] mouth watering. I wouldn’t hesitate to over indulge myself in any chicken dinner, especially this chicken recipe. An Asian-inspired chicken recipe is my favorite type! That’s why I decided to stay at home and […]

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My name is Kendra and I'm a mom to two beautiful boys and a wife to a wonderful husband! I'm a Miami-based influencer who loves giving tips to busy moms about balancing their families, health, and businesses.

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