Pollo Bandido

main-dishmarinadegrilledstovetopweekendmake-aheadmexican

Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
2 hours 30 min
Servings
4

For the Marinated Chicken

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 tbsp Better than Bouillon® Roasted Chicken Base
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Combine olive oil, lime juice, Better than Bouillon® Roasted Chicken Base, salt, chili powder, and garlic powder in a bowl or resealable bag.
  2. Add chicken and coat thoroughly with marinade.
  3. Marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours.
  4. Remove chicken from marinade and discard excess marinade.
  5. Grill over medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes per side, or pan-sear in a hot skillet until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  6. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Prep: 10 min • Cook: 15 min • Wait: 2 hours

For the Seasoning Blend

Mix this spice blend fresh for the boldest flavor - pre-ground spices lose their fire faster than a wet fuse

Ingredients

  • cup salt
  • cup chili powder
  • ¼ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix all seasoning ingredients together in a small bowl.
  2. Sprinkle over cooked chicken before adding cheese sauce.

Prep: 2 min • Cook: No time • Wait: No time

For the Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can queso
  • ¼ cup chunky salsa

Instructions

  1. Combine queso and salsa in a saucepan.
  2. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until heated through.
  3. Pour generously over seasoned chicken.

Prep: 3 min • Cook: 3 min • Wait: No time

Notes

This Southwest treasure combines the best of Tex-Mex flavors with minimal fuss. The Better than Bouillon® creates a deeply savory marinade that penetrates the meat beautifully. Store leftover chicken in sealed containers for up to 3 days - it makes excellent tacos, quesadillas, or salad toppings. The cheese sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently with a splash of milk if it thickens. For extra heat, add jalapeños to the cheese sauce or increase the cayenne in the seasoning blend.