Have you ever heard of sazon seasoning? It’s one of my go-to favorite spice blends that my Mom puts on *literally* everything. Potatoes, eggs, beans, chicken, meat, fish… the list goes on. It’s so flavorful and I can never, ever get enough! In fact, I’m craving her sazon-seasoned Puerto Rican potatoes right now.
What is sazon?
Sazon is a really popular Puerto Rican spice that can be found it many Mexican and Spanish markets. Traditional sazon is a blend of coriander, cumin, achiote, garlic powder, oregano, salt & pepper. The downside of most sazon is that it contains MSG, so I love to make my own with what I typically have on hand (subbing turmeric for annatto seeds/achiote). It tastes very close to the real thing, but with a couple of twists!
Ingredients in sazon grilled chicken thighs
These easy grilled chicken thighs are made with my incredible homemade sazon to give it wonderful, warm flavors. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Chicken thighs: I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for ease.
- Olive oil: to coat the chicken thighs and make sure the spices do as well.
- Sazon spice blend: we’re using cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne (if you like a kick of heat), salt & pepper.
How to grill chicken thighs
Preheat your grill to medium high and lightly oil the grates. Cook your chicken thighs for 6-8 minutes per side, flipping once. When the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F your chicken is done.
How to bake chicken thighs
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake your chicken thighs for about 25-30 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 165.
Get my full guide for grilling the best chicken here, and even more chicken marinades here!
Can you freeze chicken thighs?
Yes! If you’d like to save your chicken for later, simply pour the olive oil & sazon spice blend into a resealable, freezer-friendly bag, add your chicken, and freeze the entire bag for up to 3 months.
To thaw your chicken: when you’re ready to cook it, simply thaw the chicken in the sazon overnight in the refrigerator and cook and bake as directed below.
Ways to use sazon grilled chicken thighs
Once you’ve mastered these sazon grilled chicken thighs you’ll seriously want to add this chicken to everything. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
The options are truly endless so feel free to get creative!
I hope you love these delicious, easy sazon grilled chicken thighs. If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them (and what you made with them!) You can also post a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen. Enjoy, xo!
Sazon Grilled Chicken Thighs
Flavorful sazon grilled chicken thighs marinated in a homemade sazon seasoning blend and grilled to juicy perfection. This easy grilled chicken thigh recipe is perfect for adding to tacos, salads, bowls and more!
-
1 ½
pounds
boneless skinless chicken thighs -
2
tablespoons
olive oil -
1
teaspoon
cumin -
1
teaspoon
ground coriander -
1
teaspoon
ground turmeric -
1/2
teaspoon
garlic powder -
1/2
teaspoon
oregano - Optional: ¼ teaspoon cayenne (only if you like a little heat)
-
½
teaspoon
salt - Freshly ground black pepper
First, marinate your chicken: in a large bowl add chicken, olive oil, cumin, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne, salt and pepper. Toss together to coat the chicken and allow it to marinate for 30 minutes-1 hour, or up to 24 hours.
Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F. Place the chicken directly on the grill. Grill chicken thighs for 6-8 minutes per side or until fully cooked and the meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm, then chop into bite sized pieces. Use in salads, tacos, bowls and more.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
