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    Home / Dinner / Pollo Pibil

    Pollo Pibil

    A traditional Yucatecan dish — Pollo Pibil is the weeknight cousin of cochinita pibil: chicken marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves and baked until fall-apart tender.

    ⏱ 20 minPrep time
    🔥 60 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
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    Pollo Pibil - achiote marinated chicken in banana leaves

    A traditional Yucatecan dish — Pollo Pibil is the weeknight cousin of cochinita pibil: chicken marinated in achiote and sour orange, wrapped in banana leaves and baked until fall-apart tender. It delivers all the deep, earthy, citrus-bright flavors of the classic in half the time. Serve it with pickled onions and let everyone build their own tacos.

    Yucatán recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Blend the achiote paste, sour orange juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper and salt into a smooth marinade.
    2. Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
    3. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking dish with banana leaves.
    4. Arrange the chicken in the dish, pour over the remaining marinade, and fold the leaves over the top to cover.
    5. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the chicken is deeply tender and pulls easily from the bone.
    6. For a final touch, run the dish under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes to char the edges of the chicken.
    7. Serve with pickled red onions, habanero salsa and warm tortillas.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Dark meat stays juicy through the long bake, so choose thighs and legs over breast. The broiler step mimics the char of the traditional pit oven.

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    Recipe details

    Prep20 min
    Cook60 min
    Servings6
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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