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    Home » Recipes » Puerto Rican Recipes

    Pollo Al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Butter Chicken)

    by Stephenie Published: Mar 26, 2025 . Leave a Comment. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    This Pollo Al Ajillo is a Garlic Butter Chicken made in a Puerto Rican style. It is rich, buttery with the perfect balance of garlic flavor. The perfect meal made in only 20 minutes!

    a plate full of a Puerto Rican garlic butter chicken also known as a pollo al ajillo.

    This is a Puerto Rican style Pollo Al Ajillo which is different than a Spanish style pollo al ajillo or the Chinese pollo al ajillo version.

    All of those pollo al ajillo recipes have the same base being the chicken, and the garlic. But the Spanish one has wine, and the Chinese one is seasoned with asian flavors.

    This is a chicken recipe that can be served with almost anything. I love serving with a garden rice or any type of rice. Because I love rice! But it can even be served with mashed potatoes or fries.

    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Recipe Ingredients Notes
    • How to Make Pollo Al Ajillo
    • Recipe Tips
    • More Flavorful Chicken Recipes
    • Puerto Rican Pollo Al Ajillo

    Why This Recipe Works

    • This is a recipe that can be made with everyday ingredients found at any big store supermarket.
    • It is a very versatile recipe because you can add more vegetables if you like.

    Recipe Ingredients Notes

    all the ingredients needed to make a pollo al ajillo.
    • Chicken breast- I traditionally use chicken breast. But the good thing is that you can also use chicken thighs. Using chicken thighs is also good because they tend to be more economical than chicken breast.
    • Seasonings- All we need is a little bit of adobo, which is a combination of various seasonings and black pepper. The rest of the flavor comes from the garlic.
    • Garlic- Some people use either chopped garlic or garlic paste when making a garlic butter chicken. But in my recipe, I like to use both because they both add a different flavor to the recipe.
    • Onion- I like the recipe to have a lot of onion because it is delicious, because it absorbs all the garlic butter. But you can add other vegetables like peppers or even carrots.
    • Oil & Butter- These two help to sear the chicken and add flavor to the dish.

    How to Make Pollo Al Ajillo


    collage on how to make a pollo al ajillo and on the left cutting the onion and cutting the chicken on the right.
    • Photo 1: First step, we need to chop all the vegetables we’re going to use. You have to peel and chop the garlic and onion. I like to chop the onion into wedges but this is all a preference.
    • Photo 2: Then we have to cut the chicken. The chicken can be cut into any shape as long as it is no thicker than 1 inch. This is to make sure that the chicken cooks quickly and evenly. Then season the chicken with adobo and pepper.
    steps on how to make a pollo al ajillo first on the left sear the meat and add the rest of the ingredients on the right.
    • Photo 3: In a large pan over medium heat, add the oil and the chicken. You need to cook the chicken for 12 minutes. Make sure to flip the chicken halfway to ensure even browning of the meat.
    • Photo 4: Then we add all the garlic and butter. Rise the heat to medium high and cook for 3 minutes while stirring to avoid burning the meat and vegetables.

    Recipe Tips

    • If you want this recipe to be more saucy, you can add more butter, which will mix with all the bits stuck to the pan, and it is super delicious.
    • You can store your leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, but if you freeze them, they can last up to 3 months. Make sure to use an airtight container or a freezer bag to store.
    close view of pollo al ajillo the garlic chicken made in a Puerto Rican style.

    More Flavorful Chicken Recipes

    • a pan with puerto rican fricase de pollo and on the side a plate of white rice and cilantro.
      Fricase De Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken Fricassee
    • black bast iron with pollo en escabeche chicken thighs and bay leaves and peppercorn on the surface.
      Puerto Rican Pollo en Escabeche
    • a big plate of chine style fried chicken wings.
      Crispy Chinese Fried Chicken Wings
    • side view of a tray with potatoes chicken and lemons with a couple of parsley twigs on the side.
      Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    💬 If you enjoyed this Pollo Al Ajillo recipe, give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment or question below.

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    a plate full of a Puerto Rican garlic butter chicken also known as a pollo al ajillo.

    Puerto Rican Pollo Al Ajillo

    One of the easiest and flavorful chicken recipes to make is this Pollo Al ajillo. Perfect meal with almost any side.
    By: Stephenie
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep :5 minutes mins
    Cook :15 minutes mins
    Time :20 minutes mins
    servings :4

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 pound chicken breast
    • 1 yellow onion
    • ¾ teaspoon adobo
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 teaspoon garlic paste
    • 4 garlic cloves
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • First, peel the onion. Cut the onion in half, then cut each half into about ½ inch thick wedges. Set aside for later. Peel the 4 garlic cloves and roughly chop them. Set them aside for later as well.
    • Cut the chicken breast in half. Then cut each half of the chicken into long 1-inch-thick pieces. Season the chicken by adding the ¾ teaspoon of adobo and the ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.
    • In a big pan, add the 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes. Flip the meat and cook for another 6 minutes.
    • Bring the heat up to medium-high and add the onion, garlic paste, and the chopped garlic. Cook for 3 minutes, serve and enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    • Additions- Even though it is not common, feel free to add other vegetables like peppers or carrots. You can even add mush rooms, trust me they’re delicious.
    • Storage- Use an airtight container to store the chicken or a freezer bag. I would avoid any plastic containers because the garlic smell can be hard to remove. You can keep your leftovers up to 4 days in the fridge. You can freeze for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 339mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course :Dinner | lunch
    Cuisine :Puerto Rican
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    I'm Stephenie the creator and cook behind Food Metamorphosis. Here you'll find flavorful and easy-to-follow recipes.

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