El Pollo Loco Chicken

LsuGrrl's Note:

El Pollo Loco knock-off recipe. This is it, from Nancy Berry from the Orange County Register newspaper. The company used to sell a dry seasoning packet that you just added the juice too, but I cant find it anymore. This is as close as you will get to the origianal

• Total Time: 24 hrs 48 mins
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 48 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 1.0 chicken ...

• 6 ounces pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon mild chili pepper, remove stem and seeds from chiles, finely minced (Anaheim or California)
• 8 drops yellow food coloring (but accurate) (optional)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 4 lbs frying chicken, cut up

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken in zip-lock bag overnite.
2. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade to baste while cooking, making sure the chicken cooks on both sides minutes AFTER basting the final time--we dont want our Italian friend Sal Monella to show up :-)
3. Grill over indirect heat, turning 4 times, 12 minutes each time.
4. Serve with your favorite tortillas, rice an barracho beans.

Reviews

[Ginny Sue]

This was great, it really does taste like EPL. With the overnight marinating time, the flavors fully permeate the chicken for a juicy flavorful result.

[Lisa At The Lake]

This is an absolutely wonderful marinade for chicken that you must try. I found this recipe in the same newspaper several years ago and have made it many times over. It is one that I always go back to and it smells/tastes great. I use dried California mild chili peppers with fine results. Definitely a keeper!

[Gillian Spence]

This is the TRUE recipe that El Pollo uses; I think it's funny one reviewer said "didn't taste anything like it." Hahahah :) Just goes to show you that you can't believe all reviewers.