Pollo Bandido
Scale Recipe
Adjust ingredient quantities for your desired serving size
For the Marinated Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- ⅛ 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
- Combine olive oil, lime juice, Better than Bouillon® Roasted Chicken Base, salt, chili powder, and garlic powder in a bowl or resealable bag.
- Add chicken and coat thoroughly with marinade.
- Marinate in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours.
- Remove chicken from marinade and discard excess marinade.
- Grill over medium-high heat for 6-7 minutes per side, or pan-sear in a hot skillet until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- 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
- ⅛ cup salt
- ⅛ cup chili powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Mix all seasoning ingredients together in a small bowl.
- 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
- Combine queso and salsa in a saucepan.
- Warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until heated through.
- 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.