Whether at a family barbecue or street food stall, grilled chicken knows how to bring people together and make memorable meals. It is versatile, simple, and broadly appealing in terms of flavour. Every region works on its own take on this favourite dish by blending local spices, marinades, and cooking techniques to create a variety of unforgettable grilled chicken dishes. These preparations reflect not only local flavours but also the fantastic traditions that stand behind them.
Grilled chicken dishes come in myriad delicious forms, from Mexico's spicy seasonings in Pollo Asado to Turkey's deep marinades in Sis Tavuk and the hot flavours of Indian Tandoori chicken. This is your guide to a global journey that will explore some of the most famous dishes through the flavours and histories that make them so unique.
Pollo Asado- Mexico
It is a Mexican grilled chicken seasoned with orange juice, lime, garlic, and mixed spices like cumin, paprika, and oregano. With its citrusy marinade, the chicken is filled with flavour and has a tender, succulent texture. When served with rice, tortillas, and salsa, Pollo Asado reflects a flavour of Mexican street foods.
Carib Jerk Chicken - Jamaica
It is a famous Jerk Chicken from Jamaica, popular worldwide for its hot and smoky taste. Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, and garlic make a spicy marinade. Then, chicken is grilled over pimento wood. Smoked over wood, it has a different smoke flavour. The traditional accompaniment of Jerk Chicken is rice and peas.
Sis Tavuk- Turkey
Sis Tavuk is a Turkish kebab, where chicken pieces are marbled with yoghurt, garlic, lemon juice, and flavourful spices. The yoghurt softens the meat, so when grilled, these kebabs turn out to be very juicy and savoury. Sis Tavuk generally comes with flatbreads, grilled vegetables, and fresh salad.
Jujeh Kabab- Iran
Jujeh Kabab is a boneless chicken marinated using saffron, yoghurt, lemon juice, and turmeric for golden glitter and subtle flowerl flavours. The marinade richens the juices and keeps the meat moist and flavourful. A classic Persian dish often served over rice with grilled tomatoes and sumac, this shows delicate but complex flavours.
Yakitori - Japan
Yakitori is one of the popular street foods from Japan, where people skewer chicken pieces and char-grill them on a barbecue. It's seasoned with salt or sweet soy-based sauce called tare before being grilled, hence leaving it caramelised. It's a snack or appetiser where one gets to have that savoury bit of smoke and enjoy it with a refreshing drink.
Pollo a la Brasa - Peru
Pollo a la Brasa, or Peruvian roast chicken, is marinated with spices like cumin, paprika, garlic, and soy sauce, then grilled or roasted over a woodfire. Known for its crispy skin and tender meat, this dish is often accompanied by Peruvian sauces like aji verde and a side of fries, offering a hearty, flavour-packed meal.
Peri Peri Chicken - Mozambique/Portugal
A delicious chicken dish marinated in a spicy sauce made of piri piri peppers, garlic, lemon, and vinegar. It has such an invigorating and tangy taste that it is loved in many countries worldwide. Grilled in Mozambique or Portugal, the dish is served on the side with rice, fries, or a fresh salad, with its own cultural touch.
Dajaj Mashwi - Middle East
Dajaj Mashwi, or grilled chicken in Arabic, is a classic Middle Eastern dish marinated with a mix of spices like cumin, coriander, garlic, and lemon juice. It is traditionally grilled over charcoal accompanied by flatbread, garlic sauce, and pickles. The smoky, spiced flavour of Dajaj Mashwi makes it a favourite across the Middle East.
Tandoori Chicken- India
India's Tandoori Chicken is marinated in yoghurt and spices, such as turmeric, cumin, and chilli powder. Then, it is cooked in a tandoor, or clay oven, that adds smokiness to it. With this vivid red colour coming from the marinade, it's an iconic dish from India, often served with naan, chutney, and salad to make one of India's most favourite grilled chicken recipes.
Inasal Na Manok - Philippines
Inasal Na Manok is a Filipino grilled chicken marinated in calamansi (citrus), vinegar, lemongrass, and annatto oil to give this chicken its golden hue. Usually made over charcoal, it's juicy, tangy, and often served with rice to be dipped in soy sauce and vinegar and help carry the tropical flavours of the Philippines.