Chicken al Pastor on a Sheet Pan

 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 

1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced

al pastor marinade, below

2 cups finely diced pineapple

for serving, as desired: charred corn tortillas, cilantro lime rice, black beans, Mexican crema or cashew crema, pickled red onions, freshly chopped cilantro, queso fresco or cheese of choice, salsa of choice, lime wedges, etc.

for the al pastor marinade:

3 cloves garlic

2–3 chipotle peppers, from a can packed in adobo sauce

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar (or honey, or agave)

1 tablespoon achiote paste (see Recipe Notes)

1 tablespoon ancho chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep the al pastor marinade & marinate the chicken: Add all listed marinade ingredients to a blender. Blend until combined. Add the chicken thighs & thinly sliced yellow onion to a large bowl. Pour the al pastor marinade over top & toss to combine. Marinate in the refrigerator (covered) for at least 6 hours or up to 3 days.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, arranging the oven racks such that one is in the center of the oven & one is 6-8 inches under the broil. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up, as desired, and set aside.

Bake the chicken: Transfer the marinated chicken & onions to the prepared baking sheet, draining & any excess marinade. Add the diced pineapple to the baking sheet. Toss to combine with the chicken & onions, spooning a little extra al pastor marinade into the mix as necessary to coat the pineapple with the sauce. Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes. The chicken should be nearly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the oven to chop, and meanwhile preheat the broiler.  al pastor-marinated chicken thighs & sliced onion on a silver quarter baking sheet with finely diced pineapple. The sheet pan sits atop a white plaster surface.

Dice the chicken al pastor: Transfer the chicken to a cutting board & carefully chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place the chopped chicken pastor back on the baking sheet. Baked al pastor chicken thighs & sliced onion on a silver quarter baking sheet with finely diced pineapple. The sheet pan sits atop a white plaster surface.

Broil for crispy chicken al pastor: Place the baking sheet under the broiler. Broil 4-5 minutes, turning the pan halfway through, until the al pastor chicken are browned & slightly crisp.