Lechón Asado con Achiote
Juicy, spice-rubbed pork shoulder slow-roasted to tender perfection with a smoky achiote marinade, ideal for Sunday gatherings. This puerto rican-inspired grilling ready in about 205 minutes pairs bone-in pork shoulder, achiote paste, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs, bone-in pork shoulder
- 3 tbsp achiote paste
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a bowl, mix 3 tbsp achiote paste, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to form a thick paste.
- Step 2: Rub the paste evenly over the entire pork shoulder, covering all sides. Let marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight for deeper flavor) at room temperature.
- Step 3: Place pork on a rack in a roasting pan, fat side up. Roast uncovered for 3 hours, basting every 45 minutes with pan juices, until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and meat is fork-tender.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lechón Asado con Achiote take to make?
Total time is about 205 minutes (25 min prep + 180 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Lechón Asado con Achiote?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep bone-in pork shoulder from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Lechón Asado con Achiote?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Lechón Asado con Achiote for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Lechón Asado con Achiote?
Puerto Rican grilling like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Best recipe I've made this month.
- ★★★★★
Made with what I had on hand and it still came out great.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
