Name: Alitas Fritas (Puerto Rican Fried Chicken Wings)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 kg chicken wings; 2 piece lime; 4 clove garlic; 2 tbsp sofrito; 1 tbsp adobo seasoning; 1 tsp sazon; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tbsp white vinegar; 0 black pepper; 0 salt; 0.5 cup all-purpose flour; 1 l vegetable oil

Alitas Fritas (Puerto Rican Fried Chicken Wings)

Crispy, golden Puerto Rican fried chicken wings marinated in the island's holy trinity of seasonings, sofrito, adobo, and sazon, then fried until shatteringly crunchy and finished with a bright squeeze of lime.

Puerto Rico ·North America · $

20 min Prep

20 min Cook

40 min Total

4 portions

Alitas Fritas are Puerto Rican fried chicken wings built on the bold, savory backbone of the island's everyday cooking. The wings are marinated in sofrito, adobo, and sazon along with plenty of fresh garlic, oregano, and lime, so the flavor reaches all the way to the bone. They are deep-fried until the skin turns deeply golden and crisp, usually with no heavy batter, though some cooks add a light flour or cornstarch dredge for extra crunch. The seasoning is warm and aromatic rather than spicy, giving these wings a mild, family-friendly heat level. A final squeeze of lime while the wings are still hot cuts through the richness and brings everything into balance. They are a beloved party and weeknight staple, served simply or with mayoketchup or a creamy garlic dip on the side.

Ingredients

1 kg chicken wings about 16 party wings, split into flats and drumettes, rinsed and patted dry

2 piece lime juiced, plus extra wedges for serving

4 clove garlic minced or mashed into a paste

2 tbsp sofrito

1 tbsp adobo seasoning

1 tsp sazon with culantro and achiote

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tbsp white vinegar acts as a light brine; optional (optional)

0 black pepper to taste

0 salt to taste; go light since adobo and sazon already contain salt

0.5 cup all-purpose flour for an optional light dredge (optional)

1 l vegetable oil for frying, enough for about 2.5 cm depth

Ingredients

4 portions

1 kgchicken wings about 16 party wings, split into flats and drumettes, rinsed and patted dry

2 piecelime juiced, plus extra wedges for serving

4 clovegarlic minced or mashed into a paste

2 tbspsofrito

1 tbspadobo seasoning

1 tspsazon with culantro and achiote

1 tspdried oregano

1 tbspwhite vinegar acts as a light brine; optional (optional)

black pepper to taste

salt to taste; go light since adobo and sazon already contain salt

0.5 cupall-purpose flour for an optional light dredge (optional)

1 lvegetable oil for frying, enough for about 2.5 cm depth

Instructions

Marinate the wings

1

Rinse the chicken wings and pat them thoroughly dry. Place them in a large bowl.
~5 min
2

Add the lime juice, garlic, sofrito, adobo, sazon, oregano, vinegar, black pepper, and a light pinch of salt. Mix with your hands until every wing is well coated.
~5 min
3

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for the deepest flavor. The salt in the adobo and sazon acts as a brine and keeps the meat juicy.

Fry the wings

1

If using the optional dredge, lift each wing from the marinade and toss lightly in flour, shaking off the excess. For wings with no batter, simply pat off excess marinade so they fry clean.
~5 min
2

Heat about 2.5 cm of vegetable oil in a deep, heavy pan to 175 C (350 F).
~5 min
3

Fry the wings in batches without crowding, about 8 to 10 minutes, turning as needed, until they are deeply golden brown and crisp and cooked through to 74 C (165 F) at the bone.
~10 min
4

Drain the wings on a paper-towel-lined plate. Squeeze fresh lime over them while they are still hot and serve right away with extra lime wedges or a dipping sauce.

Credits & Inspiration

The Storied Recipe
Flourless Puerto Rican fried chicken where the adobo-heavy marinade acts as a brine for tender, deeply seasoned meat.
Delish D'Lites
Puerto Rican fried chicken marinated in adobo, sazon, and oregano with a light flour and cornstarch dredge for extra crunch.
Mexican Appetizers and More
Crispy Puerto Rican fried chicken wings seasoned with adobo, garlic, lemon pepper, and paprika, fried with no flour coating.
Loisa
Authentic Puerto Rican alitas fritas marinated in sofrito, sazon, adobo, oregano, garlic, and lime, finished with a fresh lime squeeze.