Mexican Grilled Chicken Hearts With Citrus Marinade

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – About Cooking with Offal!

I am guessing this recipe is a “hard sell.” Am I right? When I googled “grilled chicken hearts,” I was a little surprised at the low number of hits. I felt conflicted. On the one hand, what is the point of a food blogger churning out recipes that everyone else is doing? On the other hand, maybe my readers won’t make it past the title of the recipe… What is your reaction?

I grew up thinking organ meats (offal) are perfectly delicious and cheap proteins. My Dad was a graduate student until I was 7, and we were poor. Both of my parents cooked, we didn’t waste food, and we didn’t turn up our noses at less-common or desirable animal parts.

So, I have been eating food like this all of my 57 years. In 2016, I posted recipes for beef tongue (lengua) – Provençal Beef Tongue Sandwiches and Lengua Tacos With Salsa Verde and Caramelized Onions. Fast forward to 2022, and after a particularly successful fish trip in the Gulf, I did a Mexican fish eggs recipe.

I have to admit, they never really took off! Here I am with another risky recipe… My son suggested I call it “Eat Your Heart Out,” and I had planned to post it on Valentine’s Day. I chickened out. Pardon my pun.😂

🐓About Chicken Hearts

First, let me tell you a little bit about chicken hearts. Given that the heart is a hard working muscle, they have a firm texture, and a flavor that is a bit like chicken thigh. They do NOT taste like liver.  😆

Are Chicken Hearts Healthy?

They are nutrient dense, and loaded with protein, B vitamins (especially B 12), zinc, iron, folate… A 4 ounce serving provides 20 grams of proteins and 126 calories. And, they are cheap! Keep in mind, they do contain a relatively high amount of saturated fat.

I prefer the all natural chicken hearts that eat a natural diet to their factory/farm raised counterparts that have probably been fed antibiotics. The choice is yours to make.

For more on chicken hearts, see Chicken Heart Nutrition!

📋 Ingredients Notes

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

• citrus – I use a combination of orange, lime, and lemon juice to mimic the flavor of sour or “ugly” oranges found in Latin America.
• garlic
• olive oil
• vinegar – I love Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar, but you can use your preferred vinegar (wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, and apple cider vinegar are good options).
• chipotle – I specify ground chipotle powder, but you can substitute ancho, guajillo, or New Mexico red chile powder. Do not substitute generic “chili powder” as it contains other ingredients. Alternatively, you can use a canned chipotle with a little adobo, but you’ll want to put it in the blender to combine.
• chicken hearts – This recipe is written for chicken hearts, but it’s really good on any chicken parts or pork too.
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper

❓FAQ

💭 Tips

If you have a helper to watch the grill, make a dipping sauce with the remaining marinade while the skewers are on the grill. Reduce by about 2/3.

Try the marinade on pork chops and chicken thighs.

🍷 Pairing Suggestions

Serve the grilled chicken hearts with Mexican Cilantro Rice, Mexican Cauliflower Rice, or Red Rice, a side salad, and a cold beer. A citrus IPA like Ballast Point’s Grapefruit Sculpin IPA would be an outstanding choice.

I do hope you will take a risk and give this recipe a try… If you do, let me know by leaving a comment at the bottom of the post! If you love all things “offal,” this simple Beef heart recipe may be another one you’ll want to try. Chicken and beef hearts are both relatively lean and healthy protein sources.