By Melissa Pette

Mango season in Costa Rica is basically Mother Nature showing off, so hit up your local farmers market and grab a few big, juicy mangoes while they’re at their sweet, sticky peak. Because this recipe? It’s the kind of dish that makes people suddenly “just one more bite” themselves into a full second plate.

Now, if you grew up somewhere up north, mango and chicken together might sound a little suspicious at first. But trust the process. The sweet mango, savory chicken, crispy edges, roasted garlic, and smoky spices come together like they’ve been best friends forever. One bite and suddenly you’re mentally on a beach with flip-flops on and zero responsibilities.

And here’s the secret weapon: a little extra spice inspiration gives this tropical Costa Rican classic an extra layer of flavor that straight-up wakes the whole dish up.

Let’s get cookin’!

This recipe feeds about four hungry friends, and the best part is you can find every ingredient at pretty much any supermarket in Costa Rica.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken thighs, cut into even pieces.

• ½ cup cooking oil.

• 1 whole garlic bulb, peeled into cloves.

• Salt and pepper.

• 1 large ripe mango, peeled and cubed.

• 1 tbsp garlic powder.

• 1 tbsp paprika.

• Fresh chopped cilantro.

Grab a big bowl and mix the oil with the garlic powder, paprika, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken in there and make sure every piece gets completely coated. No dry chicken allowed here.

Next, pull the chicken out and place it into a large cast-iron skillet one piece at a time. Keep the leftover marinade in the bowl because we’re definitely not wasting that flavor.

Cook the chicken over medium-high heat until the bottom gets beautifully golden and crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Your kitchen should already be smelling ridiculous by now.

While the chicken cooks, throw the cubed mango and garlic cloves into the bowl with the leftover marinade and stir everything together. This is where the magic starts happening.

Flip the chicken, then spoon that mango-garlic mixture all over the top. Let everything cook another 5 minutes until the chicken gets crispy, caramelized, and packed with that sweet-and-savory goodness. Lower the heat and let it hang out in the skillet another 5 minutes so all those flavors can get cozy together.

Serve it immediately because waiting is overrated.

This mango chicken loves a good sidekick. White rice soaks up all those tropical juices perfectly, but mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, potato salad, or crunchy coleslaw all work like a charm too. You want creamy, crispy, tangy, and comforting happening all on the same plate.

And of course, do yourself a favor and crack open your favorite Costa Rican beer while you’re at it. This meal practically demands it.

Have a "Pura Vida" Weekend!

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Feel free to share your own recipes by emailing a horizontal photo of your dish to food@amcostarica.com. You can find more tasty Costa Rican recipes over on the AM Costa Rica Food page.

The recipe may contain or come into contact with common allergen ingredients. It is the reader's sole responsibility to review all ingredients and make sure they are suitable for their specific dietary needs and potential adverse reactions.

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