Skip to Content

Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast

Juicy, tender, with hints of garlic and citrus this Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast Recipe is an easy, yet impressive meal to serve for company.

If you love this Cuban Roast Pork Recipe be sure and see our other ones for Kalua Pork and our simple pulled pork. We’re a big fan of pork recipe because all of them are great for entertaining!

close up of crust on mojo roast pork

Grilling Season Recipes are some of my favorites and I’m excited to share this recipe for Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast.  This recipe is an adaptation from the 2014 movie Chef. The original recipe is done in the oven, but since it’s starting to get warm out, I wanted a version we could do on the grill.

This Cuban mojo pork recipe is easy enough you won’t be intimidated but is impressive enough you can use it for special occasions. The mojo sauce makes the pork just sing!  It’s bright, fresh and gives the pork a delicious crust that you will love!

Mojo marinated pork is a traditional dish in Cuba that you can serve simply with black beans and rice or plantains if you want to keep the traditional Cuban vibe going. But if you want something a little different you can pair it with simple vegetables like garlic snap peas or creamy cauliflower puree.

grilled cuban roast recipe on a tray to be carved

What does Mojo mean in this recipe for Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast?

Mojo in a Cuban recipe means it is marinated in garlic, olive oil and citrus, in this case, both lime and orange. Orange is the most common citrus flavor used in Mojo.

In Cuba, they often use sour oranges which are not readily available here but in this Cuban mojo sauce, it is achieved by mixing lime juice and orange juice.

ingredients for mojo marinade

 

What is in Mojo Sauce:

  • Orange Juice
  • Lime Juice
  • Orange Zest
  • Olive Oil
  • Brown Sugar
  • Cilantro
  • Mint
  • Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Cumin
  • Salt and Pepper
Freshly Made Mojo Sauce

How to Prepare Grilled Mojo Pork

  • Prepare the sauce a day ahead so you have time to marinate the pork.
  • You can use a pork roast, pork shoulder, pork butt or pork tenderloin but you want the roast marinade at least 12 hours.  The more time it has, the more time it has to seep deeper into the meat.
  • Use a food processor to puree everything, It gives a nice texture to the Cuban sauce.
  • Place the marinade in a ziplock bag, then place the pork into it and seal and store in the fridge for 12-24 hours before grilling.
  • Cuban Mojo Sauce is great for this recipe but it also works as a dipping sauce for bread or a marinade to toss over chicken wings.
  • Grill the pork roast by preparing the grill for indirect heat. Have the burners going on one side, but place the pork roast over the grates that are not actively heated.
  • Use a thermometer to cook the pork to the right temperature.  Grill the pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°.  (I highly recommend this thermometer to test the temperature.)
fresh of the grill mojo marinated pork tenderloin
Cutting Mojo Pork Tenderloin for Serving

Common Questions you might have with  Mojo Pork Roast

  • What kind of pork can I use for Mojo Pork? My recipe uses a grilled pork loin roast but you could use a pork tenderloin easily.  You will need to reduce the cooking time for Cuban pork tenderloin since tenderloins are thinner and smaller in diameter.  Pay attention to finish the cooking at 145-150° and you will still have a very succulent pork meal.
  • Can I use a pork shoulder for Cuban pork? I’ve done this mojo pork slow cooker recipe with success with a bone-in pork shoulder too and it is fall off the bone tender.  Prepare the marinade, and pour over the pork in the crockpot and place on low for 8-10 hours until it falls apart easily using a fork. (There is no need to marinate for 12 hours since you are cooking it for such a long time.
  • If you want to make this in the oven, which is how the original recipe from the movie is done it is easily adapted. To make it in the oven, you would heat the oven to 425° and place the pork roast on a wire rack over a baking sheet.  Roast the pork for 30 minutes at which point it will be lightly browned.  Then reduce the heat to 375° and roast for another 30 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 150°. You will then rest the meat the same as in the recipe.
  • What can I do with the leftovers of this Cuban dish? If you have leftovers you could make sliders with the pork on Hawaiian rolls with a tangy Carolina mustard sauce or Cubanos sandwiches. The mojo roast pork is the perfect roast pork to serve on them.
  • What can I serve with a grilled pork loin roast? This mojo grilled pork roast goes great with rice, simple green beans or cheesy mashed potatoes found in the Shepherds Pie recipe.  It also pairs well with  grilled cheesy endive.

two Cuban sandwich sliders on a plate
Easy way to use up leftover Mojo pork: Cubano Sandwiches!

Add this recipe to your repertoire for summer grilling season when you want to entertain but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.  You can marinate this the day ahead, get home late from work or a long day of weekend activities and just slap it on the grill.  You have to watch it the first little bit while it’s searing, but after that, you can sit back and let the grill work its magic!

Love Pork Recipes?  Here are a few more you might enjoy!

cutting board with mojo marinated pork just carved

Other Easy Gourmet Comfort Recipes for Entertaining:

No- Fail Grilled Lamb Chops  ~ West Via Midwest

Fancy Bouillabaisse ~West Via Midwest

Lemon & Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs ~ Lemon Blossoms

Grilled Steak with Bourbon Butter ~ West Via Midwest

Healthy Chicken Picatta ~ West Via Midwest

Pork Medallions in Blue Cheese Sauce ~ West Via Midwest


PIN THIS TO YOUR GRILLING BOARD OR EASY DINNER RECIPES FOR ENTERTAINING BOARD so you can find it easily when you need it.

You can also follow me on Facebook here for more easy recipes for entertaining!

 (Facebook not your thing….. thats ok too!  I have you covered with a mailing list that shares easy recipes for entertaining on this page where it says “join the west via midwest community!”  )


Yield: 8 servings

Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast

Juicy, tender, with hints of garlic and citrus this Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork roast Recipe is an easy, yet impressive meal to serve for company.

Juicy, tender, with hints of garlic and citrus this Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork roast Recipe is an easy, yet impressive meal to serve for company. 

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup Olive Oil, (save 1 teaspoon for sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 cup cilantro (stems removed), finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup mint leaves (stems removed), finely chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed tightly
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 1/2 pound boneless pork roast, fat trimmed closely

Instructions

  1. Remove pork from packaging, rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.  You want to trim away big pieces of fat from the roast if there are any.  When cooking on the grill the fat will cause flame ups and burn quite quickly.  
  2. Into a ziplock bag, place olive oil, orange zest, juice, lime juice, cilantro, mint, garlic, oregano, cumin and brown sugar.  Mix well.  Then place pork roast into the bag and seal removing out as much air as possible.  Make sure to move the marinade around to cover the entire pork roast.
  3. Place bag in a bowl in the refrigerator and let marinate for at least an hour, up to overnight.  The longer the more flavor is imparted.
  4. When ready to grill, remove pork from the bag and save marinade.  Pat the roast dry and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Preheat gas grill to high(450-500°), using all burners.  Once grill is hot, sear all sides for 7 minutes browning well.  Then turn off one section of the grill to leave the pork on.  Ideally it will be the middle of the grill, but if you only have 2 gas knobs to use, just turn one off and place the pork on the side that is turned off.  Using this indirect heat cooking method you will not overcook and cause the pork to be dried out.
  6. Reduce heat to medium high(350°) and close the lid.  Cook for about an hour  or until pork reaches 145-150°.  Remove from grill, and let rest for 10-20 minutes to allow juices to remain in the pork.  If you cut into it right away, all of the juices will pour out onto your plate.  By waiting, the pork juices remain in the meat for the juiciest, most tender bites of pork.
  7. While the pork is grilling, place the marinade in a small sauce pan, add one teaspoon of olive oil and bring to a boil for 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and bring to room temperature.
  8. Cut the pork against the grain and serve with a spoonful of the cooked marinade over the top.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

8 servings

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 381Carbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 30g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure and tag us on Instagram (@michele_westviamidwest) to be featured in our stories or our weekly newsletter! We love it when you make our recipes and share the love!

Sign up to get recipes and tips for stress free entertaining!

we won't EVER sell or share your info!

I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

How to prepare a perfectly Smoked Pork Loin an easy recipe

Thursday 21st of July 2022

[…] Grilled Cuban Mojo Pork Roast […]

Angela Lawrence

Tuesday 7th of December 2021

I usually don't write comments. But this was out off this world! Others may have pointed out already, but I wanted to share that they do sell " bitter orange" ( naranja agria) in Hispanic stores. They have Badía, Sazón and Goya as well as some Spanish brands

[email protected]

Sunday 16th of January 2022

So glad you liked it! It's a family favorite!

Melissa

Saturday 25th of November 2017

Just came across this recipe on Pinterest, and I was wondering if a pork tenderloin can be used? If so, how would you suggest cooking in the oven? TIA

Michele

Saturday 25th of November 2017

Melissa~ Yes, by all means you can do this in the oven. Id probably sear both sides in an oven proof pan before hand. Id try it at 400 for 15-20 minutes in the oven aiming to get it to 135-140 degrees internal temp(we like our pork a little pink in the center) If you like yours more done aim for 140-145 degrees then let it rest for a 10 minutes before cutting. ~michele

Birdie

Thursday 24th of August 2017

Could you put this recipe in a crock pot?

Chuck P

Tuesday 29th of May 2018

I roasted mine on a charcoal grill indirectly in the center. Lid on until the outside was brown and crispy. 45 min. Will vary. Then in crock pot on low 3 hours. I let mine cool completely in the crock until the juices we're reabsorbed.

Michele

Friday 25th of August 2017

The flavors would certainly be there if you did it in the crock put, but you would not get the crust that comes on the grill or oven Id be tempted to try it in the oven on crazy busy days to have when I got home. ~m

Kim

Thursday 8th of June 2017

This looks amazing & can't wait to try it. My husband cannot stand cilantro. Recognizing the flavor might be off, would substituting flat leaf parsley work? Thanks

Michele

Friday 9th of June 2017

Kim, I think it would be fine with flat leaf parsley... :)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses affiliate links, such as Amazon which pays this site a small commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read full info here.

Skip to Recipe

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!