--- title: "Authentic Grilled Chilean Anticuchos: A Traditional Skewer Recipe" description: "Grilled meat anticuchos are an essential appetizer at almost any barbecue in Chile. They are perfect for sharing, whetting the appetite, or even concluding a day of work, accompanied by a good beer or a glass of Chilean wine." url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/grilled-chilean-anticuchos-recipe/ date: 2023-12-02 modified: 2026-02-13 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Grilled-Chilean-Anticuchos-Recipe.jpg categories: ["Appetizers"] tags: ["Appetizers"] type: post lang: en --- # Authentic Grilled Chilean Anticuchos: A Traditional Skewer Recipe [Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-anticuchos-de-carne-a-la-parrilla/) ![Traditional Chilean meat anticuchos grilling over glowing charcoal embers, featuring a mix of beef, pork, chicken, and sausages with colorful bell peppers.](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Grilled-Chilean-Anticuchos-Recipe.jpg) Grilled meat anticuchos are an essential appetizer at almost any barbecue in Chile. They are perfect for sharing, whetting the appetite, or even concluding a day of work, accompanied by a good beer or a glass of Chilean wine. ## Nutrition Facts Each serving of grilled meat anticuchos contains approximately 250 kcal, 10 g of carbohydrates, 15 g of fats, 20 g of proteins, 2 g of fiber, 3 g of sugars, 70 mg of cholesterol, and 400 mg of sodium. ## How to Make Meat Anticuchos? Meat anticuchos are very popular at any celebration during the Chilean Independence Day festivities in September. They share their popularity with traditional meat-filled empanadas and grape or apple chicha. **Preparation:** 45 minutes **Cooking:** 20 minutes **Servings:** 6 people ### Ingredients - 500 g of beef (smooth loin) - 500 g of pork pulp - 500 g of chicken breast - 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar - 2 medium onions - 2 cloves of garlic - 2 sausages - 1 red bell pepper - 1 green bell pepper - 1 tablespoon of red chili paste - Oregano - Coarse salt - Ground pepper ### Instructions 1. Cut the smooth loin, pork, and chicken into medium-sized cubes and reserve in separate containers. Slice the bell peppers and onions into square slices, and cut the sausages into thick slices.  In a stone or wooden mortar, add garlic and salt, grind, and add oregano, pepper, vinegar, and chili paste until forming a homogeneous mixture. ![Fresh raw beef, pork, and chicken breast cut into uniform medium-sized cubes and organized in separate bowls for preparation.](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Chooped-meat-for-anticuchos-300x185.jpg) 1. Marinate the pork with the garlic mixture and distribute it evenly over the entire surface. Take the wooden skewers previously soaked in water or clean anticucho sticks and skewer meat, onions, and bell peppers alternately. ![A close-up of the assembly process, showing marinated meat cubes, onions, and square-cut bell peppers being threaded onto wooden skewers.](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Anticuchos-Assembling-300x193.jpg) 1. Place the anticuchos on the grill at medium temperature and cook for about 5 to 10 minutes on both sides until cooked, depending on the size of the meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste on each turn. Serve the meat anticuchos immediately, ideally accompanied by warm pieces of marraqueta bread. ## 4 Grillmaster Secrets for the Perfect Anticucho - **The Vinegar Factor:** Using red wine vinegar in the garlic mortar mix is essential. The acidity helps break down the muscle fibers in the smooth loin and pork, allowing the flavors of the oregano and chili paste to penetrate deeper before they hit the heat. - **Hydration is Key:** If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before assembly. This prevents them from catching fire or splintering, ensuring the structural integrity of your anticucho while turning them over the hot coals. - **The Searing Temperature:** Aim for a medium-high grill temperature (approx. 180°C / 350°F). This triggers the Maillard reaction, creating a flavorful crust while keeping the interior of the 3×3 cm meat cubes tender and juicy. - **Strategic Assembly:** Place the sausage pieces at the ends. As they cook, the fat renders and “bastes” the leaner chicken breast and vegetables in the middle, creating a more cohesive flavor profile across the entire skewer. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### 1. What is the best beef cut to use? While many cuts work, smooth loin (lomo liso) is highly recommended for its tenderness and fat balance. Posta or sobrecostilla are also great, cost-effective alternatives for large gatherings. ### 2. Can I make these in an Air Fryer? Yes! It’s a popular 2026 alternative for apartment living. Preheat to 200°C and cook for about 15 minutes at 180°C for a healthier, quicker result without the charcoal smoke. ### 3. Why serve it with Marraqueta bread? The warm marraqueta (Chilean crusty roll) is the traditional companion. It’s used to pull the hot meat and vegetables off the skewer, soaking up all the flavorful juices in the process. ### 4. How do I prevent the vegetables from burning? The secret is uniform cutting. Ensure the onions and bell peppers are sliced into squares that match the size of your meat cubes. This ensures they make even contact with the grill and cook at the same rate. ## Anticuchos in an Air Fryer An excellent alternative for anticuchos made with an air fryer, offering quick, even, and healthy cooking that you’ll want to try. ## Did You Know? “Anticucho” is a word of Quechua origin, and there are two versions of its origin. Both versions agree that it would come from the word “anti,” representing the cardinal point where the sun rises and, consequently, the Andes Mountains. However, they differ in that in the first case, the complementary term would be “kuchu” (cut), and in the second, “uchu” (chili sauce). ## Recommended - [Chilean chicken feet broth](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-chicken-feet-broth-recipe/) - [Chilean black garlic recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/homemade-chilote-black-garlic-recipe/) - [Chilean fried fish sandwich](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/fried-fish-sandwich-recipe/) - [Blueberry Sour cokctail](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/blueberry-sour-cocktail-recipe/)