Bright Green Chicken Pozole Recipe: Cozy Mexican Joy Bowl

Steaming bowls of chicken pozole verde invite warmth and comfort with every spoonful.

This traditional Mexican soup carries generations of culinary heritage in its vibrant green broth.

Tender chicken and hominy swim together in a zesty, herb-infused liquid that sings with roasted green chiles.

The recipe blends bold spices and fresh ingredients, creating a soul-satisfying meal that transports you to the heart of Mexico.

Each ingredient tells a story of regional flavor and culinary passion.

Green chiles, tomatillos, and aromatic herbs dance harmoniously, promising a memorable dining experience.

Prepare to savor every delicious bite of this classic comfort dish that nourishes both body and spirit.

Why People Love Chicken Pozole Verde

• Dive into Pozole Magic
• This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a Mexican comfort classic with minimal cooking skills required. Home cooks of all levels can confidently create a restaurant-worthy meal without stress.
• Pozole verde offers incredible flexibility with garnishes like radishes, cabbage, lime, and cilantro. Each bowl becomes a personalized flavor experience that allows everyone to craft their perfect meal.
• The recipe scales beautifully, making it perfect for feeding large families or preparing multiple meals. Leftovers taste even better as flavors continue developing, providing delicious convenience throughout the week.
• Dive into a traditional dish that connects you with rich cultural culinary traditions. This pozole brings authentic Mexican flavors directly to your kitchen, transforming an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

What’s Inside Chicken Pozole Verde

• Chicken: A tender protein that creates the hearty base of this traditional Mexican soup.
• Hominy: A classic corn product that provides authentic texture and traditional pozole character.
• Chicken Broth: The liquid foundation that builds depth and supports all the flavors in the dish.

• Onion, Jalapeño, Poblano Peppers, Tomatillos, Garlic: These vegetables create a complex green base with layers of mild heat and fresh vegetable notes.

• Cilantro, Oregano, Cumin, Coriander, Bay Leaf, Salt, Pepper: These seasonings contribute essential Mexican flavor profiles and enhance the overall taste complexity of the pozole.

• Olive Oil: A neutral cooking fat that helps sauté the vegetables and start the flavor development.
• Chicken Bouillon: An optional ingredient to boost the savory depth of the broth if needed.

Cooking Chicken Pozole Verde Step By Step

Step 1: Prepare Aromatic Base

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.

• Onion
• Jalapeño
• Poblano peppers

Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions become soft and translucent.

Toss in garlic and tomatillos, continuing to stir for another 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften and tomatillos break down.

Step 2: Create Vibrant Green Sauce

Transfer sautéed vegetables to a blender.

• Chicken broth
• Fresh cilantro

Blend until smooth, adding extra broth if needed to achieve a pourable consistency.

Step 3: Build Flavorful Broth

Pour blended green sauce back into the pot.

• Oregano
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Bay leaf
• Salt

Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.

Step 4: Cook Chicken

Add chicken to the pot and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.

Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

For chicken breast, check around 20-25 minutes to prevent overcooking.

Step 5: Shred and Incorporate Chicken

Remove chicken and shred using two forks into bite-sized pieces.

Return shredded chicken to the pot.

Add drained and rinsed hominy.

Step 6: Final Simmering

Allow pozole to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

This helps flavors meld and hominy absorb broth.

Taste and adjust seasoning, potentially adding chicken bouillon for extra depth.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Ladle pozole into bowls.

Top with an array of fresh garnishes.

Chicken Pozole Verde: Helpful Kitchen Tips

• Toast spices like cumin and coriander in a dry skillet before adding to boost their aromatic intensity and deepen the overall taste profile.
• Simmer chicken gently and avoid boiling to ensure the meat stays tender and doesn't become stringy or dry.
• Remove seeds from jalapeños and poblano peppers to reduce heat, or keep them for extra kick depending on your preference.
• Rinse canned hominy thoroughly to eliminate any metallic taste and ensure a clean, authentic pozole texture.
• Make the green sauce and cook chicken a day in advance, allowing flavors to develop and making final assembly quick and easy.

Chicken Pozole Verde: Save It Right

• Transfer leftover pozole to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cool the soup completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Pour cooled pozole into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Pour pozole into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed.
• Pour pozole into a pot, add a splash of chicken broth to prevent sticking. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Heat until steaming hot and reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Add fresh cilantro or garnishes after reheating for extra flavor.

Best Matches For Chicken Pozole Verde

• Elevate with Refreshing Margarita: Craft a zesty lime margarita that cuts through the soup's richness. The tequila's brightness complements the verde sauce's herbal notes, while salt on the rim echoes the dish's seasoning.
• Match with Crisp Mexican Lager: Select a light Mexican beer like Modelo or Pacifico. Its clean, crisp profile balances the pozole's complex flavors and provides a cooling contrast to the dish's mild heat.
• Serve with Crunchy Tostadas: Prepare crispy corn tostadas on the side for textural contrast. Their golden crunch adds a delightful counterpoint to the tender chicken and soft hominy in the pozole.
• Accompany with Cilantro-Lime Rice: Prepare a simple cilantro-lime rice as a side dish. Its light, herbal undertones mirror the verde sauce and provide a perfect starchy complement to the hearty soup.

Alternative Versions Of Chicken Pozole Verde

• Low-Sodium Option: Replace regular salt with herbs like thyme and sage, and use low-sodium chicken broth to reduce overall sodium content while maintaining robust flavor.
• Vegetarian Pozole: Swap chicken with firm tofu or jackfruit, using vegetable broth and adding extra mushrooms for depth and protein. Roast vegetables before blending to enhance umami notes.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Ensure chicken broth is certified gluten-free, and verify all spices are processed in gluten-free facilities. Use tamari instead of traditional soy-based seasonings.
• Instant Pot Version: Combine all ingredients in pressure cooker, cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, then quick-release method. Shred chicken directly in pot and let sit for additional 5 minutes to absorb flavors.

FAQs

• What is hominy and why is it important in pozole?

Hominy is dried corn kernels that have been treated with an alkali solution, which removes the hull and makes them puffy and chewy. It’s a traditional ingredient in Mexican cuisine that gives pozole its distinctive texture and authentic flavor.

• Can I make this recipe spicier or milder?

You can easily adjust the heat by changing the number of jalapeños or poblano peppers. Remove the seeds for less heat, or add an extra pepper if you want more spice. Taste as you go to find your perfect heat level.

• Is pozole verde different from other pozole versions?

Pozole verde uses green ingredients like tomatillos, poblano peppers, and cilantro, which create a bright, tangy green sauce. This differs from red (rojo) or white (blanco) pozole that use different chile and ingredient combinations.

• What makes tomatillos unique in this recipe?

Tomatillos are small green fruits with a papery husk, providing a tart, slightly acidic flavor that’s crucial to creating the signature green sauce. They help balance the richness of the chicken and add a distinctive brightness to the dish.

Chicken Pozole Verde Recipe

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4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Hearty chicken pozole verde brings Mexico’s rich culinary traditions to your kitchen with its tangy green chile broth and tender shredded chicken. Garnished with fresh radishes, cilantro, and lime, this soul-warming soup offers a delightful journey through authentic Mexican flavors you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon (optional)

Vegetables and Peppers:

• 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, deveined, and chopped
• 2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and quartered
• 2 cans hominy (15 ounces each), drained and rinsed

Herbs, Spices, and Additional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small bunch fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems)
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings:

• Thinly sliced radishes
• Avocado slices
• Sliced jalapenos
• Lime wedges
• Fresh cilantro
• Shredded cabbage
• Tortilla chips

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Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high temperature. Sauté chopped onion, jalapeño, and poblano peppers until onions become translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
2. Add garlic and tomatillos, continuing to cook for another 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften and tomatillos break down.
3. Transfer sautéed vegetables to a blender. Include fresh cilantro and one cup of chicken broth. Blend until achieving a smooth, pourable consistency.
4. Return green sauce to the pot, incorporating remaining chicken broth. Mix in oregano, cumin, coriander, bay leaf, and salt thoroughly.
5. Introduce chicken to the pot, bringing mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce temperature to low, partially cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until chicken is completely tender.
6. Extract chicken, shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Return shredded meat to pot and add drained hominy.
7. Continue simmering uncovered for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Adjust seasoning with chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper as needed.
8. Serve hot, garnishing with traditional toppings like radish, lime, and fresh cilantro.

Notes

• Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeño and poblano pepper quantities for mild or spicy preferences.
• Opt for bone-in chicken thighs to enhance broth richness and create more complex flavor profiles.
• Swap chicken with tofu or jackfruit for vegetarian-friendly version while maintaining authentic Mexican taste.
• Prepare green sauce ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 3 days to streamline cooking process and intensify flavor development.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg