Pozole Verde (2024)

This Pozole Verde recipe is my version of our favorite healthy and hearty Mexican stew, filled with bold flavors and green chile, chicken, and hominy.

Don’t miss my favorite Mexican-inspired recipes like Tacos Al Pastor, Tamale Pie, Chilaquiles, or Chicken Taquitos!

Pozole Verde (1)

Pozole Verde (2)My Pozole Verde obsession is decades strong.

I first learned to make pozole verde (and pozole rojo) many years ago, while living in Puebla, Mexico. It’s basically pure comfort, in a bowl. Like so many of my Mexican food favorites, it’s bursting with amazing flavor, but it’s healthy and filling, too. You can customize and add whatever toppings you love.

How to make Pozole Verde:

Cook Chicken: Place chicken in a large stock pot with broth, bay leaves, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and simmer for 30 minutes, until cooked through. Shred chicken then discard skin, bones, onion, garlic, and bay leaves.

Pozole Verde (3)

Make Sauce: Slice peppers in half then remove steam, veins, and seeds. Broil peppers for 7-10 minutes until skin is charred, then steam and peel. Blend peppers, cilantro, and tomatillos. Add garlic, onion, and ½ cup broth. Blend until smooth.

Pozole Verde (4)

Finish and Serve: Pour blended sauce in the broth. Add hominy, chicken, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Serve in bowls topped with cabbage, radishes, avocado, sour cream, tortilla strips, and a lime wedge.

Pozole Verde (5)

Recipe Variations:

  • Vegetarian Pozole Verde: Omit chicken and substitute vegetable broth. You may want to add a spoonful of better than bullion vegetable base, for a boost of flavor. Add beans (pinto would taste great) and extra veggies, if desired, like sautéed zucchini, diced potatoes, carrots.
  • Instant Pot Pozole:Add chicken, broth, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and salt to the instant pot then pressure cook for 10 minutes (or 15 minutes for frozen thighs). Meanwhile, prepare the green chile sauce according to instructions. Once timer is up on the instant pot, allow pressure to release for 10 minutes before removing the lid, and removing onion and bay leaves from the broth. Shred the chicken and discard bones. Add chile sauce, remaining seasonings and hominy. Pressure cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Slow Cooker Pozole:Cook broth in slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours. Discard onion and bay leaf then remove chicken to a plate to shred. Make and add green chile sauce, chicken, hominy and remaining ingredients then cook on low for 1-2 more hours.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Store soup for 3-4 days in the fridge. Rewarm on the stove.

To Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge and rewarm on the stove or in the slow cooker.

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Recipe

Pozole Verde (6)

5 from 43 votes

Pozole Verde

This chicken Pozole Verde recipe is a hearty Mexican stew packed with flavor from the mild green chile broth, shredded chicken, and hominy.

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Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 8

Calories 341

Cost 6

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cook 40 minutes mins

Total 1 hour hr

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Equipment

Ingredients

  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 6-8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs*
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 onion , quartered
  • 5 cloves garlic , whole, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 2 serrano peppers
  • 1-2 fresh jalapeño peppers , (optional, for extra heat)
  • 1 pound tomatillos , husked and halved
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ½ of an onion , chopped
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro
  • 30 oz can hominy , drained
  • 1-2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toppings:

  • 1 heaping cup thinly shredded cabbage
  • 1/2 cup white onion , diced
  • 4 radishes , thinly sliced
  • 1 large avocado peeled, seed removed, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • tortilla chips
  • 1 Lime cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Cook chicken: Add chicken to a large stock pot and cover with broth. Add bay leaves, quartered onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook partially covered until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to discard onion, garlic and bay leaves, leaving the broth in the pot.

  • Transfer chicken to a plate. Shred the chicken meat, removing and discarding the skin and bones.

  • Roast Peppers: Lightly spray a jelly roll pan with cooking oil. Wash all of the peppers and cut them in half from stem to end. Remove steam, veins and seeds. (Leave some of the veins and seeds if you want the soup spicier). Place the peppers on a baking sheet cut side down. Broil for about 7-10 minutes or until the skin is charred. Immediately place peppers in a plastic bag and tie the bag. Allow them to steam for 5-10 minutes, and then peel off their outer layer of skin (It should come off easily).

  • Blend: Add the peppers, cilantro and tomatillos to the blender. Add 3 fresh garlic cloves and ½ cup chopped onion. Ladle in about ½ cup of the broth from the chicken and blend until smooth. Add blended sauce to the pot with the broth.

  • Add hominy, cooked chicken, oregano, cumin, and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 5-10 more minutes.

  • Serve: ladle soup into bowls and top with a handful of thinly shredded cabbage, radishes, a lime wedge, avocado, sour cream, and tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips.

Notes

Chicken: you may substitute chicken breasts, but thighs are more flavorful and wont dry out as easily.

Make Ahead Instructions: The soup tastes great made 2-3 days ahead of time. Add toppings just before serving.

Freezing Instructions: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the fridge and rewarm on the stove or in the slow cooker.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 30gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 1376mgPotassium: 854mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 296IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 3mg

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I originally shared this recipe April 2021. Updated May 2024.

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About The Author

Pozole Verde (11)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Pozole Verde (2024)

FAQs

What is pozole verde made of? ›

Shredded chicken breasts and chewy hominy mingle in a boldly flavored blend of pureed tomatillos, cilantro, and chiles for this cozy Chicken Pozole Verde recipe. There are many variations on pozole, a traditional hominy-based Mexican stew closely associated with the Pacific-coast state of Guerrero.

What is the difference between pozole verde and rojo? ›

Carrillo Arronte explains the differences between green, red and white pozole. Pozole Verde: for traditional green pozole, you must add fresh serrano chiles, tomatillos, fresh herbs and toasted pumpkin seeds. Pozole Rojo: for red pozole, the meat must be made with roasted tomatoes and dry guajillo chiles.

What are the three types of pozole? ›

The three main types of pozole are blanco (white), verde (green) and rojo (red). Pozole blanco—"white pozole"—is the preparation without any additional green or red sauce.

Is pozole verde healthy? ›

Therefore, enjoying a cup of pozole may be a comforting way to add more nutrients to your diet. Pozole is a balanced dish rich in protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The content of some nutrients is improved during the nixtamalization process that the corn goes through.

Why do Mexicans make pozole? ›

Its name derives from the Náhuatl word “ pozolli ,” which means foam and refers to the foam produced when the corn is boiled. Pozole dates back to pre-colonial times. It was served during a celebration for the god Xipe Tótec , a god who was flayed and protected agriculture, fertility, and love.

Is hominy good for you? ›

Hominy is generally quite good for you. It contains roughly just 119 calories and 1.5 grams of fat per cup, but also about 24 grams of carbohydrate, which is fairly high. It's also a good source of fibre and iron. Maize is high in niacin (vitamin B3) that the body usually isn't able to exploit.

Which is better pozole or menudo? ›

Posole can be made a bit leaner than menudo thanks to the option of making it with chicken, but both dishes are full of vegetables and different groups of nutrients, so honestly, both soups are pretty healthy overall.

What does Mexican pozole taste like? ›

The pozole at La Casa de Toño is beautiful in its layers of flavor: the smokiness of the thick red chile broth; the aromatic, sweet taste of the corn; the intensely spiced bits of pork.

Is pozole with an S or Z? ›

There's really no big difference between pozole and posole, except a letter. In Mexico, where the brothy, chile-spiked soup originated, it's often spelled with a "z"; near the border and beyond, it's often spelled with an "s." It just depends where you are, and who taught you to cook it.

What is the white corn in pozole? ›

Posole – or hominy – is made by removing the outer layer of corn kernels and then drying them. The posole is then soaked and cooked (traditionally with cubed pork) until tender and the kernels have “bloomed”.

What is menudo called in English? ›

Menudo, also known as Mondongo, pancita ([little] gut or [little] stomach) or mole de panza ("stomach sauce"), is a traditional Mexican soup, made with cow's stomach (tripe) in broth with a red chili pepper base. It is the Mexican variation of the Spanish callos or menudo.

Can diabetics eat pozole? ›

Swapping a leaner cut of pork in this classic Mexican stew is all it takes to make a diabetes-friendly Pozole. It cooks for a while on the stove, but the prep is quick and easy, so don't let the cook time intimidate you! You will be rewarded with a hearty, flavorful stew what is well worth the wait.

Can hominy cause gas? ›

It's also worth noting that some people may experience digestive discomfort when consuming hominy. This could be due to the high fiber content of hominy, which can cause bloating or gas in some individuals.

Is pozole good for an upset stomach? ›

Whether it's chicken noodle, minestrone, pho, pozole, or a simple broth, few things are better to eat when you're sick than soup. That's because they're an all-in-one, easy way to prevent dehydration and get a slew of nutrients your body desperately needs.

What is Verde made of? ›

Salsa verde is really easy to make from scratch, all you need are tomatillos, onion, jalapeño, lime, and cilantro. To make the salsa verde, you will need to cook the tomatillos, which you can do by either boiling them, broiling them in the oven, or pan roasting them.

What is traditional pozole made from? ›

Pozole Makes a Crowd-Pleasing Meal

This pozole rojo, or "red" pozole, is made with pork shoulder or shanks, red chiles, and lots of hominy corn.

What is hominy made of? ›

Hominy comes from yellow or white maize, also known as field corn. Dried hominy kernels are soaked in an alkali solution of lye or slaked lime. This process, called nixtamalization, removes the hull and germ, making the corn easier to grind and cook with.

What ethnicity is pozole? ›

The history of pozole

Having had its origin in pre-Hispanic México, pozole is recognized as one of Mexico's most traditional foods, and as such it has become an ever present dish in parties and fetive events in Mexican culture. In the Nahuatl dialect, wich had its origin in Mexico, "pozolli" translates to foam.

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