Magic Chicken Pozole Verde Soup Recipe for Beginners

Chicken pozole verde soup represents a vibrant Mexican culinary tradition bursting with tangy green flavors and hearty ingredients.

Its roots trace back to ancient indigenous cooking practices that celebrated community and nourishment.

Verdant tomatillos and roasted peppers create a complex broth that dances between spicy and bright notes.

Green chiles infuse the soup with a robust warmth that embraces traditional preparation methods.

Tender shredded chicken melds seamlessly with hominy, creating a satisfying texture that feels both rustic and refined.

Garnishes change this dish from simple soup to a complete sensory experience, offering layers of crunch and freshness.

The recipe invites you to connect with a rich cultural heritage through every spoonful.

Chicken Pozole Verde Soup: Preparation Steps

Step 1: Prepare Veggie Base

• Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat
• Add chopped
• Onions
• Jalapeño peppers
• Poblano peppers

Sauté ingredients for 3-4 minutes until onions become translucent.

Step 2: Create Flavor Foundation

• Incorporate minced garlic
• Add chopped tomatillos
• Stir continuously

Cook for 4-5 minutes until peppers soften and become tender.

Step 3: Blend Green Sauce

• Transfer vegetable mixture to blender
• Add fresh cilantro
• Pour chicken broth

Blend until smooth and silky, adding extra broth if needed.

Step 4: Build Soup Base

• Return blended mixture to pot
• Add remaining chicken broth
• Sprinkle in
• Dried oregano
• Ground cumin
• Ground coriander
• Bay leaf
• Salt

Stir ingredients thoroughly to combine flavors.

Step 5: Cook Chicken

• Place whole chicken pieces into pot
• Bring mixture to boil
• Reduce heat
• Simmer partially covered for 30 minutes

Cook until chicken becomes tender and fully cooked.

Step 6: Shred and Finish

• Remove chicken from pot
• Shred meat using two forks
• Return shredded chicken to pot
• Add hominy

Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Season and Adjust

• Taste soup
• Add chicken bouillon
• Sprinkle salt
• Grind black pepper

Let simmer for additional 5 minutes.

Step 8: Serve with Toppings

• Sliced radishes
• Avocado chunks
• Jalapeño slices
• Lime wedges
• Fresh cilantro
• Shredded cabbage
• Crispy tortilla chips

Enjoy your vibrant and hearty Chicken Pozole Verde Soup!

Flavor Tips for Pozole Verde Soup Perfection

• Roast Tomatillos Beforehand: Charring tomatillos on a skillet enhances their smoky flavor and deepens the soup's complexity.
• Choose Fresh Cilantro: Select bright green, fragrant cilantro to maximize the herb's vibrant taste and aromatic qualities.
• Shred Chicken Warm: Remove chicken from the pot while still warm for easier, more consistent shredding with minimal effort.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust jalapeño and poblano pepper quantities to match your personal heat tolerance without compromising flavor.
• Layer Garnishes Strategically: Add fresh toppings just before serving to maintain their crisp texture and prevent soggy ingredients.

Storing and Reheating Pozole Verde Soup the Right Way

• Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken pozole verde in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space at the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Avoid freezing garnishes like fresh cilantro or avocado.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth if the soup seems too thick. Ensure the soup reaches 165°F before serving to guarantee safety. Add fresh garnishes after reheating to preserve their crisp texture and vibrant flavors.

Pozole Verde Soup Pairing Options

• Craft a Zesty Margarita Companion: Pair this spicy pozole verde with a classic lime margarita that complements the soup's vibrant green chili flavors. The citrusy tequila drink cuts through the richness of the chicken and balances the herbal cilantro notes.
• Elevate with Mexican Lager Refreshment: Choose a crisp Mexican beer like Modelo Especial or Pacifico to match the soup's authentic profile. The light, clean beer helps cool down the jalapeño heat while enhancing the overall Mexican culinary experience.
• Create a Tangy Agua Fresca Partner: Blend a refreshing cucumber-lime agua fresca to accompany the pozole. This non-alcoholic drink provides a cool, light counterpoint to the hearty soup, allowing the complex spices and herbs to shine through.
• Complement with Bright Sauvignon Blanc: Select a zesty Sauvignon Blanc with herbal undertones that mirror the soup's green pepper and cilantro elements. The wine's crisp acidity cuts through the soup's richness and amplifies its fresh, vibrant character.

Chicken Pozole Verde Soup: Custom Recipe Ideas

• Slow Cooker Verde Chicken Soup: Transform the recipe by using a slow cooker. Add all ingredients except garnishes in the morning, set to low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken directly in the pot and let it soak up the flavors. Perfect for busy home cooks wanting a hands-off meal.
• Spicy Green Chile Version: Boost heat by adding roasted green chiles and increasing jalapeño quantity. Include a dash of cayenne pepper for extra kick. Swap regular hominy with fire-roasted hominy for deeper smoky undertones.
• Vegetarian Green Pozole: Replace chicken with firm tofu or jackfruit. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add extra beans like white cannellini or black beans for protein. Include grilled or roasted vegetables like zucchini and mushrooms for substantial texture.
• Seafood Green Pozole: Substitute chicken with white fish like cod or halibut. Reduce cooking time to prevent fish from overcooking. Add shrimp during the last 5 minutes of simmering. Garnish with fresh cilantro and extra lime juice for brightness.

Chicken Pozole Verde Soup That’s Packed with Flavor

• Savor Vibrant Flavor Explosion: This pozole verde bursts with bold, tangy tomatillo and bright cilantro notes that dance across your palate, creating a zesty Mexican-inspired taste experience that wakes up every single taste bud.
• Master Quick and Easy Cooking: The recipe offers straightforward steps with minimal complicated techniques, allowing home cooks of all skill levels to create an authentic soup in under an hour without requiring professional chef skills.
• Customize Your Comfort Bowl: The flexible garnish options like crispy radishes, creamy avocado, and crunchy tortilla chips let you personalize each serving, transforming a simple soup into a customized meal that matches your exact cravings.
• Nutrient-Packed Wholesome Meal: Packed with tender chicken, hearty hominy, and fresh vegetables, this soup delivers a balanced one-pot meal that provides protein, fiber, and essential nutrients in every comforting spoonful.

What You Need to Make Chicken Pozole Verde Soup

• Chicken: Tender meat that gives the soup its hearty protein and main flavor profile, preferably using bone-in chicken for richer taste..

• Onions, Jalapeño, Poblano Peppers: Fresh peppers that provide depth, heat, and authentic Mexican flavor profile..
• Garlic: Adds robust, pungent undertone to the soup's base..
• Tomatillos: Green Mexican fruit that brings tangy, bright acidity to the soup..

• Cilantro: Fresh herb that provides bright, citrusy herbal notes typical in Mexican cuisine..
• Dried Oregano: Traditional Mexican herb that adds earthy, slightly bitter complexity..
• Ground Cumin: Warm spice that contributes deep, smoky undertones..
• Ground Coriander: Provides light, citrusy spice notes..
• Bay Leaf: Adds subtle herbal background flavor..

• Chicken Broth: Liquid base that creates the soup's foundation and enhances overall flavor..
• Hominy: Traditional corn product that gives authentic Mexican pozole texture and character..
• Olive Oil: Used for initial vegetable sautéing and providing smooth cooking base..

• Radishes: Crisp vegetable adding fresh, peppery crunch..
• Avocado: Creamy, rich topping that balances soup's spiciness..
• Lime Wedges: Bright citrus that enhances overall flavor profile..
• Shredded Cabbage: Adds fresh, crunchy texture..
• Tortilla Chips: Provides crispy contrast to soup.

Chicken Pozole Verde Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Hearty Mexican chicken pozole verde brings robust flavors from roasted green chiles and tender chicken simmered in a zesty broth. Garnished with crisp radishes, cilantro, and lime, this comforting soup invites you to savor authentic regional cuisine with each spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Meats:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded, deveined, and chopped
• 2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and quartered
• 1 small bunch fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems)

Liquids, Spices, and Pantry Items:

• 8 cups chicken broth, divided
• 2 (15-ounce) cans hominy, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon (optional, to taste)
• Ground black pepper, to taste

Toppings (optional):

• Thinly sliced radishes
• Sliced avocado
• Sliced jalapeños
• Lime wedges
• Fresh cilantro
• Shredded cabbage
• Tortilla chips

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Instructions

1. Sizzle onions, jalapeño, and poblano peppers in heated olive oil until the onions become translucent and peppers soften slightly.
2. Incorporate garlic and tomatillos into the vegetable mixture, continuing to cook until aromatics release their fragrant essence.
3. Transfer the cooked vegetable medley to a blender, combining with chicken broth and fresh cilantro to create a vibrant green purée.
4. Pour the blended mixture back into the pot, enriching it with remaining chicken broth, oregano, cumin, coriander, bay leaf, and salt.
5. Gently nestle whole chicken pieces into the liquid and bring to a gentle simmer, allowing the meat to cook slowly and absorb the complex flavors.
6. Once chicken reaches tender perfection, carefully extract and shred the meat using two forks, then return it to the bubbling broth.
7. Introduce hominy to the soup, letting it mingle and warm through, creating a hearty texture.
8. Fine-tune the seasoning with additional chicken bouillon, salt, and black pepper to elevate the soup’s depth of flavor.
9. Ladle the steaming pozole into serving bowls, artfully adorning with crisp radishes, creamy avocado, spicy jalapeños, zesty lime wedges, fresh cilantro, crunchy shredded cabbage, and crisp tortilla chips.

Notes

• Prep this vibrant Mexican soup when craving a hearty, spicy, and comforting meal packed with bold flavors and tender chicken.
• Tomatillos and poblano peppers create the signature verde (green) color and provide a tangy, slightly smoky base for the broth.
• Hominy adds traditional texture and authentic Mexican character, giving the soup a unique corn-like chewiness different from regular soup ingredients.
• For maximum flavor, blend the vegetable mixture thoroughly to create a smooth, rich green sauce that coats every bite of tender shredded chicken.
• Customize your pozole with an array of fresh garnishes like crisp radishes, creamy avocado, and zesty lime to enhance the soup’s complex taste profile.
• Leftover soup stores well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, with flavors developing and intensifying over time, making it an excellent make-ahead meal option.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 90mg