Salsa Verde Chicken Pozole

Packed with chicken, hominy, zucchini and corn as well as a homemade salsa verde, this slow cooker pozole is perfect for when there is a chill in the air.

Course Soup

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 6

Total Time 6 30

Servings

Calories 452kcal

Author Ryan Beck

Ingredients

1 large sweet onion, quartered
4 poblano peppers
2 jalapeno peppers
4 medium tomatillos
8 garlic cloves, skin on
1 ½ lbs chicken breasts or thighs
2 medium zucchini, chopped
3 (15 ounce) cans hominy, drained
2 ½ cups frozen corn
2 tablespoon dried oregano
6-8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups cilantro, chopped
kosher salt
tortilla chips, limes and avocado for topping

Instructions

Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, onion and garlic and cook about 5-7 minutes, turning until charred on all sides. You will need to remove garlic before the onion and tomatillos are done. Remove everything from heat and set aside. (Remove skins from the garlic once cooled)
With same skillet still on medium-high heat, cook the poblano peppers and jalapeno peppers for about 5-7 minutes, turning until charred on all sides. Remove the peppers from the skillet and place in bowl and cover with saran wrap to allow the peppers to steam for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, scrape off the charred skin and remove the seeds.
In a blender, add the tomatillos, onions, garlic and peppers and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large slow cooker, add the chicken, salsa verde puree, zucchini, hominy, oregano and 6 cups of chicken broth. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once chicken is falling apart, shred chicken. Stir in cilantro and corn and let cook for another 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt if desired and add more chicken broth if you need to thin the soup.
Ladle the soup in a bowl and top with some avocado, tortilla chips and fresh lime juice.

Notes

Take the time to make your own salsa verde. You'll notice the difference in flavor.
Use quality low-sodium chicken broth as it contributes to the flavor. You can also use chicken stock which gives the chicken barley soup more mouth feel.
You know the chicken is cooked when it reaches 165°F with an instant-read thermometer or if you cut into the chicken and the juices run clear and there is no pink. Honestly, I always just cut the chicken to see when it is done. If it isn’t just cook slightly longer.
Complete the pozole with toppings like tortilla chips, avocado and fresh lime juice.

Nutrition