Comfort in a Bowl: Chicken Posole with Hominy and Cilantro

There's something deeply satisfying about a warm bowl of chicken posole with hominy and cilantro. It’s like a hug from the inside—hearty, vibrant, and full of flavor. This green chicken posole recipe blends tender shredded chicken, chewy golden hominy, and a punchy tomatillo-based broth, all crowned with fresh cilantro and zippy lime. Whether you call it posole, pozole, or pazole soup chicken, this dish is a weeknight wonder and a weekend favorite alike.

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Chicken Posole with Hominy and Cilantro

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6

Equipment

• Blender or food processor For making the tomatillo and green chile base
• Large soup pot or Dutch oven Essential for simmering and combining everything
• Tongs & forks To shred the chicken easily
• Crockpot (Optional) This can double as a chicken pozole recipe crockpot version—just simmer low and slow

Ingredients

  

• Chicken: 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or use a mix of thighs for more richness)
• Hominy: 1 29 oz can of golden hominy, drained and rinsed
• Tomatillos: 1 pound husked and rinsed
• Poblano pepper: 1 roasted and peeled
• Jalapeño: 1 small seeded if you prefer less heat
• Garlic: 4 cloves
• White onion: 1 medium chopped
• Cilantro: 1 cup packed leaves and stems plus extra for garnish
• Chicken broth: 6 cups low sodium
• Oregano: 1 tsp preferably Mexican oregano
• Cumin: ½ tsp ground
• Salt: to taste
• Lime wedges: for serving
• Radishes & shredded cabbage optional: for topping

Instructions

 

Cook the Chicken

1. In a large pot, add chicken breasts, cover with broth (reserve 1 cup), and simmer for 15–20 minutes until cooked through. Remove, shred with two forks, and set aside.
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Make the Verde Base

1. While chicken cooks, blend tomatillos, roasted poblano, jalapeño, garlic, onion, cilantro, oregano, cumin, and reserved 1 cup of broth until smooth.
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Simmer the Soup

1. Pour the blended mixture into the pot and simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes to develop flavor. Stir in hominy and shredded chicken, and simmer another 15 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

Garnish & Serve

1. Ladle into bowls, top with fresh cilantro, sliced radishes, cabbage, and a generous squeeze of lime.

Pairings That Hit the Spot

This green posole recipe loves the company of warm corn tortillas or tortilla chips for dipping. If you want a little extra indulgence, a side of cheesy quesadillas or a simple avocado salad complements the tangy broth beautifully. For drinks, a crisp Mexican lager or a chilled hibiscus agua fresca fits the vibe perfectly.

FAQs

1. Can I use rotisserie chicken?

Absolutely. For an even easier posole recipe, shred rotisserie chicken and skip the poaching step. It’s one of the smartest rotisserie chicken recipes to have up your sleeve.

2. Chicken breasts or thighs?

Chicken breasts keep it lean and clean—great for light chicken breast recipes. But if you want something richer and more traditional, thighs or even bone-in cuts bring more depth. Some folks even mix in pork to channel that pork posole recipe vibe.

3. Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes! It makes for an ideal chicken pozole recipe crockpot style. Just throw everything in (except the cilantro and lime) and cook on low for 6–8 hours. Blend the green base first, or just let it simmer and break down as it cooks.

4. Red or green?

This version is all about the green—think chicken pozole verde. But if you’re leaning toward the chicken pozole recipe red kind, swap tomatillos for dried guajillo or ancho chiles for a smoky twist.

5. Is this authentic?

This is a simplified spin on an authentic posole recipe with green chile roots. It stays true to its Mexican origins while keeping the process manageable for home cooks looking for an easy pozole recipe chicken style.

6. What’s the difference between posole and pozole?

They’re the same! "Posole" is the Anglicized version of "pozole," which means "hominy" in Nahuatl. So whether you search for a posole recipe chicken, pasole recipe, or pozole recipe, you’re always on the right track.