Slow Cooker Chicken Posole

A Cozy Bowl of Green Chicken Posole

There is something deeply comforting about a big pot of posole simmering away, filling the kitchen with the smell of roasted chiles and garlic. This Slow Cooker Chicken Posole takes all that comfort and makes it effortless. Just blend, dump, and let your crockpot do the work. By dinnertime you have a steaming bowl of tender shredded chicken, chewy hominy, and a bright, tangy green broth that tastes like it simmered on the stove for hours.

If you have been searching for an easy crockpot posole recipe or a reliable chicken pozole recipe crockpot style, this one is built for busy weeknights and lazy weekends alike. It is naturally gluten free, packed with protein, and endlessly customizable with your favorite toppings.

Before we get cooking, the right tools and a few key ingredients really do make a difference here. A large, reliable slow cooker ensures even cooking, and a good blender helps you get that silky smooth green sauce that defines a proper posole recipe chicken crock pot style. Fresh tomatillos and poblanos give the broth its signature tang, so it is worth seeking out good quality produce when you can.

What Makes This Green Posole Different

Most pozole verde recipes ask you to roast and simmer chiles on the stovetop for hours. This slow cooker posole verde shortcut blends the vegetables raw, then lets the low, slow heat of the crockpot do all the flavor building for you. The tomatillos soften into the broth, the poblanos mellow, and the chicken thighs turn fall-apart tender by the time it is done.

Chef's Tip: Char the poblanos and jalapeno under the broiler for 5 minutes before blending if you want a deeper, smokier flavor. It is optional, but it adds a wonderful roasted note to the broth.

Tips for the Best Chicken Posole

Here are a few things I have learned making this chicken posole crockpot recipe again and again:

• Use chicken thighs, not breasts. Thighs stay juicy and shred beautifully after hours in the slow cooker, while breasts can dry out.
• Don't skip the blender step. Pureeing the tomatillos, chiles, onion, and garlic before adding them to the pot is what gives this posole its silky, restaurant-style texture.
• Salt at the end. Broth reduces slightly as it cooks, so taste and adjust the seasoning after the chicken is shredded rather than at the start.
• Garnishes are not optional. Crisp cabbage, radishes, lime, and cilantro add the crunch and brightness that balance the rich, savory broth.

This method works whether you are craving a classic green posole recipe chicken crock pot style for Sunday dinner or need an easy weeknight meal that mostly cooks itself.

Let's Get Cooking

Ready to make it? This recipe comes together in just a few simple steps, and your slow cooker handles the long, slow simmering while you go about your day. Here is the full step-by-step recipe:

Slow Cooker Chicken Posole

This Slow Cooker Chicken Posole is a cozy, hands-off green pozole loaded with tender shredded chicken, hominy, and bright chiles, simmered low and slow for deep, comforting flavor.

Prep:20 mins

Cook:360 mins

Total:380 mins

Yield:6 servings

Cuisine:Mexican

Yield: 6 servingsCalories: 340Protein: 29g

Carbs: 33gFat: 10gSat. Fat: 2gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gSodium: 780mg

Ingredients

Units

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• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed
• 2 cans white hominy, 29 oz each, drained and rinsed
• 6 cups chicken broth, low sodium
• 1 lb tomatillos, husked and rinsed
• 2 poblano peppers, stemmed and seeded
• 1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeds removed for less heat
• 1 white onion, quartered
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, packed leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano, Mexican oregano preferred
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 2 lime, cut into wedges, for serving
• 1 cup shredded cabbage, for garnish, optional
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes, for garnish, optional

Instruction

1

Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.

2

Add the drained hominy and pour in the chicken broth.

3

In a blender, combine the tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeno, onion, garlic, cilantro, cumin, and oregano. Blend until smooth.

4

Pour the green sauce over the chicken and hominy in the slow cooker, then stir in the salt.

5

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and shreds easily.

6

Remove the chicken thighs, shred with two forks, and return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.

7

Taste and adjust salt as needed.

8

Ladle the posole into bowls and top with shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice before serving.

Equipment

• Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
• Blender
• Cutting board and knife
• Two forks for shredding
• Ladle

Notes

This posole tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld, so it is a great make-ahead meal. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and add fresh garnishes just before serving to keep them crisp.

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Serving and Storage Ideas

Ladle this posole into deep bowls and let everyone build their own bowl with toppings. A classic spread includes shredded cabbage, thinly sliced radishes, extra cilantro, diced onion, and plenty of lime wedges. Warm corn tortillas or tostadas on the side make it a complete meal.

Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to four days, and the flavor only gets better as it sits. For longer storage, freeze the chicken and broth mixture without the fresh garnishes, then thaw and reheat gently on the stove when a craving hits.

Chef's Tip: If the broth thickens too much after chilling, simply add a splash of chicken broth or water while reheating to loosen it back up to your desired consistency.

However you serve it, this slow cooker chicken posole is the kind of meal that turns an ordinary weeknight into something special, with almost no effort required from you.