Pozole Verde, a Healthy Take on the Mexican Tradition
Pozole Verde con Pollo, a green twist on the traditional soup made with hominy, or puffed corn. This feel good comfort soup recipe uses chicken, cilantro, green chiles, limes, avocados and mixed vegetables for a healthy take on the Mexican classic!

Hola friends! Today we’re serving a a special feel good Mexican soup recipe that is sure to spark the travel itch for a Mexican food adventure: Pozole Verde con Polla, or green pozole with chicken.
Pozole is a classic Mexican hominy soup traditionally made with pork, vegetables, and peppers. However, pozole is a dish with endless variations!
Because of that we’re whipping up our own healthier version by replacing the traditional pork shoulder (some cultures use a whole hog head!) with chicken and adding in fresh vegetables and peppers for a twist on the classic.
While the variations of pozole are endless, one thing remains the same in each version: hominy. But what is hominy? I’m so glad you asked (because I did a lot of Google research for you)!

What is hominy? How do you cook with it?
Hominy refers to the large, chewy corn kernels that are popular in Mexican and Latin American cuisine, but are also consumed throughout the American South and is the ingredient behind the Southern classic grits.
Hominy is made from large corn kernels that are soaked and dried, and are often ground into a flour or can be rehydrated to be used in soups or tamales.
Hominy’s ability to grow in dry climates and its ability to be dried and stored for long periods of time solidified its status as a staple in Mexican cuisine. Today it can be found dried, ground, or sold in cans of water, which is the style of hominy used in Mexican pozole.
Mexican Pozole variations
Pozole is a simple chicken soup recipe that each Mexican region, and even each family, makes differently.
The most popular pozole is typically pozole rojo (or red pozole), which uses red chile peppers to create a soup with a strong red color.
However pozole verde (green pozole) using green chiles and cilantro is also popular, and pozole blanco (or white pozole) made without the addition of color from chiles is also common throughout the country.
While most pozole recipes are made of hominy, a meat or fish, and broth, the real winner of pozole is the toppings.
The topping possibilities are endless, but traditional pozole topping favorites include sliced radishes, avocado, limes, chiles, and cilantro. Of course we went a little wild in this pozole verde recipe with the vegetables and spices and we encourage you to do the same!

Pozole Verde con Pollo: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Pozole Verde at its core is a simple chicken soup recipe with hominy and topped with sliced and chopped vegetables and herbs, and it does not require extra equipment or tools.
However, below are a few of my favorite green kitchen staple items to make preparing pozole easier.
- A sturdy soup pot or dutch oven: You cannot call yourself a soup lover and not have a great soup pot or dutch oven. My dutch oven is a workhorse in the kitchen and I believe every home cook should have (at least) one.
- Hominy: You will likely be able to find a can of hominy in your local grocery store (I found it near the canned vegetables and beans) but if not hominy is readily available online. Alternatively, you can buy dried hominy and rehydrate by boiling in the same way you would cook dried beans.

This Pozole Verde con Pollo recipe is a new favorite soup night recipe! If you love delicious and globally-inspired feel good soups as much as I do, check out my Roasted Tomato Leek Soup or Red Beet Apple Soup for your soup night in.
Did you make this Pozole Verde con Pollo recipe? Leave a comment and rating below to share how it turned out, pin it to your soup Pinterest board, and tag me on Instagram so I can see your pozole creations!
Pozole Verde with Chicken

Pozole Verde con Pollo, a green twist on the traditional soup made with hominy, or puffed corn. This feel good soup recipe uses chicken, cilantro, green chiles, limes, avocados and mixed vegetables for a healthy take on the Mexican classic!
Ingredients
Pozole Verde
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb carrots, sliced
- 4 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 lb chicken (breasts or wings)
- 1 28oz can hominy, drained
- 2 quarts low sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 cup cilantro
- 2 green chile peppers (more or less depending on spice tolerance)
- 1-2 tablespoons water
Toppings
- 1 bunch radishes, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large soup pot or dutch oven. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery and cook until softened and beginning to brown, about five minutes.
- Add whole chicken breasts (or wings) and drained hominy to pot with broth. Add salt, pepper, and oregano and bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat until chicken is cooked throughout, about 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, add cilantro, peppers, and water to a blender or small mixer and blend until smooth, adding more water if needed.
- When chicken is cooked throughout, remove chicken breasts from soup pot and let cool. Then use fork to shred cooled chicken and add back to pozole. Add cilantro and pepper liquid to soup and mix well, adding more salt or peppers to taste.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Leftovers & Storage: Pozole Verde is like most other soups and gets more delicious a day or two after it is made. Leftover Pozole Verde can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days, or frozen for up to a few months before being reheated and enjoyed again.
- Nutrition: This Pozole Verde is a surprisingly healthy dish and a light option for your next soup night. It is high in protein and fiber and low in fat, while providing an array of nutrients from the high amounts of vegetables. The sodium is on the upper end of the recommendations per meal, however reducing the salt used in the recipe will make the sodium levels even lower.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 429Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 1033mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 9gSugar: 9gProtein: 29g
This soup looks so tasty! I love the addition of chicken!
It’s super flavorful! The cilantro and chiles add a bold spice and strong flavor…as well as a beautiful green color.
Not only didn’t I know what hominy was, but also never had or heard of pozole. It looks like a hearty soup, love your healthier and lighter version, and also love the green color. My husband would love this. And I bet he would have known.
I’m glad I could show the ways of pozole! It’s one of my favorite Mexican dishes and this version is a lighter take on the classic. Let me know if you try!
This is not your typical chicken soup for sure! I love the flavors in this. Thanks for sharing! ¡Que Rico!
Not typical, but still super easy with lots of flavor. I can’t wait to try the rojo and blanco versions soon!
I’ve been on a soup kick lately but have been searching for something different. And I’ve found it in this soup! I just want to dive in!
It’s my new favorite chicken soup. I can’t say no to cilantro and the touch of spice is perfect because I like to sweat when I eat. 🙂
I love that you used chicken as the main meat. The addition of cilantro and chile peppers makes the flavor bright and comforting at the same time. I need this right now.
So beautiful!! It looks stunning and I’m sure it’s delicious too..very nice job!
I love when we take traditional recipes and give them a twist, especially when you can make it a bit more healthy. Love the flavors in this recipe and love how simple, easy yet different this soup is. Can’t wait to try.
This is a interesting recipe I would try. Full of flavor and love the variety of ingredients in it.
Oh this looks sooo amazing. I love how it’s loaded with all the wonderful veggies. And so healthy. I bet my family will love this too. Can’t wait to make this.
Your soup looks so flavorful and delicious! We love to try different soup recipes. Def saving this one!
I’ve never tried pozole, but it looks and sounds amazing! Anything with green chiles and I’m there. 🙂
What green Chiles did you use in this recipe? Did you use Serrano Chiles?
We used jalapenos in this recipe, but serranos or even poblanos will work as well. Thanks for asking, Laura!
Wow this sounds so flavorful, loving all the Mexican flavors in this soup.
Beautiful creative twist on a classic favorite dish. Love that you went verde on this.. perfectly spiced and such a great comfort food!
This recipe is beautiful! I love all of the bright colors. My family would absolutely love it!
This recipe is beautiful! I love all of the bright colors. My family would absolutely love it!
this is such a comforting recipe…i love how it uses chicken because thats my main go to meat 🙂