This Mexican chicken pozole soup gets a flavorful twist with classic ingredients like smoky chipotle peppers, chewy hominy, and fresh lime juice.

Crumbling tortilla chips over Mexican chicken pozole soup.

Table of Contents

Growing up, my parents would take us on a day trip to Nogales, Mexico located an hour and a half south of Tucson. From the minute we crossed the border, the smell of homemade corn tortillas, fresh cilantro and warm spices would fill the air. It was completely intoxicating and was the start of my lifelong love affair with authentic Mexican food.

I frequently whip up baked corn tortilla chips and my Mexican slaw with honey lime vinaigrette, along with this Mexican Chicken Pozole Soup. It’s an easy, weeknight version of the classic dish. To save time I use rotisserie chicken, but any leftover shredded meat would work including pork or even beef.

Why You’ll Love This Pozole Soup

With plenty of toppings to choose from, it’s easy to customize.
It’s an extremely flavorful and well-balanced dish,
Easy to make ahead, or make in large batches for meal prep!

Ingredients

Chicken: Leftover rotisserie chicken, or precooked chicken breast work great.
Chipotle peppers: Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add smokey, rich, spicy flavor to the soup.
Green chilis: Adds another level of mild spice to the soup.
Garlic: Adds pungent, aromatic flavor and nutty notes.
Veggies: Fire roasted diced tomatoes, carrots, onion, red bell pepper, and hominy add substance, vitamins, and flavor to the pozole.
Chicken broth: Makes for a flavorful base to the soup.
Lime: Lime juice adds a bit of fresh acidity that helps cut through some of the spice.

Change Things Up

Use different toppings! I love topping with tortilla chips, cilantro, and sliced radishes. But you can add shredded cabbage, sliced avocado, and cheese.
You can use pork or beef instead of chicken as the protein.
Use veggie or beef broth instead of chicken broth for a slightly different flavor.

How to Make Mexican Chicken Pozole Soup

Step 1. Dice your onion and add it to the bottom of a large soup pot in some olive oil.

Carrot added to diced onion in the bottom of the pot.

Step 2. Next add your chopped carrots.

Step 3. Followed by the diced bell pepper.

Using a microplane to grate fresh garlic cloves into pot.

Step 4. Use a microplane to grate the garlic, and add a sprinkle of salt.

Stirring sautéed veggies in the bottom of a large pot.

Step 5. Sauté the veggies until softened.

Adding chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to veggies in soup pot.

Step 6. Add the chipotle peppers, smoked paprika, and black pepper before adding the chicken broth.

Hominy and diced tomatoes sitting atop soup.

Step 7. Add the shredded chicken, diced tomatoes, and canned hominy.

Green chiles being added to pozole in pot.

Step 8. Add the green chilies and lime juice, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Mexican chicken pozole soup in a white bowl, garnished with radishes and tortilla chips.

Serve garnished with your favorite toppings, then enjoy your Mexican Chicken Pozole Soup!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pozole and posole?

There is no difference in the finished product. It’s just two different ways of spelling the same dish!

Are there different kinds of pozole?

Authentic pozole has three types, named after the color of the broth from the different chiles. Pozole verde, pozole rojo, and pozole blanco can be made with any types of meat as well.

Is chicken pozole healthy?

Filled with lean protein from the chicken, fiber from the hominy, and various more nutrients and vitamins from other veggies, yes it can be! Especially if you use low-sodium broth.

Mexican chicken pozole soup in a white bowl.

More Mexican Recipes

Did you try this soup and love it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.

For a flavorful and comforting soup the whole family an enjoy, give this Mexican Chicken Pozole a try.

Your spoon is waiting.