Slow cooker chicken posole simmers chicken directly in a cumin-oregano-chile broth with hominy for hours, then shreds the chicken back into the pot and finishes with lime juice, ready in about 6 hours mostly hands-off. Simmering the chicken whole in the broth rather than pre-cooking it separately lets the broth pick up flavor from the chicken as it becomes tender enough to shred.
Slow Cooker Chicken Posole
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
- 1 (25 oz) can white hominy, drained and rinsed
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lime
- **For Serving (Optional):**
- Shredded cabbage or lettuce
- Sliced radishes
- Diced avocado
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Tortilla chips or warm tortillas
Instructions
- Add chicken, hominy, green chiles, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, paprika, salt, and broth to a slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until chicken is tender and easily shreds.
- Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the slow cooker.
- Stir in lime juice and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and serve hot with toppings of choice.
Recipe Notes
- Chicken thighs add more flavor, but breasts work well too.
- Make it spicier by adding diced jalapeños or extra chili powder.
- Great for meal prep—flavors deepen as it sits in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size
- 1.5 cups
- Calories
- 280
- Sugar
- 2g
- Sodium
- 480mg
- Fat
- 8g
- Saturated Fat
- 2g
- Unsaturated Fat
- 5g
- Trans Fat
- 0g
- Carbohydrates
- 22g
- Fiber
- 4g
- Protein
- 28g
- Cholesterol
- 80mg
Why you'll love this
- Using canned hominy, already tender, means the slow cooker's long cook time is really about developing the broth's flavor and cooking the chicken through, not softening the hominy.
- Adding the lime juice only at the end, after the chicken is shredded back in, keeps its brightness from cooking off over the long simmer.
Tips for the best result
- Adjust seasoning to taste after stirring in the lime juice, as the instructions specify, since the broth's flavor concentrates differently depending on your slow cooker.
- Add diced jalapeños or extra chili powder for more heat, per the recipe's own notes, if a milder posole isn't what you're after.
Troubleshooting
The chicken is hard to shred.
This means it needs more time. Continue cooking in 30-minute increments until it shreds easily with two forks, rather than pulling it early.
The broth tastes flat.
Taste and adjust seasoning after adding the lime juice, as the instructions specify, since salt and acid both need a final check once everything is combined.
Posole seems too watery.
remove the lid during the last hour of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate. Alternatively, you can thicken the broth by mashing some of the hominy against the side of the pot.
The recipe's own notes say this is great for meal prep, since the flavors deepen as it sits in the fridge.
The recipe's own notes suggest shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, diced avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips or warm tortillas.
Frequently asked questions
What is hominy and where can I find it?
Hominy is dried corn kernels that have been treated with an alkali solution. You’ll find it in the canned vegetable aisle or Mexican food section of most grocery stores, typically near the beans.
Can I make this Slow Cooker Chicken Posole Recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! This posole actually tastes better the next day. Make it up to 3 days ahead and store in the refrigerator, reheating gently before serving.
Is posole supposed to be thick or brothy?
Traditional posole has a medium consistency—not as thick as stew but not as thin as broth. Adjust the liquid amount to your preference.
Can I make this recipe in an Instant Pot instead?
Yes! Use the sauté function for the aromatics, then pressure cook for 25 minutes with natural release for similar results in less time.
What’s the difference between pozole and posole?
They’re the same dish—”pozole” is the traditional Spanish spelling, while “posole” is the Americanized version. Both refer to this delicious Mexican soup.
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