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Slow Cooker Chicken Posole Recipe

4.9 from 139 reviews

This Slow Cooker Chicken Posole is a hearty and flavorful Mexican soup featuring tender shredded chicken, hominy, and a rich red broth infused with traditional spices. It’s an easy, set-it-and-forget-it comfort food recipe perfect for busy weeknights, topped with fresh ingredients like shredded cabbage, radishes, avocado, and cilantro for added texture and brightness.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (29 oz) can hominy, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Optional Toppings

  • Shredded cabbage
  • Diced avocado
  • Radish slices
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Lime wedges
  • Queso fresco or cotija cheese

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: Place chicken thighs, diced onion, and minced garlic in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
  2. Add Hominy and Sauces: Add the drained and rinsed hominy, red enchilada sauce, and chicken broth to the slow cooker.
  3. Season: Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until combined evenly.
  4. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and shreds easily with a fork.
  5. Shred Chicken: Remove the chicken thighs and shred them with two forks into generous pieces. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
  6. Rest and Serve: Let the posole rest on the warm setting for 10 minutes before serving. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cabbage, avocado, radish, cilantro, lime, and cheese as desired.

Notes

  • Chicken thighs are strongly recommended over breasts – they stay moist through the long cook time and shred beautifully.
  • For spicier posole, add 1 diced jalapeno with the other ingredients or use a hot enchilada sauce.
  • For deeper flavor, brown chicken thighs in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker.
  • Always store toppings separately from the soup so they stay fresh at serving time.

Keywords: chicken posole, slow cooker posole, Mexican soup, hominy soup, comforting soup, shredded chicken recipe