Chicken Chili Verde (Printable Version)

Tender chicken in a tangy green sauce made from charred tomatillos, peppers, and garlic, creating a bright and comforting Mexican classic.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Green Sauce

04 - 1 1/2 lbs tomatillos, husked and rinsed
05 - 2 poblano peppers
06 - 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded for less heat
07 - 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
08 - 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
09 - 1 bunch fresh cilantro (about 1 cup, loosely packed)
10 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
11 - 1 tsp ground cumin
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

→ For Cooking

14 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ Garnishes

15 - Chopped fresh cilantro
16 - Diced avocado
17 - Sliced radishes
18 - Lime wedges

# Steps:

01 - Preheat broiler to high. Arrange tomatillos, poblano peppers, jalapeños, onion, and unpeeled garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Broil for 8–10 minutes, turning as needed, until vegetables are charred and softened. Let cool slightly, then peel garlic and remove stems and seeds from peppers as desired.
02 - Transfer broiled vegetables, peeled garlic, cilantro, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, and lime juice to a blender. Blend until smooth.
03 - Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until lightly browned, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Add the blended green sauce to the pot, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a simmer.
05 - Return chicken to the pot, nestling it into the sauce. Cover and simmer gently for 45–50 minutes, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
06 - Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the sauce and stir to combine. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes to thicken if desired.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro, avocado, radishes, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tangy brightness of tomatillos balances perfectly with rich, tender chicken
  • It freezes beautifully so you can pull comfort food from your freezer on busy nights
  • The green sauce is incredibly versatile and works over eggs, rice, or straight from the spoon
02 -
  • The sauce will taste quite tart before simmering with the chicken, this is normal and mellows beautifully
  • Do not skip broiling the vegetables first, that charred flavor is what makes this taste like a restaurant dish
03 -
  • If the sauce tastes too sour, add a pinch of sugar to balance it out
  • Use tongs to rotate the vegetables under the broiler so they char evenly all over
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