Chicken Chili Verde (Printable)

Tender chicken in a vibrant tangy green sauce made from charred peppers, tomatillos, and garlic for a bright 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

# How-To:

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 to create the sauce base.
03 - Season chicken thoroughly with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. 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 from the bottom. Bring to a gentle 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 using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the sauce and stir to combine. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly if desired.
07 - Serve hot, garnished generously with fresh cilantro, diced avocado, sliced radishes, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce strikes this perfect balance between tangy and earthy, the kind of flavor that makes you close your eyes for a second.
  • It freezes beautifully, so you can make a big batch and have that homemade comfort ready on nights when cooking feels impossible.
  • The way the chicken shreds and soaks up all that verde goodness turns every bite into something spoon-worthy and rich.
02 -
  • The sauce will taste quite sharp and acidic before simmering with the chicken, so do not adjust seasonings until the dish has finished cooking.
  • Broiling time varies by oven, so check your vegetables early if your broiler runs especially hot.
  • The chili verde actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together.
03 -
  • Save some extra charred vegetables before blending and stir them into the finished chili for texture variation.
  • If the sauce tastes too acidic after simmering, stir in a tiny pinch of sugar to balance it without making it sweet.
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