Chicken Chili Verde (Printable Version)

Tender chicken in a tangy charred tomatillo and pepper sauce

# What You'll 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 Make It:

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.
02 - Transfer broiled vegetables, peeled garlic, cilantro, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, and lime juice to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
03 - Season chicken thoroughly 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 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 from the pot 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.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro, avocado, radishes, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The charred vegetables create a sauce thats somehow both smoky and bright, like sunshine in a bowl
  • It freezes beautifully and actually tastes better the next day when all those flavors have had time to really make friends
  • Whole30 friendly, gluten free naturally, and feels like something special without requiring any fancy techniques
02 -
  • Broiler temperatures vary wildly so check your vegetables after 5 minutes, some broilers are ferocious and can burn things quickly
  • The sauce will look terrifyingly frothy when you first blend it, but it settles into a gorgeous velvety texture as it simmers
  • Let the chili rest for at least 10 minutes before serving, this gives the sauce a chance to thicken and the flavors time to marry
03 -
  • Dont skip the charring step, its what transforms this from ordinary green chicken into something extraordinary
  • If the sauce tastes too tart before simmering, trust the process, it mellows beautifully as it cooks
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