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Green chicken chili with roasted tomatillos, guajillo pepper, white beans, and fresh cilantro
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Green Chicken Chili with Roasted Salsa Verde & Guajillo

Ingredients

Salsa Verde

  • 8 –10 tomatillos husked & rinsed
  • ½ medium onion
  • 2 jalapeños
  • 3 –5 cloves garlic unpeeled
  • 1 dried guajillo chile stemmed & seeded
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp chicken bouillon optional
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro

Chili

  • 1 –2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt & pepper

Vegetables

  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 poblano peppers diced
  • 1 jalapeño diced
  • 6 cloves garlic minced

Liquids

  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups prepared salsa verde

Add-ins

  • 2 15 oz cans white beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 cup fire-roasted corn optional

Seasonings

  • 1 tbsp + 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 bay leaf optional

Finish

  • Zest of ½ lime
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

Prep the Guajillo

  • Tear into pieces, discard seeds
  • Toast in dry skillet 20–30 sec per side (until fragrant)
  • Soak in hot water 10–15 minutes
  • Drain

Roast the Salsa Base

  • Toss tomatillos, onion, jalapeños, and garlic with oil
  • Roast at 425°F for 15–20 minutes until blistered
  • Peel garlic

Blend Salsa Verde

  • Blend:
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Rehydrated guajillo
  • Salt, pepper
  • Bouillon (optional)
  • Lime juice
  • Cilantro
  • Blend smooth.

Sear the Chicken

  • Season with salt & pepper
  • Sear in olive oil until browned (not fully cooked)
  • Remove

Build the Base

  • In same pot:
  • Cook onion, poblano, jalapeño (5–7 min)
  • Add garlic + all spices
  • Cook 30 seconds to bloom

Simmer

  • Add:
  • Chicken broth
  • 2 cups salsa verde
  • Beans
  • Bay leaf
  • Return chicken to pot.
  • Simmer 25–30 minutes.

Finish

  • Shred chicken in pot
  • Add corn (optional)
  • Add lime zest + juice
  • Adjust salt
  • Stir in cilantro

Video

@jefsmk

Green Chicken Chili but elevated. Roasted tomatillos. Toasted guajillo. Layered heat. This one’s not canned-soup chili. #GreenChili #HomeCooking #ChiliRecipe #ComfortFood #FromScratch

♬ Chill Vibes - ChillPulse