There’s a certain kind of comfort that only a big, bubbling pot of posole can bring. In our family, posole wasn’t just a meal it was an event. Whether it was Christmas Eve, a rainy Sunday, or a last-minute family visit, someone was always peeling garlic, soaking hominy, and telling stories while the broth simmered for hours. Now, thanks to these crock pot posole recipes and other ribeye steak slow cooker recipes you can bring that same soulful warmth to your table without hovering over the stove all day.
This is slow cooking at its most flavorful. Pork or chicken simmers gently with tomatillos, dried chiles, and hominy, filling your kitchen with the kind of aroma that makes everyone ask, “Is it ready yet?” The beauty of these posole crock pot recipes is in their flexibility rich enough for a holiday, easy enough for a weeknight, and customizable to your spice and topping preferences.
Whether you’re making green, red, or blanco, this posole recipe crock pot method honors the deep roots of the dish while offering the ease of modern cooking. So grab your slow cooker and get ready to taste a little tradition in every spoonful.
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Why You’ll Love These Crock Pot Posole Recipes
If you’ve ever stood over a stovetop, stirring a big pot of traditional posole, you already know it’s a labor of love. But what if you could have all that deep, rich flavor without spending your day babysitting a simmering pot? That’s the magic of these crock pot posole recipes—they give you the soul of the dish with the ease of modern cooking.
These recipes bring together authentic ingredients like hominy, tomatillos, and dried chiles in a way that feels both time-honored and totally doable. Whether you’re a longtime fan of red posole or looking to try a green version with chicken and salsa verde, there’s a slow-cooked option here for you. And because posole crock pot recipes are so customizable, you can dial up the heat, mix up your toppings, or even switch proteins without sacrificing that classic, hearty taste.
This isn’t just a recipe it’s a way to feed your people something meaningful with minimal stress. And once you taste how flavorful a posole recipe crock pot version can be, you’ll wonder why you ever made it any other way.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Posole
What makes crock pot posole recipes so special is how a few simple ingredients come together to create something deeply flavorful and satisfying. Whether you’re making a red or green version, these are the essential components that form the heart of every great posole.
Main Ingredients
- 2–3 pounds pork shoulder or chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless work great)
- 8 oz. dried hominy (soaked) or 4 cups cooked or canned hominy
- 2 cups tomatillo salsa or 8 fresh tomatillos, husked and halved
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (14.5 oz) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 onion, halved
- 1 head garlic, top trimmed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
These basics are the soul of many posole crock pot recipes—rich broth, tender meat, and chewy hominy.
For the Chile Sauce
- 10 dried chiles (Guajillo or California are most traditional)
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
This chile blend brings that iconic smoky heat found in every good posole recipe crock pot version.
Toppings (Choose Your Favorites)
- Shredded cabbage
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Chopped tomatoes
- Diced white onion
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Diced avocado
- Lime wedges
- Sour cream
- Hot chile sauce
- Tortilla chips or tostadas
These toppings aren’t just garnishes—they’re part of the experience. They add crunch, color, and brightness to every bowl of crock pot posole.
Step-by-Step Instructions
These instructions will guide you through making deeply flavorful, authentic crock pot posole recipes with ease. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, this method ensures tender meat, rich broth, and perfect hominy every time.
Step 1: Prepare the Hominy
If you’re using dried hominy, soak it in water overnight or for at least 6–8 hours. Drain before using. For a quicker approach, boil water and soak the hominy in it for 1 hour while the meat starts cooking. If you’re using canned or pre-cooked hominy, simply rinse and set it aside—you’ll add it later in the process. This flexibility makes posole crock pot recipes accessible even on busy days.
Step 2: Start the Soup Base
Brown the pork or chicken in a hot skillet or a stove-safe slow cooker insert to develop flavor. Once browned, transfer the meat to your slow cooker. Add tomatillo salsa or fresh tomatillos, water, chicken broth, onion, garlic head (cut-side up), and salt. If you’re using uncooked hominy, add it now along with 2 cups of boiling water. Set your crock pot to HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours. This foundational step creates the rich, slow-simmered taste central to all great crock pot posole recipes.
Step 3: Make the Chile Sauce
While the meat cooks, prepare the chile sauce. Remove stems and seeds from the dried chiles, rinse them, and place in a bowl with 2 cups of boiling water. Let them soak for 20 minutes until soft. Transfer to a blender with garlic and oregano. Blend until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove solids. This spicy, smoky sauce gives posole recipe crock pot versions their signature depth.
Step 4: Combine and Heat
After the meat has fully cooked, remove it from the slow cooker along with the onion and garlic. Shred the meat with forks and discard any bones or excess fat. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker, along with the prepared chile sauce. If you’re using pre-cooked hominy, add it now. Stir to combine, then let everything heat together for an additional 20–30 minutes on LOW until hot and well blended.
Step 5: Serve and Top
Ladle your finished posole into bowls and let guests choose their favorite toppings—shredded cabbage, radishes, cilantro, avocado, onion, and a squeeze of lime. Add sour cream or tortilla chips for extra richness and crunch. This final touch transforms your slow-cooked dish into a vibrant, celebratory bowl of goodness. With just a few steps, your crock pot posole recipes deliver both tradition and convenience.
Helpful Tips for the Best Crock Pot Posole
Making crock pot posole recipes is about more than just tossing ingredients into a slow cooker—it’s about building layers of flavor and honoring tradition while keeping things easy. These tips will help you make the most of every bowl.
Use Fresh Ingredients When You Can
Fresh tomatillos, garlic, and high-quality meat give your broth the best possible flavor. While jarred salsa and canned hominy are convenient, even one fresh component can elevate your dish.
Adjust the Heat to Your Taste
Not all dried chiles are created equal. Guajillo chiles bring a mild, earthy flavor, while adding chile de árbol or ancho boosts the heat and smokiness. Customize your posole recipe crock pot version based on how spicy or mellow you like it.
Soak Hominy Ahead of Time
If you’re using dried hominy, an overnight soak ensures it cooks evenly in the crock pot. But don’t worry canned hominy works beautifully for faster posole crock pot recipes without sacrificing flavor.
Taste and Season Before Serving
Before you serve, give your posole a final taste. Sometimes all it needs is a little more salt or a splash of lime juice to make the flavors pop.
What to Serve with Crock Pot Posole
A steaming bowl of posole is satisfying on its own, but the right side dish can take your meal to the next level. These pairings complement the bold, smoky flavors of your favorite crock pot posole recipes and make your table feel complete.
Warm Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas are a traditional staple and the perfect way to scoop up the hearty stew. Their subtle flavor and soft texture balance the bold broth and chewy hominy beautifully. Lightly warming or toasting them brings out their natural sweetness, making them an ideal partner for any posole crock pot recipes.
Mexican Rice
Fluffy and mildly spiced, Mexican rice offers a grounding contrast to the bold flavors of posole. It’s a great option when you want to stretch the meal for a crowd or add a little something extra on the plate. The rice also soaks up the rich broth of your posole recipe crock pot, giving you even more reasons to go back for seconds. And if you want to round out the meal with extra fiber and richness, serve it with slow-cooked pinto beans.
Fresh Green Salad
A crisp green salad with a lime vinaigrette adds brightness and crunch to your meal. It’s especially welcome if your posole leans spicy or rich, providing balance without competing with the main dish. The fresh, cooling elements are a natural match for hearty crock pot posole recipes, rounding out the meal with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between pozole and posole?
“Pozole” is the traditional Spanish spelling, while “posole” is a more phonetic, anglicized version. Both refer to the same beloved Mexican stew made with hominy and meat. Whether you call it pozole or posole, the rich, hearty flavors remain the same—and so do the techniques used in most crock pot posole recipes.
Can I make posole in a slow cooker?
Absolutely. In fact, many home cooks prefer posole crock pot recipes because they allow the flavors to develop slowly over several hours without constant attention. The slow cooker method delivers tender meat and a well-blended broth, all with minimal effort.
Is posole healthy?
Yes—when made with lean proteins like chicken or pork and loaded with veggies and hominy, posole can be a very balanced meal. Many posole recipe crock pot variations are naturally gluten-free and easy to adapt for lower-sodium or lower-fat diets.
What are the different types of posole?
There are three traditional varieties: Pozole Rojo (red, made with dried red chiles), Pozole Verde (green, made with tomatillos and green chiles), and Pozole Blanco (white, without added sauces). Each one can be adapted into crock pot posole recipes depending on your taste and ingredients on hand.
Crock Pot Posole Recipes: Authentic Mexican Comfort Made Easy
- Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes – 8 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6–8 1x
Ingredients
2–3 lbs pork shoulder or chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
8 oz dried hominy (soaked) or 4 cups cooked/canned hominy
2 cups tomatillo salsa or 8 fresh tomatillos, husked and halved
2 cups water
1 can (14.5 oz) low-sodium chicken broth
1 onion, halved
1 head garlic, top trimmed
1 tsp sea salt
10 dried chiles (Guajillo or California)
2 cups boiling water
1 clove garlic
¼ tsp dried oregano
Shredded cabbage
Thinly sliced radishes
Diced white onion
Fresh cilantro leaves
Diced avocado
Lime wedges
Sour cream
Tortilla chips or tostadas
Instructions
- Prepare the Hominy:
- Soak dried hominy overnight (or quick soak in hot water for 1 hour). Drain. If using canned, rinse and set aside.
- Start the Soup Base:
- Brown pork or chicken in a skillet or stove-safe slow cooker insert. Transfer meat to crock pot.
- Add tomatillo salsa, water, chicken broth, onion, garlic head (cut-side up), and salt.
- Add uncooked hominy now, if using. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours.
- Make the Chile Sauce:
- Remove stems/seeds from chiles. Soak in 2 cups boiling water for 20 minutes.
- Blend with garlic and oregano. Strain to remove solids.
- Combine and Heat:
- Remove meat, onion, and garlic from slow cooker. Shred meat and discard bones/fat.
- Return shredded meat and chile sauce to slow cooker. Add canned hominy now, if using.
- Cook on LOW for 20–30 minutes until fully blended and heated through.
- Serve and Top:
- Ladle into bowls. Top with cabbage, radish, onion, cilantro, lime, avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips as desired.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–8 hours (LOW)
- Category: Soup, Stew, Main Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Calories: ~390 calories per serving
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Final Thoughts
There’s something timeless about a pot of posole slowly bubbling away, filling your kitchen with the aroma of chiles, garlic, and simmering broth. With these crock pot posole recipes, you can bring that tradition to your table with less fuss and just as much heart. Whether you’re making it for a holiday, a quiet Sunday dinner, or just because you’re craving something cozy and bold, this slow-cooked version makes it easy to honor the dish’s roots.
From the satisfying chew of hominy to the rich, layered broth, every spoonful feels like a warm embrace. So don’t wait for a special occasion let your slow cooker do the work, and let posole crock pot recipes bring the comfort and flavor of Mexico right into your home.
