Pollo Guisado Recipe (Latin Hen Stew)


Convey Puerto Rican delicacies straight to your kitchen with this pollo guisado recipe. Much like a basic rooster stew, it’s an extremely easy dish that’s spectacular, comforting, and bursting with Latin American taste!

chicken guisado.

Our household is massive on filling and flavorful dishes, which simply occur to be two of Latin America’s specialties. So, it’s no marvel why this one-pot Puerto Rican rooster stew is one among our favorites! That includes juicy rooster simmered in broth unbelievable spices and greens, it’s an thrilling and vibrant meal that’s at all times an prompt hit.

Desk of Contents
  1. What’s pollo guisado?
  2. Substances wanted
  3. make pollo guisado
  4. Recipe suggestions and variations
  5. Storage directions
  6. Easier one-pot household dinners
  7. Regularly requested questions 
  8. Pollo Guisado

What’s pollo guisado?

Pollo guisado, or stewed rooster, is a Latin American dish hottest in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. There are completely different variations of the recipe relying in the event you’re in Puerto Rico, the Dominican, Mexico, and so forth. however on the coronary heart of it’s succulent rooster (sometimes thighs and drumsticks) simmered with aromatics and veggies to create a wealthy, savory stew broth.

It’s develop into a dinnertime staple for us, particularly within the cooler months, and also you’ll adore it too, as a result of:

  • A straightforward one-pot consolation meals. I really like the comfort of cooking the entire elements in a single pot. It saves me from having to clean a mountain of dishes whereas giving my household a restaurant-quality meal! 
  • Enjoyable to customise. Identical to my rooster adobo, this meal is flexible and may be tailor-made to please even the choosy eaters in your family.
  • Incredible flavors and textures. The feel of the rooster is what you’d anticipate from something gradual cooked- moist, juicy, and falling off the bones. It’s a taste explosion with hints of scorching spice, smokiness, and every little thing in between.

Substances wanted

You’ll discover the ingredient checklist features a few spice mixes which not solely saves time but additionally makes issues extra handy. In addition to that and a few rooster, there isn’t a lot else wanted to make. Here’s what you’ll want:

  • Hen. I extremely suggest sticking with skin-on, bone-in rooster thighs and drumsticks. These cuts are higher fitted to stewing in comparison with breasts and tenderloin.
  • Adobo seasoning. This spice mix is a staple in our kitchen. It’s sometimes a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
  • Sazon seasoning. This daring, peppery mix is commonly made with floor annatto seeds, cumin, garlic powder, coriander, oregano, and salt. You should buy this at any mainstream grocery retailer or simply make your individual (see my suggestions and variations part).
  • Olive oil. Simply sufficient to sear the rooster and saute the aromatics.
  • Aromatics. The stew begins with a sofrito produced from onion, garlic, and chili peppers. They provide each chew an unbelievable style and depth of taste. Be happy to make use of bell peppers if crimson chili peppers are too spicy.
  • Inexperienced olives. They add bursts of briny, salty, and barely tangy flavors. Simply you should definitely get ones with out the seeds.
  • Potatoes. I like to recommend utilizing a waxy selection, like crimson, yellow, or Yukon Gold potatoes. These varieties maintain their form and develop into creamy and tender when cooked.
  • Tomato sauce. It helps create a thick, flavorful stew sauce.
  • Hen inventory. Hen broth retains the rooster moist and tender as they simmer. 
  • Bay leaves. For a delicate earthy aspect. Don’t neglect to take away them from the stew earlier than serving!

Discover the printable recipe with measurements under

make pollo guisado

As talked about, this straightforward rooster stew comes collectively very quickly in only one pot! It’s a largely hands-off course of, however don’t go away it alone for too lengthy or else the rooster and potatoes can overcook.

Step 1- Sear the rooster. Season the rooster with the seasonings, then sear it in an oiled skillet over medium-high warmth till browned. Switch it to a plate. 

seasoned and seared chicken in a skillet.

Step 2- Saute the aromatics. Prepare dinner the onion and chili pepper within the now-empty skillet. Subsequent, add the garlic.

sauteed aromatics in skillet.

Step 3- Let it simmer. Place the rooster again within the skillet. Stir the remainder of the elements into the rooster and veggie combination, then deliver it to a boil. Cowl with a lid, cut back the warmth, and let the stew simmer till the rooster and potatoes are tender. 

chicken stew simmering in pot.

Step 4- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle chopped parsley or cilantro excessive, then scoop the stew into bowls with white rice. Get pleasure from!

Recipe suggestions and variations

  • Don’t skip the sear! In testing, I’ve discovered this step to be the important thing to giving the rooster wonderful flavors and a crispy texture.
  • Low and gradual is the way in which to go. Give the stew half-hour to simmer on the range and also you’ll ultimately discover the way it’s falling off the bone. Be affected person – I promise it’s value it! 
  • Use different protein. Attempt swapping the rooster (pollo) for beef to make “carne guisada,” pork for “cerdo guisado,” or lamb for “cordero guisado.”
  • Crank up the warmth. I discovered that a little bit additional spice is greater than welcome on this flavor-rich meal. You may add a pinch of cayenne or crimson pepper flakes or a touch of scorching sauce. Additionally, think about using a brilliant spicy chili pepper, like cayenne, habanero, or serrano.

Storage directions

To retailer: Let the leftover stew cool to room temperature earlier than transferring it to an hermetic container. Retailer within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze: As soon as it’s cool, switch the stew to a freezer-safe container and freeze for two to three months. Let it thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

To reheat: Reheat the leftover rooster guisado in a saucepan on the range over low to medium warmth till heated by way of. Add a splash of inventory or water if it must be thinned out a bit.

Easier one-pot household dinners

Regularly requested questions 

Is pollo guisado spicy?

It relies upon. The crimson chili pepper and seasoning blends are the principle sources of warmth within the stew, and I discover that they steadiness the remainder of the flavors completely. The warmth stage is gentle as-is, however you possibly can simply modify the quantity of chili peppers and spices to make it much less or extra spicy. 

Are you able to make this with boneless rooster?

Positive! Boneless rooster, like rooster breasts, is ok if that’s all you may have at dwelling. Simply remember that boneless rooster items prepare dinner sooner than bone-in cuts, so don’t let the stew simmer unattended for too lengthy.

Stop your display screen from going darkish

  • Season the rooster with the adobo seasoning and sazon seasoning on all sides.

  • Add the oil to a big non-stick skillet and place over medium-high warmth. Prepare dinner the rooster till it’s browned on all sides. Take away it from the skillet.

  • Add onion and crimson pepper and prepare dinner till the onion turns into translucent. Add garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds.

  • Return the rooster to the skillet and add olives, potatoes, tomato sauce, rooster inventory, and bay leaves. Depart the combination to start out boiling, then cowl and prepare dinner for 25 minutes on low warmth or till the potatoes are cooked by way of and the meat is tender.

  • Garnish with recent parsley and serve heat.

TO STORE: Let the leftover stew cool to room temperature earlier than transferring it to an hermetic container. Retailer within the fridge for 3 to 4 days. TO FREEZE: As soon as it’s cool, switch the stew to a freezer-safe container and freeze for two to three months. Let it thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. TO REHEAT: Reheat the leftover rooster guisado in a saucepan on the range over low to medium warmth till heated by way of. Add a splash of inventory or water if it must be thinned out a bit.

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 18gFats: 20gSodium: 829mgPotassium: 862mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 470IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 23g

Disclosure: This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. I could earn a small fee for my endorsement, advice, testimonial, and/or hyperlink to any services or products from this web site.



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