Easy Instant Pot Pozole Recipe

Mexican pozole is a traditional soup in Mexico – it can be made with pork or chicken. This recipe uses the pressure cooker, though it could easily be adapted for the slow cooker. Read on to learn how to cook pozole, as well as how to stay healthy this winter!

It all started with soup.

Well, Forrest and mine’s relationship that is. Shortly after I met Forrest, one of his roommates told me that Forrest was sick.

So what’s a smitten girl to do other than make soup?

I told Forrest I was going to bring him over some soup…one, to make him feel better, and two, because, well, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?

Anyways, he was appreciative, and I’m sure it was why he got better. Ha!

Being the gentleman that he is, Forrest returned my soup pot a week later…but it was filled with soup he had made me!

I was totally on cloud nine that he had gone to the effort to make me a soup as well as a thank you gift.

The soup was Pozole, which I had never had before. But it was delicious.

Well, the rest was history after that, and we got married almost a year later (and yes, we definitely served soups at our wedding…including Pozole, which I will share a pozole in pressure cooker recipe in just a minute).

I’m grateful for colds, because one certainly started our relationship off on the right foot. Since then, we’ve weathered many colds and illnesses together and with our boys – it’s not even the end of October yet, and I’ve already got what felt like the flu.

History of Pozole

Pozole is a very popular dish with a rich history.

Pozole originated in Nahuatl. You might be surprised to hear that it was originally made with the meat from prisoners – thankfully, that is no longer the case! Once cannibalism was banned, it was replaced with pork.

It is a very popular soup/stew that is often found at special occasions and holidays.

FAQ

Is it pozole or posole? Either spelling is technically correct. According to this article, pozole is more popular in Mexico proper, while posole is more common in border towns.

Can pozole be made with beef? If you would prefer beef, you could use that instead. Cooking time would depend on the type of beef.

Can pozole be made with chicken? Yes. The cooking time of this recipe would be less, depending on what kind of chicken you use. Chicken breasts would be about 15 minutes.

Can this be made vegetarian? Yes. If you choose to omit the meat, use all the other ingredients and cook about six minutes.

Can pozole be frozen? Yep, you can definitely freeze this recipe!

Is there an alternative for hominy? While I think this is what makes pozole, well, pozole, is the hominy! But if you really don’t like it, you could try and omit and use corn kernels instead. It will change the taste and texture, though.

And now, for the pozole recipe! Forrest developed this recipe, and we really loved it. Originally it was a bit spicy, so we cut that down in the recipe.

However, if you like spice, feel free to add more!​ We also recommend having lime, sliced radishes, onions, and cabbage – they add some nice texture to the soup, and it helps cut the spiciness.

We were SUPER impressed with how the pork cooked in this soup and in the Instant Pot. It was SO tender and shredded perfectly. I think searing it and cutting it into pieces helped a lot.

How to Make Pozole

INGREDIENTS

Soup Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs pork roast
• 2-3 Tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder, optional
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 3 15 ounce cans – white hominy, half drained
• 1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes, half drained
• 1 cup of diced onion
• 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper
• 2 cups of chicken broth

Toppings

• Shredded cabbage
• Limes
• Sliced radishes
• Diced onions

Directions:

Add oil to cover the bottom of the inner pot of your pressure cooker – turn to saute. 

Season `pork with salt and pepper.

Cut into a few different chunks and sear on each side for about one minute.

Add onions and garlic about a minute before you are down searing. 

Add all the other ingredients (except for the toppings) to the pot. Stir.

Place lid on top, set pressure valve to seal, and press Meat/Stew – set time for 38 minutes. 

Once the timer has reached zero, let the pressure release naturally for ten minutes. Then release the rest of the pressure by turning the valve. 

Remove pork and shred. Put back in the pot, stir, and serve immediately with toppings. 

Check out our Ultimate Instant Pot Guide!

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