Artificial Flavors Free Caldo de Pollo

Total time1 hr 30 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time1 hr 10 min

4.7

(29)

This soul-warming Mexican chicken soup is built entirely from whole, real ingredients — bone-in chicken, garden vegetables, and aromatics that do all the heavy lifting on flavor. Smashed garlic, quartered onion, halved tomatoes, and whole black peppercorns simmer together to create a broth that tastes deeply savory and complex without a single shortcut. Carrots, chayote, zucchini, corn, and cabbage join the pot in stages so every vegetable hits that perfect tender-but-not-mushy sweet spot. Fresh cilantro and optional mint add brightness that no bottled seasoning packet could replicate. For anyone avoiding artificial flavors, this recipe is a dream — every drop of that golden broth comes from time, heat, and honest ingredients you can see and name. A squeeze of lime and a pinch of dried oregano at the table let each person finish their bowl exactly the way they like it. It's the kind of comforting, nourishing meal that makes you wonder why you'd ever reach for a processed shortcut in the first place.

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Ingredients

6 servings

3 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or a mix)
10 cups water
1 medium white onion, quartered
6 garlic cloves, smashed
2 medium tomatoes, halved
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
4 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 medium zucchini, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium chayotes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
2 ears of corn, cut into 3 rounds each
½ small head of cabbage, cut into 3 wedges
4 sprigs fresh cilantro
2 sprigs fresh mint (optional)

For serving

lime wedges, for serving (optional)
warm corn tortillas, for serving (optional)
dried oregano, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Place the chicken pieces in a large pot (6-quart or larger) and cover with 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then use a ladle or spoon to skim off any gray foam that rises to the surface, about 3–4 minutes.
2
Add the quartered onion, smashed garlic, halved tomatoes, black peppercorns, and 1 tsp salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover partially, and simmer for 30 minutes.

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