Nitrate & Nitrite 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, fresh ingredients — bone-in chicken, garden vegetables, aromatics, and water — which makes it a naturally clean choice for anyone avoiding processed additives. There are no cured meats, deli shortcuts, or packaged broths hiding in the ingredient list, so you get a deeply flavorful pot without any of the preservatives that sneak into so many store-bought soups and bases. The broth develops its richness the old-fashioned way: a long, slow simmer with smashed garlic, quartered onion, tomatoes, and black peppercorns that coax every bit of flavor from the chicken bones. Carrots, chayote, zucchini, corn, and cabbage go in at staggered intervals so every vegetable hits the table perfectly tender rather than mushy. A handful of fresh cilantro and optional mint lift the whole pot with brightness, and a squeeze of lime at the bowl brings it all together. It's the kind of meal that feels like it took all day but comes together with minimal effort and zero ingredient anxiety.

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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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