Pollo guisado is a savory stew made with braised chicken, potatoes and vegetables in a rich tomato sauce. It’s made different ways all over Latin America but what remains consistent about this dish is that it’s always comforting and delicious! Along with white rice, beans, tostones, and avocado this dish is the ultimate Puerto Rican comfort food. Save my pollo guisado or chicken stew recipe for a delicious weeknight meal the whole familia will enjoy!
When I was a child, I remember my mom cooking pollo guisado quite often. My siblings and I sometimes complained because we had to eat it all the time but eventually I grew to love it and now it’s one of my favorite meals to cook for my kids. I have adopted the Dominican method of caramelizing sugar to brown the chicken before stewing it. I think it adds depth of flavor and elevates the dish to new levels!
Ingredients for making pollo guisado:
- Chicken drumsticks and thighs, skinless
- adobo, Healthy Rican
- sazón, Healthy Rican
- savory spice mix, Healthy Rican
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- ground oregano
- black pepper
- granulated sugar
- sofrito
- tomato sauce
- chicken bouillon
- garlic
- red onion
- bell pepper
- tomato
- pimento stuffed olives
- carrots
- potato
- bay leaves
- cilantro + culantro
- lime juice
As for seasoning, I use Healthy Rican Adobo and Sazón. They are free of harmful ingredients like MSG and dyes. Use my code: madewithsazon for 10% off your order!
How to make pollo guisado
To make pollo guisado, start by cleaning the chicken thoroughly with cold water and white vinegar. Season the chicken and brown it in caramelized sugar. This method allows the chicken to brown beautifully. You’ll want to take your time with this step. The more you brown the chicken the more richness you will add to the dish, just be sure not to burn. Once your chicken is turning dark brown, you’ll know it’s ready for the next step.
This is when we slow-cook the chicken in a fragrant, sofrito sauce with potatoes and vegetables. Add sofrito, chicken bouillon and then tomato sauce to the pot. Then add the vegetables and water. Simmer until everything is juicy and tender, then you are ready to serve and enjoy. The end result is magical, trust me!
What to serve with pollo guisado?
Pollo guisado is typically served with white rice, beans and salad. Some popular side dishes include tostones, platano maduro and also avocado. Other side dishes that complement this dish well are macaroni salad or potato salad.
This dish stores well in the refrigerator for excellent leftovers you can enjoy the next day! Just warm on the stove over low heat and it’s just as delicious as it was the day before.
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Pollo Guisado Recipe
Ingredientes
- 2 lbs chicken drumsticks and thighs skinless
- 2 tsp adobo Healthy Rican
- 2 tsp sazon Healthy Rican
- 1 tsp savory spice mix Healthy Rican
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp granulated sugar for browning chicken
- 2 tbsp sofrito
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon
- 1 tsp hot sauce optional
- 2 cups water
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 red onion halved
- 1/2 green bell pepper halved
- 1 plum tomato halved
- 1/4 cup pimento stuffed olives
- 3 tbsp canola oil
- 2 carrots sliced
- 1 potato cubed
- 1 lime juiced
- 2 bay leaves
- 3-4 sprigs cilantro
- 3-4 culantro leaves optional
Instructions
- Clean chicken with cold water and white vinegar or lemon juice. Remove skin and any excess fat.
- Season the chicken with all of the spices.
- Add oil to a large pot over medium high heat. Add sugar and allow it to brown.
- Add chicken and brown on all sides. Allow the chicken to turk dark brown but be careful not to burn.
- Add sofrito, garlic, chicken bouillon, tomato sauce and hot sauce, if using. Cook until it becomes fragrant.
- Add vegetables, olives and enough water to cover the chicken fully. Bring to a boil.
- Add bay leaves, cilantro and culantro.
- Cover the pot, set the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
- Remove the aromatics. Taste the sauce, and adjust seasoning as necessary. I like to add a splash of lime juice at this point to enhance the flavor.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Check out my other recipes!
Churrasco with Chimichurri Sauce
Ensalada de Coditos (Puerto Rican Macaroni Salad)
Alcapurrias (Puerto Rican Fritters)
Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas)
Puerto Rican Potato Salad (Ensalada de Papa)
Puerto Rican Corned Beef (Carne Bif)
Rabo Guisado (Puerto Rican Oxtail Stew)
Puerto Rican Meatballs In Sofrito Sauce
Puerto Rican Beans (Habichuelas Guisadas)
Easy Black Beans (Habichuelas Negras)
Pollo al Horno (Baked Chicken)
English 
Spanish 
Now I am hungry for this plate, 🧐🧐🤤🤤🤤
This is the third recipe I’ve tried and it didn’t disappoint! So flavorful yet simple. I’m a fan of your recipes, keep them coming!
It’s easily in my top 3 favorite dishes of all time!!! 😍
Elena, GIIIIIRL!!! this is the SALSA of the SOUL of Puerto Rico. This is the food that makes you DANCE whenever you open the doors to ANY Puerto Ricans home and the first thing that hits you is that GOYA OH BOYA smell. TY so much for sharing your recipes. I’m printing them ALL and YES Ill be making them. God bless those gifted hands of yours.
Dios te bendiga.
Bruni
OMG thank you Bruni! Your comment is so beautiful I want to cry lol, I am so happy you are enjoying my recipes. I write each recipe with love, and I don’t publish until it is perfect. Thank you for the love, I truly appreciate it! xo