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Chicken Poblano Recipe

Chicken Poblano is a rich, creamy dish featuring seared chicken simmered in a smoky, poblano-infused sauce with onions, garlic, and a touch of lime and honey. Served over rice pilaf, pasta, or mashed potatoes, it delivers bold flavors with a perfect balance of heat and creaminess.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 people
Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Blender
  • Tongs
  • Instant-read thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp olive oil or butter, divided
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 large poblano peppers
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock plus a little bit more if needed
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp honey
  • ½ large onion, sliced
  • 1 cup packed cilantro leaves
  • ¾ cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat with butter or oil.
    Heat-a-skillet-over-medium-heat-with-butter-or-oil-720x960
  • Season chicken with ½ teaspoon of the salt and pepper, then sear until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.
    Season-chicken-with-½-teaspoon-of-the-salt-and-pepper-then-sear-until-golden-brown-about-4-minutes-per-side-720x960
  • Remove the chicken and set it aside. In the same pan, add more butter or oil, then sauté onions, sliced poblanos, and garlic for 5 minutes.
    Remove-the-chicken-and-set-it-aside.-In-the-same-pan-add-more-butter-or-oil-then-saute-onions-sliced-poblanos-and-garlic-for-5-minutes-720x960
  • Transfer the sautéed poblano, onion, and garlic mixture to a blender. Add cilantro, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ cup chicken stock. Blend until smooth.
    Transfer-the-sauteed-poblano-onion-and-garlic-mixture-to-a-blender.-Add-cilantro-¼-teaspoon-salt-and-½-cup-chicken-stock.-Blend-until-smooth-720x960
  • Pour into the skillet along with the remaining stock, cream, lime juice, honey, and salt.
    Pour-into-the-skillet-along-with-the-remaining-stock-cream-lime-juice-honey-and-salt-720x960
  • Bring to a simmer, return the chicken, cover, and cook until it reaches 165°F.
    Bring-to-a-simmer-return-the-chicken-cover-and-cook-until-it-reaches-165°F-720x960
  • Adjust consistency with stock if needed. Serve with pasta or mashed potatoes.
    Adjust-consistency-with-stock-if-needed-scaled-e1781335698243-768x821

Notes

  • Roast poblano directly over a flame or under a broiler for the best smoky flavor.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered to reduce.
  • Swap cream for Greek yogurt or coconut milk for a lighter version.