This easy and delicious Slow Cooker Pozole – New Mexican-Style Soup is a hearty, warming dish packed with tender pork, smoky spices, and hominy. It uses common pantry ingredients like diced tomatoes and chili sauce, perfect for a simple weeknight meal. Finish with fresh lime wedges for a zesty, crowd-pleasing touch!

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1½ tsp (9 g) salt, plus extra to taste
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 lbs (908 g) / 900 g boneless pork shoulder, cut into ½-inch (1.3-cm) cubes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cups (720 ml) / 700 ml chicken broth
• 1 (15.5-oz [439-g]) / 440-g can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15-oz [425-g]) / 425-g can hominy, drained
• 1 (8-oz [227-g]) / 230-g can red chili sauce (not enchilada sauce)
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) lime juice
• Lime wedges, for serving

How To Make Slow Cooker Pozole—New Mexican–style Soup

1. Season the pork: Stir cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cubed pork and toss to coat. Transfer the pork with any remaining spices to a 6-quart (6-L) slow cooker.
2. Add ingredients: Add the chopped onion, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, hominy, and red chili sauce to the slow cooker.
3. Cook: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours until the pork is tender.
4. Add lime juice and season: Stir in the lime juice and adjust the seasoning with salt as needed.
5. Serve: Serve hot with lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

• Cut the pork evenly: Make sure to cut the pork into equal-sized ½-inch (1.3 cm) cubes so it cooks evenly and becomes tender in the slow cooker.
• Use the right chili sauce: Choose a red chili sauce specifically made for pozole or New Mexican dishes—avoid enchilada sauce, as it changes the flavor.
• Drain the hominy: Always drain the hominy before adding it to the slow cooker to prevent extra liquid from diluting the flavors.
• Don’t skip the lime juice: Stir in the lime juice at the end for a bright, fresh flavor that balances the smoky and rich ingredients.
• Adjust seasoning after cooking: Taste the soup before serving and add more salt or spices if needed, as flavors can mellow during slow cooking.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Recipes:

• Slow Cooker Hominy, Bean And Sausage Soup
• Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Slow Cooker Broccoli & Stilton Soup With Bacon Toast