Pollo Guisado

Hearty Puerto Rican Chicken Stew – Easy & Flavor-Packed Meal Prep

Looking for a soulful one-pot dish that brings all the comfort of home-cooked Puerto Rican food? This Pollo Guisado(Puerto Rican stewed chicken) is simmered low and slow with bone-in chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, sofrito, and bold spices. It’s a recipe passed down from my mom and inspired by the women who taught her. Perfect over white rice with sliced avocado – this one’s a keeper.

🥬 INGREDIENTS

Meat:

• 2.5–3 lbs chicken thighs (bone-in, skinless)

Vegetables & Aromatics:

• 2–3 medium red potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 2 large carrots, chopped

• 2 tbsp sofrito (homemade or store-bought)

• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

• 1–2 cloves garlic (optional, if not in sofrito)

Seasonings:

• 1 packet Sazón

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Garlic powder, to taste

• Olive oil, for searing

Other:

• ½–1 cup water or chicken broth (for stewing)

• Optional: Avocado slices for serving

• Optional: White rice for serving

🔥INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prep the Chicken:
   Pat dry chicken thighs and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Let sit while prepping other ingredients.

2. Sear the Chicken:
   In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Sear chicken thighs in batches until browned on both sides. Remove and set aside.

3. Build the Base:
   In the same pot, add sofrito and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and a splash of water or broth to deglaze.

4. Add the Veggies:
   Add chopped potatoes and carrots. Stir to coat in the sauce.

5. Simmer Everything Together:
   Return chicken to the pot. Add Sazón and enough water or broth to just barely cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30–40 minutes, or until chicken is tender and vegetables are cooked through.

6. Serve:
   Spoon Pollo Guisado over a bed of white rice. Garnish with avocado slices if desired.

🧠PRO TIPS

• Use bone-in chicken thighs for maximum flavor and tenderness.

• Let the stew sit for a few minutes after cooking for the flavors to deepen.

• Want a thicker stew? Simmer uncovered for the last 5–10 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve over white rice with avocado slices

• Pair with beans or a fresh side salad

• Add a splash of hot sauce for extra heat

🔎ESTIMATED MACROS

For Entire Recipe:

• Calories: ~3,500

• Protein: ~240g

• Carbohydrates: ~190g

• Fat: ~180g

Estimated Yield: 6–8 servings

Per Serving (Without Toppings):

• Calories: ~430 kcal

• Protein: ~30g

• Carbs: ~24g

• Fat: ~20g