Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew)

5 from 9 votes

Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew) is comfort food at its best! Juicy, fall-apart chicken cooks in a rich, savory sauce with potatoes, carrots, and spices. Serve it with arroz blanco for a fully authentic meal!

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Total Time50

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Servings:

Calories: 396kcal

Author: Catherine Arena

Ingredients

3 pounds whole chicken or combination of wings, thighs and drumsticks cut up and chicken breast cut into 2-inch chunks
1 cup potatoes cut into large chunks
2 carrots cut
⅓ cup olives stuffed with pimientos
⅓ cup fresh cilantro rinsed and chopped
4 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable or corn oil

Spices

1 packet Sazón seasoning with Annatto
½ teaspoon dried oregano
adobo sprinkled on chicken pieces
2 garlic cloves or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons Puerto Rican sofrito homemade or store bought
2 large chicken bouillon cubes or 4 small cubes
¼ cup tomato sauce
1-2 dried bay leaves depending on how large they are
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Rinse the chicken and season with adobo.
In a caldero or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the chicken, sofrito, sazón, garlic, oregano, chicken bouillon, tomato sauce, olives, and bay leaf.
Note: If using a whole chicken, set aside the breast pieces and add them during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking to prevent them from drying out.
Add the water and bring to a boil. Cover, and cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes.
Add the carrots, potatoes, and cilantro, then cover. Cook over medium heat for another 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is fall off the bone tender.

Notes

Recipe Notes:

Water: Instead of using water, you can use chicken broth or 24 ounces of a light beer.

Serving Ideas:

Puerto Rican white rice and garlic tostones (fried green plantains)
Puerto Rican yellow rice (arroz amarillo) and avocado
mashed potatoes and crusty bread

Storing and Reheating:

Allow the pot to cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on medium-low heat with an additional cup of water. You can also store in an airtight container.

Nutrition