Pork pozole is a rich and comforting soup that has deep roots in Mexican cuisine. Known for its heartiness and vibrant flavors, this dish is the perfect balance of tender pork, hominy, and a savory, spiced broth. Often served during celebrations or family gatherings, pozole brings people together with its warmth and deliciously complex flavors.
At the heart of pork pozole is the hominy, which is made from dried corn kernels that have been treated with alkali. These chewy, nutty kernels soak up the flavorful broth, giving pozole its signature texture. The pork, typically shoulder or belly, is simmered until it becomes tender and pulls apart easily. The broth is made with a base of chili peppers, like guajillo and ancho, which give the soup its rich red color and smoky heat. Along with garlic, onion, and various spices like cumin and oregano, the broth becomes a savory, spicy backdrop to the pork and hominy.
What makes pork pozole so special is the way it’s served. It’s typically garnished with fresh toppings such as shredded cabbage, radishes, cilantro, lime wedges, and crispy tostadas. These add brightness, crunch, and freshness to each bowl, creating a perfect balance with the rich and flavorful soup. Some people like to drizzle a bit of oregano and chili powder for an extra kick.
Pork pozole is not only incredibly flavorful but also highly versatile. It can be customized to your liking by adjusting the spice level or changing up the garnishes. You can also make it ahead of time, as the flavors improve the longer it sits. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or a cozy weeknight dinner, pork pozole is always a crowd-pleaser.
With its rich history and comforting flavors, pork pozole is a dish that invites everyone to gather around the table and enjoy something truly delicious.

Ingredients
- 2 pounds pork shoulder cut into 2-inch cubes
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cans hominy 15 ounces each, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups chicken broth
- cilantro chopped fresh
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the pork cubes to the pot and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in the dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the drained and rinsed hominy and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours, until the pork is tender and the flavors have melded together.
- Serve the pork pozole hot, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro, sliced radishes, lime wedges, and diced avocado.
What even is hominy? Is it necessary? Gonna try with regular corn instead.
Delicious recipe! I added a bit more cumin, and it turned out fantastic!
I love that you added more cumin! It really can enhance the flavor. Can’t wait to try it! 🌮
I followed it pretty closely but I swear my pork took way longer than 2 hours to get tender. Like almost 3.5. Still tasty, but the timing might be optimistic depending on the cut.
Easy to follow! I added some jalapeños for a kick and it turned out great. Will make again!
The instructions are clear, but I wish you mentioned the radishes/lime/avocado in ingredients. I almost forgot to prep toppings, and then it felt kinda sad without them.
Good catch! The ingredient list omits radish/lime/avocado even though the instructions say to top with them. I’ll update that next time—those toppings totally make the bowl feel “finished.”
I agree—when I was reading I only saw cilantro and thought, wait… where do the radishes/lime/avo go? I ended up scrambling at the store. Tbh it still tasted good but kinda sad like you said 😅
Easy to follow and it turned out great! Used leftover pork from a roast and it worked fine. Yum!
I used beef instead of pork, hope that’s ok? Tasted different but still yummy.
Less than 2 hours cooking, more like 5 hours to get it nice. Worth the wait tho!
I totally agree! It’s so much better when you let it simmer longer. The flavors really come together!👏
5 hours? That seems a bit much. I thought this was supposed to be a quick recipe. 🤔
so good!!! i kinda used dried cilantro bc i was out and it still worked lol. next time will add radishes for sure
I added some jalapeños for extra heat, and it turned out great! Thanks for the base recipe!
Great recipe! I added some jalapeños for spice and it was a hit at the family dinner. 🌶️❤️
Jalapeños sound like a delicious addition! I might try that next time. Thanks for the tip! 😊
Absolutely delicious! The flavors were so rich and hearty. Will definitely make again!
5 stars for comfort. I simmered until the pork was fork-tender and the whole pot smelled amazing. My family asked for seconds—no notes.
This recipe is absolutely delicious! The flavors are amazing and my family loved it.
I totally agree! This pozole recipe is a game changer. My family devoured it too!
2 hours was not enough for my pork shoulder—had to simmer closer to 3.5 hours. Still tasty, just plan for patience.
Good to know—my pork shoulder always takes forever too. I’ll plan for ~3 hours at least next time. The flavor sounds worth the wait.
Took forever to cook and my pork didn’t tenderize like I thought it would. Disappointed 🙁
Sorry to hear that! Maybe it needed more time? I’ve had better luck cooking my pork for longer. Definitely worth a try!
So delicious! Can’t believe I made this at home. My family loved it! A recipe I’ll keep!
Too many steps for me, I got lost halfway. I’ll stick to simpler recipes.
It’s good but I think I would add more spices next time. But still a solid meal.
I agree, more spices would definitely elevate the flavor! Have you tried adding chili powder or maybe some cayenne for heat?
Absolutely loved it! The flavors were amazing. Will make again for sure!
So glad you loved it! The flavors are just perfect. What toppings did you use?
Yum! I added some jalapeños for heat, it turned out great!
My first time making pozole and it came out way better than expected. The smell while it simmered was amazing. I served it with extra cilantro and nobody complained.
Honestly 2 pounds is a lot—maybe that’s why my leftovers tasted even better today. If you’re meal-prepping, this is the move.
I used 2 lbs too and I swear it tastes even better the next day. The hominy gets that perfect texture. Great advice!
2 pounds definitely helps—there’s more to braise and the flavor really settles in. Meal-prepping pozole is the best kind of “cheat.”
Pork and hominy, good combo. Would add some chili for a kick.
Could be better. I used pork loin instead of shoulder (didn’t read that part), so it was kinda dry. Lesson learned: shoulder or bust.
I forgot the hominy and it still tasted okay. 😅 Just not pozole without it tho.
Hominy is super important for the flavor! You really missed out. 😬
It was good, but mine took the full 3 hours and I wasn’t watching the pot like I should. Also I think I needed more broth because it got kinda thick by the end. Flavor was still comforting though.
3 hours?? Wow—mine was done closer to 2 (but I *did* keep checking). Also I’m thinking 4 cups broth might be low depending on your pot size—maybe use 5 or add more when it goes thick. But overall sounds tasty!
So glad it still came out comforting! If it thickened up, I bet your simmer got a little too vigorous or your pot was evaporating faster—adding a splash more broth (or even water) near the end usually fixes that. Next time just keep an eye on the liquid level.
This was kind of bland for my taste. I expected more kick.
Bland? Really? I mean, it’s supposed to be comforting! You can’t expect every dish to blow your taste buds away.
I think it needs some chili or jalapeños to spice it up! That’s what makes pozole great. Just saying!
Made something similar but mine came out a bit bland last time. Your seasoning list looks solid though—do you think adding more salt or a pinch of chili powder would help? Otherwise looks great!
I tried it, and the flavor was good but I forgot to rinse the hominy and it was way too salty. Lesson learned: rinse, rinse, rinse. Might be a 4/5 with correct prep.
Wait, so you add 1 tsp salt plus the hominy—no wonder it went salty if it wasn’t rinsed. Next time just skip the salt a bit, or use low-sodium broth. Hominy matters a lot.
Oof, that’s the pozole trap 😅 Rinsing the hominy makes a huge difference. Glad the flavor still came through—4/5 is fair. I always drain then rinse like 2-3 times.