Chori Pollo is a delicious baked chicken and chorizo recipe that has all your favorite Tex-Mex flavors in one dish. Chicken breasts bake in the oven surrounded by a sauce of pork chorizo, cream cheese, and green chilis. This is the best chorizo recipe I have ever made at home and a great low-carb or keto dinner idea!
Why I Love this Chori Pollo Recipe
When I was in Dallas last month, I made a complete pig of myself when I ate at Pappasitos. That restaurant is reason enough to move to Texas. I couldn’t stop eating 🙂 Well, that was 35 days ago and I have been on a rampage for some good Tex-Mex ever since. We had a new Mexican restaurant open last week in our town, so I got all excited. My excitement was quickly replaced with disdain. Bleh…..
As a result, I became a woman on a mission. I needed to come up with a recipe to fill this Tex-Mex/Pappsitos craving, or I was going to die. Yes, die. Recipe inspiration finally struck at Wal-Mart as I stood in front of the refrigerated Latin food section. I am not one to brag, but HOLY COW!!! I am a genius! Really, just give this Chori Pollo recipe a try and you will want to nominate me to the Nobel committee. Genius, I tell you!
My Chori Pollo creation took boring old chicken breasts and turned them into flavor-packed perfection. This chicken recipe creates the most amazing pan sauce which is heaven when you serve it over some rice.
Then if you are lucky enough to have leftovers, take it to the next level and slap the chicken inside a tortilla topped with some guacamole, fresh salsa, lettuce, and a squeeze of lime juice. Chori pollo tacos for the win! Really….you are going to want to have that Nobel committee’s phone number handy.
What is Chori Pollo?
In English, chori pollo translates to chorizo chicken. There are many recipe variations but the main two ingredients are chicken and pork chorizo sausage, which includes a mixture of strong Mexican spices. In chori pollo, the chicken and spicy sausage are cooked together, giving the bland chicken a lot of flavor it wouldn’t have on its own. It can be made with either chicken breast or thigh meat.
Chori Pollo Ingredients
While the seasonings and sauce ingredients can vary from recipe to recipe, this chori pollo recipe creates a gorgeous, creamy pan sauce as it bakes. Serve it just like it is, or over some rice with a generous drizzle of that sauce.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Pork chorizo sausage
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Canned diced tomatoes with green chilis
Cotija cheese
How to Make Chori Pollo?
Oftentimes, you’ll prepare chori pollo in one pan on the stove. For this recipe, you’ll cook the chorizo and sauce on the stove, then finish the dish in the oven. I love cooking like this because it allows me to walk away from a dish as it cooks.
Cook the chorizo in a large skillet on the stove until cooked all the way through. Do not drain.
Add the tomatoes and cheese to the chorizo to create the chori pollo sauce.
Pour the sauce over the chicken into a large casserole dish and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
Serve on its own or over some steamed rice.
Chori Pollo Recipe FAQs
Can I Use Regular Pork Sausage Instead of Chorizo?
Yes, you can use regular pork sausage in this recipe and it will be completely delicious. However, it will not be chori pollo. You have to use chorizo sausage for that authentic-tasting dish in the end. Most grocery stores carry a few different varieties of chorizo in their Latin section of the refrigerated foods. And if not, don’t hesitate to ask your grocery store manager if they can order you some!
What Can I Use Instead of Cotija Cheese?
Cotija cheese is made from cow’s milk and is often called the parmesan cheese of Mexican food because it is just as salty as the classic Italian cheese. Most grocery stores have it in their Latin section of the refrigerated groceries so look there. If not, feel free to use fresh parmesan cheese instead…just not that fake stuff in the green cans, please!!
How to Pronounce Chori Pollo?
Reading how to pronounce a phrase in another language is rarely helpful. Hearing it is the only way to go. So, here is a link to the pronunciation ==> How To Pronounce Chori Pollo. If that doesn’t help, just call it chicken chorizo instead and you’ll be good to go!
How Many Carbs Are in Chori Pollo?
If you are eating a low-carb or keto diet, chori pollo is an amazing recipe because it only has 4 grams of carbohydrates in each serving. That includes one whole chicken breast and the creamy chorizo sauce as well. It’s a large serving of delicious protein for a very low carb count.
What is Chori Made Of?
Chori is the word for chorizo sausage. Classic chorizo is made with pork, but you can also find it made with chicken, organ meat, or plant-based meat substitutes. As far as seasonings, that is dependent on where the chori is made. Generally, it is seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, chilis, annatto seed, and either white wine or vinegar. All of these ingredients make for an amazing chicken recipe!
Can You Freeze Chori Pollo?
Yes, chori pollo makes a great freezer meal. To do so, you’ll prepare the chorizo sauce from the recipe, then assemble the dish in a heavy-duty aluminum pan with a lid. Using these disposable pans frees up your good pans for whatever else you need them for. Do not bake the dish as directed in the recipe. Instead, cover with plastic wrap, then the foil lid. Mark the lid with directions for baking, the name of the recipe, and the date. To prepare the dish, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 2-3 days then follow the baking directions as listed in the recipe below.
How to Store Chori Pollo?
If you are lucky enough to have some leftover chori pollo, package up the chicken into airtight containers while the leftovers are still warm. Allowing the leftovers to cool before putting them in the fridge allows bacteria the chance to grow and no one wants potential food poisoning! Store your leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for 3 months. Leftovers make great chori pollo tacos or burritos! In fact, this is one of those magic recipes that is actually more delicious on day two than it was on day one!
What to Serve with Chori Pollo?
Honestly, just think of your favorite Mexican side dishes and you will be good to go! Listed below are my favorite recipes to serve with chori pollo:
Cilantro Lime Rice is absolutely perfect with this recipe because a delicious pan sauce forms as the chicken bakes. Just drizzle it over the rice!
Homemade Flour Tortillas make the perfect vehicle for mopping up the sauce and juices off your plate or scooping up some chori pollo into one.
Mexican Barley Salad is a healthy, flavor-packed salad that is completely delicious with this chicken. The crunchy pieces of fresh jicama are my favorite!
This chicken casserole is an amazing chorizo recipe! A creamy, cheese sauce with the cooked pork chorizo bakes with the chicken for a low carb dinner recipe
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:8 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
6–8 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 if large, 8 if small)
10 ounce package pork chorizo
4 ounces light cream cheese or Mexican crema
1/2 C light sour cream
10 ounce can chopped tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1/4 C fresh cotija cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 glass pan with nonstick spray. Lay down the chicken evenly in the pan.
In a large skillet, brown the chorizo over medium-high heat for about 7-8 minutes. Add the drained tomatoes, cream cheese, and sour cream and mix until it is all blended.
Spread the chorizo mixture over the chicken breasts, sprinkle on the cotija cheese and bake, uncovered for about 45 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breasts. There will be enough pan juices to serve over some rice if desired. Or slice the chicken and serve it inside a tortilla topped with your favorite toppings.
Author:Carole Jones
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:45 minutes
Category:Dinner
Method:Baked
Cuisine:Mexican
Nutrition
Serving Size:1 breast
Calories:392
Sugar:2 g
Sodium:792 mg
Fat:20 g
Saturated Fat:7 g
Unsaturated Fat:8 g
Trans Fat:0 g
Carbohydrates:4 g
Fiber:0 g
Protein:48 g
Cholesterol:161 mg
Carole Jones
Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.
98 comments
Jennifer
13 years ago
I make this about once a month now, after finding your recipe. My whole family loves it, even the picky 4 yr old! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Arlene Herron
13 years ago
Made this tonight and my husband and I looooved it! Soo good! Can’t wait to make it again.
Dawn
12 years ago
This was absolutely delicious!!! I give this an A++++ and it was super easy to make too!
Thank you,
Dawn
Carole
12 years ago
So glad you loved it Dawn! Thanks for coming back to share your results -Carole
karen
12 years ago
I am beside myself right now… I just jumped on pinterest to affirm my idea from the other day.
Now, I don’t normally buy my food at Walmart, but I basically had the same exact experience as you when I was at Walmart two days ago!!!
I was so jazzed on the idea of the churizo that I was practically dancing through the aisles as I left.
I’m about to start my version of this recipe right now!!!
Carole
12 years ago
Let me know how it turns out Karen! -Carole
Lana
11 years ago
Thank you for this recipe! My gf passed yesterday and I knew I had to cook but I couldn’t think straight. Her daughter enjoyed it a lot and was grateful. Gave her the recipe and we both laughed because she was expecting 15 million different ingredients and technique haha Thank you!
Carole
11 years ago
So sorry for your loss Lana! I’m glad the dish went well for you and that her daughter enjoyed it as well
crr777
11 years ago
What type of rice would ypu serve this with? Amazing recipe
Carole
11 years ago
Since it makes a nice pan sauce, just some plain steamed rice would be fine if you pour some of the sauce over the top
Tanya
11 years ago
do you cook the chicken before you put the mixture over it? If so, what’s the best way to cook the chicken, boil, fry, grill, etc?
Carole
11 years ago
No Tanya. Just follow the directions exactly and it will turn out great
Megan
11 years ago
Made this last night for our dinner party! It was a hit! Shared this on my blog today!
Carole
11 years ago
So glad it worked for your party! It looks like quite the spread you provided -Carole
Food Friday – 03/20/2015 | Messy Counters and Floured Paperbacks
11 years ago
[…] up, I have another Mexican-inspired chicken recipe, Chorizo Chicken Bake from My Kitchen […]
christian
11 years ago
Can this be done in a crock pot?
Carole
11 years ago
I have never done it in a crock pot Christian. I am sure it would work, but the end result would probably be quite soupy. If you do try it, please come back and let me know how it turned out for you!
The air is getting cooler and the leaves are turning which means it is time to break out those fall recipes and start cooking with apples, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, and cabbage. I have put together...
Here is another quick, easy and delicious recipe to use carnitas in. These crispy carnitas and onion quesadillas are perfect for a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. The combination of rich...
When I make carnitas I always make a large batch. It always makes sense to do so and there are so many great dishes you can make from the carnitas (Mexican pulled pork). This carnitas enchilada recipe...
Enchiladas are one of my favorite dishes and a go-to weeknight dinner for our family. Whenever I make them, I usually will use a store bought canned sauce. I always say I want to make the sauce myself...
When it comes to Mexican cuisine, few dishes tantalize the taste buds quite like carnitas. These succulent, tender shreds of pork, infused with traditional spices, have been a staple of Mexican culinary...
Tater Tot Casserole is a must-have, kid-friendly recipe in my kitchen. This easy dinner recipe is simply the best because it is jam-packed with ground beef, corn, cheese, and crispy tater tots. When...
98 comments
I make this about once a month now, after finding your recipe. My whole family loves it, even the picky 4 yr old! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Made this tonight and my husband and I looooved it! Soo good! Can’t wait to make it again.
This was absolutely delicious!!! I give this an A++++ and it was super easy to make too!
Thank you,
Dawn
So glad you loved it Dawn! Thanks for coming back to share your results -Carole
I am beside myself right now… I just jumped on pinterest to affirm my idea from the other day.
Now, I don’t normally buy my food at Walmart, but I basically had the same exact experience as you when I was at Walmart two days ago!!!
I was so jazzed on the idea of the churizo that I was practically dancing through the aisles as I left.
I’m about to start my version of this recipe right now!!!
Let me know how it turns out Karen! -Carole
Thank you for this recipe! My gf passed yesterday and I knew I had to cook but I couldn’t think straight. Her daughter enjoyed it a lot and was grateful. Gave her the recipe and we both laughed because she was expecting 15 million different ingredients and technique haha Thank you!
So sorry for your loss Lana! I’m glad the dish went well for you and that her daughter enjoyed it as well
What type of rice would ypu serve this with? Amazing recipe
Since it makes a nice pan sauce, just some plain steamed rice would be fine if you pour some of the sauce over the top
do you cook the chicken before you put the mixture over it? If so, what’s the best way to cook the chicken, boil, fry, grill, etc?
No Tanya. Just follow the directions exactly and it will turn out great
Made this last night for our dinner party! It was a hit! Shared this on my blog today!
So glad it worked for your party! It looks like quite the spread you provided -Carole
[…] up, I have another Mexican-inspired chicken recipe, Chorizo Chicken Bake from My Kitchen […]
Can this be done in a crock pot?
I have never done it in a crock pot Christian. I am sure it would work, but the end result would probably be quite soupy. If you do try it, please come back and let me know how it turned out for you!