Sopes de Pollo (chicken sopes)

Sopes de pollo are a delicious Mexican treat perfect to serve as a starter or as a main dish. A delicious chicken mixture with is used to fill a sope and then top it with a mild-spicy tomato and chipotle sauce, cream and lots of cheese.

This recipe is perfect for using the leftover chicken leftovers from other preparations, such as chicken soups or rotisserie chicken. Or you can use our recipe below to make a succulent chicken with tomato sauce and spices. So delicious!

Mexican sopes

Sopes are a type of corn tortilla but in a small and thick format with a border around it that serves to contain various ingredients such as bean puree, meat, vegetables, sauce, cheese and cream.

There are many ways to prepare a sope since ancient times and that have been increasing and enriching over the years. The sopes, along with tlacoyos are a dish that dates back to pre-Hispanic times and that is still very popular in Mexico until nowadays.

Among the various versions for making sopes are these sopes de pollo, a.k.a. chicken sopes that we are sharing with you today. Prepared with shredded chicken cooked with various spices or using leftovers from other recipes.

The chicken sopes that we are sharing with you today are served with a simple tomato sauce and topped with lettuce, onions, cream and queso fresco cheese. A true mexican antojito that you should try at least once!

how to make sopes from scratch

In Mexico and some parts of the United States, sopes are sold in packages, ready to use. You can find them in tortillerías or Latin American supermarkets.

For those of us who do not live in either of those two countries, we have no choice but to prepare our own sopes, and here in the blog we have a wonderful tutorial about how to make sopes at home!

salsa for sopes

We have prepared a tasty and easy tomato and chipotle sauce to serve with these chicken sopes as it gives them a truly irresistible flavor.

Other sauces to prepare these chicken sopes could be green tomatillo salsa, or also a roasted tomato sauce which is also very easy to prepare.

Of course, you can also use canned sauce if you prefer. There are many brands for mexican sauces that are pretty good, look for ranchera sauce, chipotle sauce or also green sauce.

Ingredients for Chicken Sopes

CHICKEN – A succulent spiced, shredded chicken, juicy and so full of flavour, very easy to prepare with our recipe below. Or you can also use rotisserie chicken from the supermarket or leftovers from other recipes.

TOMATO SALSA – You are going to need fresh tomatoes, onions and spices. Or you can also use a bottle of store-bought salsa, thus saving a lot of time preparing these chicken sopes.

LETTUCE – There’s nothing like iceberg lettuce for Mexican snacks, especially these sopes de pollo; but of course, if you can also use other types of lettuce because this dish will surely be just as delicious. Use whatever you have available.

BEANS – You going to need mashed beans to spread on sopes. We have a recipe for refried beans that are perfect to make sopes, but sometimes I also use canned refried beans and make an easy puree. Is up to you!

CHEESE – I usually use queso fresco that I make at home, but of course, that’s only if I have it available when I need it. On many other occasions I also use Feta cheese which is perfect for it. Use any fresh cheese you can find where you live.

CREAM – Finding mexican cream might be not easy (as is not for me), so let me tell you how to make a quick “recipe” for mexican cream: Mix 1 part of regular cream (not sweet!) + 1 part of greek yogurt + a few drops of lemon juice + a pinch of salt. Set aside for 10 minutes then use it.

Chicken Sopes Recipe

Make the chicken

Place chicken, carrots, celery, onion and potato in a pot. Add garlic, bay leaf, rosemary and salt then cover with water. Cook until chicken is tender, this depend with pot or method are you using (stove pot, instant pot, slow cooker, etc).

Remove chicken while is still hot and place it in a bowl. Shreed it using two forks and ser aside.

Heat olive oil in a medium pan, pour in the tomato sauce and 1 cup of water. Add cumin, pepper, oregano, garlic, paprika, chili flakes and salt. Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes.

Add shredded chicken, mix thoroughly and cook for about 5 minutes or until there’s almost not juices left.

Make the beans

Place cooked beans on a food processor. Blend until you’ll have a smooth puree. Add bean’s puree in a small pan over medium heat. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated and beans will have a spreadable texture.

Make tomato & chipotle salsa

Place tomatoes on a hot griddle or a cast-iron skillet. Grill until charred spots appear and tomatoes are soft.

Let tomatoes slightly cool down and then place them on a blender. Add garlic, salt, a pinch of cumin, and chipotle chilies. If you want your sauce spicier, add two or three roasted chile de árbol (dried red hot Mexican peppers).

Blend until you desired consistency and then set aside.

Make the sopes de pollo (chicken sopes)

Watch How To Make This Recipe

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