Easy Pan con Pollo

User Reviews

4.9

300 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Servings

    12

  • Calories

    417 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    Salvadoran

Easy Pan con Pollo

Pan con Pollo, or Panes con Pollo, is a flavorful Salvadoran version of a chicken sandwich. This recipe features tender rotisserie chicken simmered in a rich, spiced stew, blending traditional flavors in a quicker, approachable way.

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Ingredients

Servings

For the Sauce:

  • 5 fresh tomatoes , chopped
  • 1- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil , olive oil, canola, or vegetable oil
  • 1 large yellow onion , chopped
  • 1 poblano pepper or bell pepper (any color), chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic , minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • kosher salt , to taste
  • 3 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 chile ancho
  • 1 Chile Guajillo or Chile California
  • 1 Chile pasilla
  • 3 Chile Arbol optional ( For a spicier sauce)
  • 1 packets sazon goya culantro y achiote
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon knorr chicken flavor bouillon adjust to taste
  • 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken ,Disassemble the chicken into large pieces or leftover turkey from Thanksgiving

To Assemble:

  • 12 or more large hoagie rolls, bolillo, or telera , as needed
  • ½ cabbage , shredded or 16 leaves remain lettuce
  • 1 bunch Watercress
  • 2 English cucumbers , unpeeled and sliced in thin slices
  • 10 radishes , thinly sliced
  • 1 large white or red onion , cut in half, and thinly sliced
  • 2 large firm tomatoes sliced
  • yellow mustard , as needed
  • mayonnaise , as needed
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Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:

  1. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add Chile Árbol, Chile Guajillo, Chile Pasilla, and Chile Ancho. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until the oil takes on an orange hue.
  2. Add garlic, fresh tomatoes, Poblano pepper, and onion. Cook stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Rinse the can with 2 cups of hot water and add the liquid to the pan. Season with chicken bouillon, Sazón Goya, sugar, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, stirring frequently to prevent the sauce from sticking or burning at the bottom of the pan.
  4. Use an immersion blender or standard blender to process the mixture until smooth (blend in batches if using a standard blender, leaving the lid vented for heat to escape). Return the blended sauce to the saucepan.
  5. Add the disassembled rotisserie chicken and bay leaves. Simmer over medium low for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and develops deeper color.
  6. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred the meat into bite-size pieces using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Assemble Pan con Pollo:

  1. Arrange all prepared vegetables on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Toast Bolillo rolls on a sheet pan or directly on the oven grates for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  3. Place toasted rolls on plates and cut them lengthwise. Spread mayonnaise on one side and mustard on the other.
  4. Layer the sandwich with shredded cabbage or lettuce, cucumber slices, onion, tomato, and radish.
  5. Mound shredded chicken onto the bread, add a spoonful of sauce, and top with watercress or cilantro.
  6. Repeat for remaining rolls.

Notes

  • Storage, Make Ahead, & Freezing
  • Storage, Make Ahead, & Freezing
  • Storage: Store any leftover chicken stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Storage: Store any leftover chicken stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Make Ahead: The chicken and sauce can be prepared a day or two in advance. Reheat gently on the stovetop before assembling the sandwiches. Vegetables can also be prepped ahead and stored in separate containers in the fridge.
  • Make Ahead: The chicken and sauce can be prepared a day or two in advance. Reheat gently on the stovetop before assembling the sandwiches. Vegetables can also be prepped ahead and stored in separate containers in the fridge.
  • Freezing: The chicken and sauce freeze well. Allow them to cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if needed to adjust the consistency.
  • Freezing: The chicken and sauce freeze well. Allow them to cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if needed to adjust the consistency.
  • Storage: Store any leftover chicken stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Make Ahead: The chicken and sauce can be prepared a day or two in advance. Reheat gently on the stovetop before assembling the sandwiches. Vegetables can also be prepped ahead and stored in separate containers in the fridge.
  • Freezing: The chicken and sauce freeze well. Allow them to cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if needed to adjust the consistency.
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4.9

300 reviews
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