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25 Best Tomatillo Recipes: Are More Than Just “Mini Tomatoes”🍴

25 Best Tomatillo Recipes: Are More Than Just “Mini Tomatoes”🍴

Tomatillos are much more than simply the “mini tomatoes” many people mistake them for. We’d like to celebrate their individuality by highlighting a list made entirely of Tomatillo Recipes.

While tomatillos may appear somewhat similar to tomatoes, they are really quite different.

The most obvious difference is the husk that encases a tomatillo; within the tusk, you’ll find a small, round, green fruit (yes, tomatillos are technically a fruit – just like tomatoes).

Tomatillos are a bit more acidic than tomatoes; they’re actually rather citrusy.

Depending on how they’re cooked and prepared, the taste of tomatillos ranges from tart to sweet, making them perfect for different types of salsas and sauces that accompany Mexican-style dishes.

 But salsas and sauces aren’t the only uses for tomatillos.

Tomatillos are fantastic flavor contributors in soups, salads, and even casseroles, something we hope to prove with the 25 recipes on this list.

From traditional Mexican to Middle Eastern cuisine, our recipes with tomatillos will surprise and delight any flavor palate. 

You’ll find appetizers like Fried Tomatillo Bites With Chipotle Remoulade, salads like Mexican Brussels Sprouts Salad With Tomatillo Dressing, soups like Mexican Pozole Verde Soup, and dinner entrees like Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Enchilada Casserole.

Now start discovering the magic of tomatillos!

We are bananas about this tomatillo chicken recipe!

It includes two cuts of chicken fried to perfection and cooked in a thick, chunky tomatillo potato sauce, and don’t even get us started about the seasoning.

Serve it over rice, and you’ll quickly crown it as your favorite chicken dish.

We’re all about blending cultures through culinary technique and flavor, so this Tomatillo Chicken Pasta was a no-brainer for our list.

It’s a fettuccine pasta tossed in a tomatillo, onion, and garlic puree and topped with a tender, juicy, bite-sized piece of chicken breast.

Need we say more?

If you’re sensing a tomatillo and chicken theme emerging, you’re right on the money–and we’re not sorry about it!

This recipe for Tomatillo Ranch Chicken produces a baked dish of succulent chicken breasts on a bed of rice smothered in a uniquely creamy homemade tomatillo ranch.

It’s packed with savory yet citrusy flavor and proves that chicken and rice is no run-of-the-mill meal.

This recipe is for you if you went a little crazy in the produce section on your last shopping trip and now have a heap of tomatillos.

This is one of the most versatile of our recipes for tomatillos because you can serve it as a side, use it to complete another recipe or dish, or can and freeze your roasted tomatillos.

The natural flavor of the tomatillos quite literally ‘pops’ during the roasting process, bringing a fresh yet heavy quality to whatever they accompany.

This Chicken Verde is a delightful Tex Mex creation that takes cubed chicken thighs and breasts and simmers them in a slightly spicy roasted tomatillo Verde sauce. 

Poblano peppers give the dish a bit of a zap, but it’s well-balanced with decadent chicken and fresh herbs like cilantro and oregano.

Serve over rice and be prepared to get seconds.

While we’re pretty committed to making this list about tomatillo recipes not salsa, we just couldn’t get this Roasted Peach Tomatillo Salsa off our minds – so here it is.

The peach and tomatillo pairing is pure genius; it’s totally unique, finishing as a sort of combination of pico de gallo and fruit salad.

It’s easy to make and even easier to devour.

Trust us when we say there is no one more addicted and dedicated to the joy that is fried green tomatoes.

But these Fried Tomatillo Bites are deliciously vying for our love and devotion–and they’re getting it.

The tomatillos are sliced, lightly breaded, fried to crispy excellence, and drizzled with a smoky chipotle remoulade.

So what can you make with tomatillos when you have some you need to use but don’t need or want a meal out of them?

In short, this Green Enchilada Sauce.

It’s fast and easy and yields a tart yet savory enchilada sauce that you can use right away or freeze and store for up to three months.

Since we’re on the topic of enchiladas, it seems only fitting that we include an enchilada recipe here.

These Chicken Enchiladas Verdes are soft, tender, super cheesy and saucy, and smothered in a tangy custom salsa verde.

This particular recipe also comes with helpful tips and tricks for getting the best possible enchilada outcome.

Tamales are a traditional Mexican staple best prepared according to age-old family recipes. 

However, these Green Chile Chicken Tamales blend just enough of the old with the new to make it work.

The shredded chicken filling is infused with a tomatillo puree to give it a fresh, fruity vibe.

This recipe also provides step-by-step support to take the intimidation out of preparation.

We’ve already pledged our love to the Fried Green Tomatillo, but this recipe gives them an Indian flair that is hard to beat.

The batter includes carom seeds, which produce a citrusy spice unmatched in any other seasoning.

These tomatillos can be devoured alone or even used as a veggie burger.

These Tomatillo Poblano Beans are a sweet and spicy masterpiece.

A tomatillo, onion, jalapeno, and poblano puree become the base for the beans, giving them one of the most unique flavor profiles for a bean dish we’ve ever had.

Oh, and it can be made in an instant pot in only 40 minutes.

If you’re looking for ways to incorporate recipes using tomatillos into dishes you’re already familiar with, this Chicken BLT Salad With Citrus Tomatillo Dressing is a great place to start.

It takes a classic American sandwich, turns it into a salad, and then coats it with a citrusy, tangy vinaigrette.

It’s a mash-up made possible by the one and only tomatillo.

Tomatillos have a solid reputation for delivering a well-balanced tart sweetness, but this recipe gives that traditional tomatillo taste and smoky chipotle depth.

This recipe also puts an interesting modern spin on a traditional Mexican dish.

And while we appreciate tradition, we must say this version of chilaquiles is pretty easy – and yummy.

If you haven’t tried a Brussels sprout salad yet, we strongly suggest starting with this recipe.

Raw Brussels can be a bit bitter, but that bitter note mingles nicely with the flavors of the cotija cheese, corn, pickled red onions, almonds, avocados, and the ranch-esque tomatillo dressing.

One bite, and you’ll be stuck on Brussels salads.

This recipe is the solution when you’re wondering what to make with tomatillos and searching for a deliciously interesting new soup.

Tomatillo Chicken Stew is a totally unique fusion of ingredients with an incomparable flavor profile.

It truly is an impressive creation that’s surprisingly easy to achieve.

We’ve covered roasted tomatillos and chicken enchiladas, but this recipe combines the two into the casserole of your dreams.

The secret is really in the sauce, which in this case is made of roasted tomatillos, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, green onions, sour cream, and chicken broth.

Add in the warm tortillas and decadent melty cheese layers, and you have a blue-ribbon casserole.

Everybody loves sloppy joes, but it’s a treat that’s out of the question for those living a plant-based lifestyle.

This Green Chili Lentil Sloppy Joes recipe produces a lentil-based vegan version of the beloved sandwich.

The smoky, acidic barbecue notes are replaced with a green chile variety, and the mix is topped with a sweet and tangy tomatillo salsa.

Mole is a well-known Mexican staple that varies by region.

This recipe emulates a style that is a bit runnier and can accommodate both chicken and pork and incorporates a slew of other fresh veggies.

Prepare as instructed for one of the most authentic Mexican dinner recipes with tomatillos and serve with tortillas and rice.

Pozole might be one of Mexico’s best-kept secret soups.

Though it’s traditionally served in a seasonal capacity from late summer to early fall, its flavors satisfy all year-round.

Containing cooked hominy, tomatillo Verde sauce, and poached chicken, this soup is as visually appealing as it is tasty.

While shrimp seems a bit more common, this recipe utilizes clam juice and a two-part cooking process that exceeds expectations.

The sauteed onions, jalapenos, and tomatillos cook down in the clam sauce, and the added shrimp and cheese bake beautifully on top when the skillet is transferred to the oven.

It’s easier than it seems and as delicious as it sounds.

This is possibly the most unique recipe on this list and one of the most unique recipes we’ve ever encountered.

Shakshuka is a traditional Middle Eastern breakfast dish (as it contains eggs), but the addition of tomatillos transforms it into an amazing anytime meal.

It’s a totally different take on a recipe that originated halfway across the world, but it absolutely works.

We’ve never met a soul who didn’t love pulled pork, and with recipes like this, it’s no wonder why.

This recipe creates sweet shredded pork that’s perfectly suited to burritos–burritos that will then be topped with a fresh and creamy cilantro tomatillo ranch.

But honestly, you could eat this pork by itself and be just as satisfied.

Last but certainly not least are these Shredded Tomatillo Chicken Or Pork Sandwiches.

We love that we can choose whichever meat is speaking to us on any particular day, and we love the flavor packed in these sammies even more.

The infused shredded meat topped with guacamole and fresh cabbage is nothing short of a handheld masterpiece.

The bottom line

While tomatillos have often been pigeonholed into simply salsas, they are capable of so much more culinary greatness.

It is our hope that the diverse and delicious recipes on this list solidify the tomatillo’s place in your food hall of fame.

25 Best Ways To Use Tomatillo On The Menu 🍴

25 Best Ways To Use Tomatillo On The Menu 🍴

These easy Tomatillo Recipes are fantastic flavor contributors to soups, salads, and even casseroles!

Ingredients

  • Tomatillo Salsa Verde
  • Tomatillo Chicken
  • Tomatillo Chicken Pasta
  • Tomatillo Ranch Chicken
  • Oven Roasted Tomatillos
  • Chicken Verde
  • Roasted Peach Tomatillo Salsa
  • Fried Tomatillo Bites With Chipotle Remoulade
  • Green Enchilada Sauce
  • Chicken Enchiladas Verdes
  • Green Chile Chicken Tamales
  • Fried Green Tomatillo With Carom Seeds
  • Tomatillo Poblano White Beans
  • Chicken BLT Salad With Citrus Tomatillo Dressing
  • Chilaquiles With Chipotle Tomatillo Sauce
  • Mexican Brussels Sprouts Salad With Tomatillo Dressing
  • Tomatillo Chicken Stew
  • Roasted Tomatillo Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Green Chili Lentil Sloppy Joes
  • Mole Verde
  • Mexican Pozole Verde Soup
  • Baked Shrimp With Tomatillos
  • Tomatillo Shakshuka
  • Cafe Rio Sweet Shredded Pork
  • Shredded Tomatillo Chicken Or Pork Sandwiches

Instructions

  1. Take a look at our Tomatillo Recipes list!
  2. Bring the ingredients to create a new favorite dish.
  3. Woohoo! You created a home-cooked meal!
  4. Comment your thoughts on our Facebook page!

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