Description
Chicken Mole brings rich, complex flavors straight from Mexican kitchens to your dinner table, blending chocolate and chiles into a deeply satisfying sauce that hugs tender chicken perfectly. Generations of family recipes shine through each spoonful of this comforting classic that connects you directly to authentic culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 chicken thighs
Secondary Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat (375°F) until it shimmers.
- Place 4 chicken thighs into the hot oil, searing each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy exterior develops.
- Transfer browned chicken onto a clean plate, keeping the delicious pan drippings inside the pot.
- Drop chopped onion and minced garlic into the same pot, sautéing for 4-5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder over the softened vegetables, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
- Pour 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes and 2 cups chicken broth into the pot, whisking to combine all spices and create a smooth sauce.
- Nestle the reserved chicken thighs back into the sauce, ensuring they’re partially submerged.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the mole simmer for 30 minutes until chicken is tender and sauce thickens.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon sugar and salt to taste, adjusting seasonings for perfect balance of flavors.
Notes
- Swap chicken thighs for breasts if preferred, but thighs stay more tender and juicy during long cooking.
- Toast whole spices before grinding for deeper, richer flavor that transforms the mole sauce.
- Dark chocolate with 70% cocoa works best, adding complex depth without overwhelming sweetness.
- Make extra sauce and freeze for quick future meals, as mole tastes even better after flavors develop overnight.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 294 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg