Chicken Mole Recipe

Chicken Mole Recipe

Make Chicken Mole Recipe tonight: rich, smoky mole coats tender chicken for a showstopping family meal.

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time90 minutes
Total Time120 minutes
Yield8

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1: Simmer the chicken

Place the chicken pieces, the quartered onion, whole garlic cloves, and the kosher salt into a large pot and cover completely with water. Bring the pot to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to a steady simmer, cover, and cook until the meat is tender and the broth is flavorful—about 45 minutes. As the chicken simmers, skim any surface foam so the broth stays clear; reserve the cooking liquid to use later as the chicken broth that will loosen the mole.

Step 2: Toast and fry the dried chiles

Working carefully, remove stems and seeds from the guajillo, pasilla, and ancho chiles. Heat 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a skillet and briefly pan-fry the chiles until they become pliable and fragrant—this deepens their color and sweet-smoky aroma without burning them. Transfer the softened chiles to a food processor and add about 2½ cups of the reserved chicken broth to help them purée into a smooth paste.

Step 3: Brown the aromatics and whole spices

In the same skillet add 2 tablespoons of oil and gently cook the extra garlic cloves, the cinnamon stick, and whole cloves until they bloom and scent the oil; the garlic should take on a light golden edge. Add the chopped onion and tomatoes and continue to cook until the vegetables soften and begin to caramelize slightly, concentrating their sweetness. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and whole cloves before transferring the softened aromatics into the food processor with the chiles.

Step 4: Toast the nuts, seeds and dried fruit

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and toast the raisins, sesame seeds, almonds, and pepitas together until everything is golden and aromatic—watch closely so the sesame doesn’t scorch. The toasting builds nutty depth and a glossy surface on the seeds and nuts that will lift the mole’s texture. Let these cool slightly, then add them to the food processor.

Step 5: Blend the mole base until velvety

Blend the chiles, aromatics, toasted nuts/seeds, raisins, and added broth in the food processor until exceptionally smooth and velvety, using additional reserved chicken broth as needed to achieve a thick but pourable consistency. Taste and adjust a pinch of salt; the goal is a cohesive, glossy chocolate-brown sauce without grainy bits—this is the core visual transformation where separate ingredients become a single, silky mole.


Step 6: Cook, melt the chocolate, and reduce

Return the blended mole to the skillet and cook gently, stirring, for a few minutes to concentrate flavors. Add the chopped dark chocolate and stir until completely melted and integrated. Continue to simmer the sauce low and slow for 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more reserved broth if it becomes too thick; the sauce should deepen to a glossy, lacquer-like dark brown and coat the back of a spoon.

Step 7: Coat the chicken and finish

Nestle the cooked, drained chicken pieces into the finished mole and stir or spoon the sauce over each piece until thoroughly coated and glossy. Finish with a scatter of toasted sesame seeds and a handful of chopped cilantro for freshness. Serve directly from the pan with lime wedges, a bowl of cilantro, and warm tortillas or rice alongside for contrast.


Notes