Skip to main content

Chicken Mole

A flavorful chicken recipe with a rich and smoky sauce.
Chicken Mole Recipe Image
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Makes: 7 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

1 whole chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
5 cups water, divided
¼ cup chili powder or ground chile powder (see Notes)
1 teaspoon oregano
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (100% cacao)
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon peanut butter

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Remove whole chicken from packaging and remove organs from cavity. Do not rinse chicken; cooking will kill all bacteria.
  3. Cut chicken into pieces: thighs, legs, breast, wings and back. Remove fat and skin from all but the wings and back. Save wings and back for making broth, if desired. Cut breast pieces in half.
  4. Wash hands, cutting board and knife with soap and water after handling raw chicken.
  5. In a large pot, put chicken pieces, onion, garlic cloves and 4 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (165 degrees F using a food thermometer).
  6. While chicken is cooking, mix chili powder, oregano, cocoa, flour, sugar, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the remaining ½ cup of water and stir until smooth. Stir in peanut butter and set aside.
  7. When chicken is cooked, move pieces from the broth to a large bowl.
  8. Slowly add the seasoning mix to the pot, stirring to avoid lumps. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 15 minutes or longer until you like the flavor and thickness. Stir a few times.
  9. While the sauce is cooking, add the chicken pieces back to the pot, or cut or shred the chicken into smaller pieces and add them to the pot. Cook until heated through.
  10. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Make this a meal with a vegetable and grain or beans of your choice. It is traditional to sprinkle sesame seeds on the top of the chicken and sauce.
  • Chili powder is often a mix of dried cayenne pepper, salt, oregano and cumin that is usually mild to medium spicy. Ground chile powder can be made from any variety of dried pepper without other ingredients. Ancho, California, New Mexico and Colorado chile powders have a mild flavor; cayenne and chile de arbol powders are spicier.
  • No whole chicken? Use uncooked chicken pieces (with or without bones), such as 7 chicken thighs or 2 chicken breasts. Remove extra fat and skin, then continue with step 5.
  • Want to use cooked chicken?  Pour 4 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth into a large pot. Add the seasoning mixture from step 6. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low (step 8). Add 3 ½ cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken (step 9).

Thanks to the OSU Extension Latin Heritage Workgroup for this recipe.

Comments

This recipe makes a delicious meal. I didn't realize that an interesting mole could be so simple. There are some other recipes that I will make using this way of cooking the chicken ahead to use the cooking water/broth for the recipe rather than using purchased broth or bouillon 

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

My Personal Pizza
Platter of English muffins with red sauce, vegetables and melted cheese.

My Personal Pizza

A great recipe for kids to make, these pizzas made on English muffins can be topped with all your favorites!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
1 pizza
Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Plate of pasta shells filled with pumpkin and cheese filling over red pasta sauce.

Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

A rich, creamy recipe that combines fall flavors with satisfying pasta.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
12 Filled Shells
Fruited Tabouli
Large bowl of a colorful mix of bulgur, fruit and vegetables.

Fruited Tabouli

A tasty mix of grains, sweet grapes, and pops of mint and lemon. Perfect for a summer BBQ!
Prepare:
30 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Chunky Black Bean Dip
Photo of Chunky Black Bean Dip

Chunky Black Bean Dip

Great appetizer or snack idea ready in as little as 10 minutes!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
3 Cups
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Tree-like shaped browned cauliflower on a platter.

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

Slices of cauliflower flavored with garlic and lemon, and roasted until tender and caramelized.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
40 minutes
Makes:
6 servings
Bell Pepper Salad
Red, yellow and green bell pepper strips are mixed with onion slices and dressing for a light and crunchy salad.

Bell Pepper Salad

This 4-ingredient salad is crunchy, tangy and colorful! The perfect addition to any meal.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Was this page helpful to you?