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Authentic Chicken Mole Poblano Recipe

Chicken Mole Poblano is a classic Mexican dish featuring tender chickensimmered in a rich, velvety sauce made with dried chilies, chocolate, nuts,seeds, spices, and tomatoes.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs chicken pieces, thighs or drumsticks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 2 dried ancho chilies stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried pasilla chilies stemmed and seeded
  • 2 dried mulato chilies stemmed and seeded
  • 1 corn tortilla torn into pieces
  • 1 slice stale bread or bolillo roll
  • ¼ cup almonds
  • ¼ cup peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds plus extra for garnish
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole cloves
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 oz Mexican dark chocolate chopped
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Cooked white rice for serving
  • Warm tortillas for serving

Method
 

  1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on both sides for 3–4 minutes per side, then remove and set aside.
  2. Toast ancho, pasilla, and mulato chilies in a dry skillet for 30 seconds until fragrant. Transfer to hot water and soak for 15 minutes until softened.
  3. In the same skillet, toast tortilla pieces, bread, almonds, peanuts, raisins, sesame seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, cumin, and oregano until lightly browned and aromatic. Remove from heat.
  4. Sauté onion, garlic, and tomatoes until softened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add softened chilies, toasted ingredients, sautéed vegetables, and 2 cups chicken broth into a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
  6. Pour sauce through a fine mesh strainer back into the pot for a silky texture. Stir in chocolate, brown sugar, and remaining broth. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  7. Return chicken to the sauce, cover, and simmer on low heat for 45–50 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or sugar if needed.
  9. Serve chicken over rice, spoon extra mole sauce on top, and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve with warm tortillas.

Notes

Chef’s Tips
  • For deeper flavour, make the mole sauce a day ahead; it tastes even better after resting overnight.
  • Use Mexican chocolate for authentic flavour, but dark chocolate with a pinch of cinnamon works too.
  • If the sauce is too thick, add extra chicken broth gradually until desired consistency is reached.
  • Mole freezes well for up to 3 months, making it ideal for meal prep.
  • Pair with Mexican rice, refried beans, or roasted vegetables for a full meal.