The Best Authentic Chicken Mole Recipe

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This chicken mole recipe reminds me of my childhood home where aromas of spices, onion, and garlic wafted out from the kitchen daily. While this recipe calls for numerous toasted ingredients, adapting the recipe to suit your own tastes is part of the fun.

Chicken mole on plate with Mexican rice and corn tortillas with side of charro beans and salsa

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Why Make Mole from Scratch?

This chicken mole recipe was prepared with love by my mother and me. Over the years, my mother (who is known for her traditional Mexican dishes) has tried countless variations of mole recipes.

We finally perfected the sauce we’re sharing with you today.

If you can buy premade mole sauces, why should you go through the effort to make your own?

Well, in our opinion, the store-bought sauces don’t seem to deliver the same quality anymore. If you need shortcuts, though, I’ll offer a few substitutions.


What is “mole” and how do you pronounce it?

Mole (pronounced “moh-leh”) is a rich, reddish brown sauce that originated in Mexico and can vary greatly in styles and preparation. Our recipe is modeled after the classic style of mole called mole poblano.

Chicken mole plate with corn tortillas and rice

In my family’s Tex-Mex tradition, mole is typically served with chicken or turkey, along with Mexican rice and charro beans. However, you can also pour the sauce over enchiladas or tamales.

Common Mole Ingredients

  • 2-3 varieties of chili peppers
  • Sour/citrus fruit (tomatillos and tomatoes)
  • Sweet dried fruit and chocolate
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Breading/thickeners (corn tortillas, bolillo, or crackers)
  • Spices
Cutting board with chicken mole sauce ingredients, including chili peppers, raisins, chocolate, onion, sesame seeds and other fruits and spices
Chicken mole ingredients

As you’ll see in the recipe, these ingredients are first toasted to draw out the flavor of each ingredient before being blended and combined with water or chicken broth.

Mole Origin

As told in my family, the “legend of mole” involves a group of nuns preparing a special meal for the arrival of church dignitaries. The sisters used what they could find to concoct a new dish, hence the wide range of ingredients found in authentic mole recipes.

(Wikipedia seems to back up this legend.)

Chicken mole on talavera plate with corn tortillas
Chicken mole poblano

There are competing claims between Mexican states (Oaxaca and Puebla) about when mole entered the scene. Mole from Oaxaca tends to have a darker color (mole negro), and many other colorful varieties exist in that region. In the Texas border region (where my family originated), the more common style is mole poblano from Puebla.

One thing is clear: the name mole means “concoction” or “mix” (archaic), and the recipe combines a smorgasbord of ingredients. That’s why I love it!

How to Prepare Chicken Broth for Mole

For an easier chicken mole recipe, you can skip the step of making broth and buy a rotisserie or shredded chicken. However, going through the effort usually pays off in the end with enhanced flavor.

To begin, boil 8-9 cups of water in a large stockpot or dutch oven. Then, add chicken pieces and continue boiling on medium heat for about 15 minutes. Skim away any foam as the chicken boils.

Tip: For two chicken fryers (about 3 lbs each), you’ll need 8-9 cups of water. You can adjust this amount based on the amount of chicken you plan to serve.

Next, add cut vegetables to your soup. We recommend using celery, cilantro, bell pepper, yellow onion and crushed garlic. Boil the soup for another 15 minutes. Then remove the chicken pieces and set them aside.

Strain some of the veggies out of the broth and retain the liquid to serve as the base of the mole sauce.

How to Make Chicken Mole Sauce (with Variations)

Dried Chile Peppers

The heart of mole sauce lies in the peppers.

This chicken mole recipe has mild spiciness and uses three types of dried peppers: guajillo, pasilla, and ancho peppers.

(You can also find ancho peppers in my red enchiladas recipe.)

Other pepper options include chiles de árbol (fairly spicy) and mulato chiles (mild). To get a sense of a pepper’s spiciness, you can reference this chile heat scale.

Dried chili peppers with seeds removed on cutting board
Guajillo, pasilla, and ancho peppers with seeds removed

Always start by removing the stems and seeds from your chile pods. Rinsing the chiles in cool water also helps to release seeds that stick to the skin.

Dry Roasting and Toasting Mole Ingredients

Next, you’ll gradually roast or toast each of the ingredients in a skillet or saucepan, except for the chocolate tablet.

By dry roasting the peppers, citrus fruits, seeds, raisins, vegetables, and spices in a greased skillet, you enhance the flavor of the mole.

For the breading (bolillo and tortillas), you will need to add a bit of oil for browning. You can then lightly toast the crackers in the remaining oil.

After roasting, blend the seeds, nuts, and peppercorns/cloves in a grinder or molcajete, one by one.

Then, add all of your ingredients into the chicken broth with the chocolate. Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Tip: If you skipped making homemade chicken broth, simply bring your water (or premade broth) to a boil first. You can also add chicken bouillon (consommé) to water for a quick and easy broth.

Blending the Mole Sauce

Once the ingredients have steeped, begin blending the mixture in a food processor. Take care not to overfill the processor, and blend the mole sauce in batches if necessary.

Chicken mole sauce after blending
Blended mole sauce

After all ingredients are blended, add 1-2 teaspoons of salt and sugar (or as much as you like) to taste. You can then freeze portions of the sauce if desired.

Before adding your chicken, add a tablespoon of oil to your pot and cook the sauce down slightly on medium heat. Then add the chicken pieces and coat well before plating. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top for a finishing touch.

Now, enjoy your delicious chicken mole with tortillas de maiz, arroz, frijoles, and maybe even a margarita. You’ve earned it! If you liked this chicken mole recipe, please drop me a line below!

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Chicken mole plate served with Mexican rice and corn tortillas with text overlay reading "Authentic Chicken Mole"

Thanks for following along, and please tag @firstdayofhome on Instagram if you try this recipe!

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Chicken mole meal with Mexican rice, corn tortillas, and lime wedges served with a bowl of charro beans and salsa

The Most Authentic Chicken Mole Recipe

Author: firstdayofhome.com
This authentic chicken mole recipe is true to the Mexican tradition, with balanced and complex flavors. The blend of sweet and savory ingredients makes this dish a favorite for weddings, birthday and special celebrations.
Serve this mole poblano with rice, beans and corn tortillas for a traditional presentation.
4.6 from 22 votes
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 10
Calories 743 kcal

Ingredients
 

Chicken Broth

  • 2 whole chicken (about 3 lbs each, cut in pieces, neck and giblets removed from cavity)
  • 2 sticks celery (sliced)
  • 3-4 sprigs cilantro
  • ½ bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 small yellow onion (quartered)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • salt (to taste)
  • pepper (to taste)

Mole Sauce

  • 8 guajillo chiles (deseeded, stems removed, and rinsed)
  • 8 pasilla chiles (deseeded, stems removed, and rinsed)
  • 8 ancho chiles (deseeded, stems removed, and rinsed)
  • ½ yellow onion (quartered)
  • 1 roma tomato
  • 1 tomatillo (quartered)
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • 4 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 4 tablespoons sliced almonds
  • 2 tablespoons pepitas
  • 2 cloves garlic (sliced)
  • ½ teaspoon peppercorns
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 bolillo (small pan frances)
  • 1 corn tortilla
  • 8 Ritz crackers (or similar)
  • 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil (for toasting)
  • 1 tablet Mexican chocolate (3.2 ounces)
  • salt (to taste)
  • sugar (to taste)

Instructions
 

Chicken Broth

  • In a large stock pot or dutch oven, bring 9 cups of water to a boil. Then, add the chicken pieces.
  • Continue boiling the chicken on medium heat for 15 minutes. Skim off any foam that surfaces.
  • Add all vegetables to the soup, and continue boiling for 15 more minutes.
  • Remove the chicken pieces, and set them aside for later.
  • Strain most of the vegetables from the soup, and retain the broth for the mole sauce.

Mole Sauce

  • Begin dry roasting each ingredient (one at a time) in a greased skillet or saucepan, except for the chocolate and bolillo, tortilla, and crackers. The peppers, onion, tomato, and tomatillo may take 2-3 minutes, while the seeds and spices may only require 1-2 minutes of roasting. Take care not to heat the peppercorns too long, as this can cause bitterness.
  • Add enough oil in the skillet to make the corn tortilla crisp and brown the crust of the bolillo, pressing it flat if needed. In the remaining oil, lightly toast the crackers.
  • Blend the sesame seeds in a grinder or mortar and pestle (molcajete). Reserve a small amount to sprinkle on top of your mole as garnish. Then, separately, grind the pepitas and peppercorn/cloves.
  • Add all mole ingredients to the chicken broth, including the chocolate disk, and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes. Do not add the chicken at this step.
  • Once the ingredients are well steeped, blend the mole sauce in a food processor, working in batches if necessary. As a final step, add more salt or sugar to taste.
  • You can freeze some of the mole sauce if desired. Otherwise, add a tablespoon of oil to a pan before adding the mole sauce and cooking it slightly before adding your chicken pieces.
  • Once the chicken is well coated, serve it with a garnish of toasted sesame seeds on top.

Notes

For a smaller batch, reduce the broth, chicken, and mole ingredients by roughly half.
In place of homemade chicken broth, you can substitute store-bought broth (preferably low-sodium). You can also mix a small amount of chicken bouillon (consomme) or vegetable bouillon with water.
The mole sauce freezes well. After defrosting, simply reheat the sauce with a small amount of oil before adding the chicken pieces or another protein of your choice.
Feel free to experiment with other types of chiles, seeds, or thickeners (breading).

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 743kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 41gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 1274mgFiber: 14gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 10667IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @firstdayofhome or tag #firstdayofhome!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mole spicy?

The spiciness of mole depends on two ingredients: chile peppers and peppercorns. The hotter the dried pepper and the more peppercorns you use, the spicier the mole. The chile peppers used in this mole have a spiciness of 2-5 on a scale of 8 with guajillo peppers being the mildest.

What do you put mole sauce on?

Chicken mole is perhaps the most common entree using mole sauce, but you can substitute just about any protein, including turkey, duck, or fish. You can also add mole sauce to tamales or enchiladas. For a vegetarian option, try pouring mole sauce over poblano peppers, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth as the base.

What goes with this chicken mole recipe?

Chicken mole pairs well with Mexican rice, cilantro rice, or white rice. In the Tex-Mex tradition, mole is often served with refried beans or frijoles a la charra (charro beans). In some regions, black beans may be served as an alternative.

How do you thicken a mole?

If your mole sauce is thin or runny, try adding more breading by increasing the number of corn tortillas, crackers, or bolillos. For best results, toast the ingredients slightly in a greased skillet before blending them into the sauce.

Can you make a gluten-free mole?

You can make gluten-free mole by substituting more corn tortillas for the bread (bolillo) and Ritz crackers. The nuts and seeds in this recipe are naturally gluten-free.

What’s the difference between adobo and mole?

Adobo is a dish that originated in the Philippines and has the properties of a marinade with higher acidity. Since it contains vinegar, it has more of a tangy flavor and bears little relation to mole sauce.

Can you make nut-free mole?

To make a nut-free mole, replace the almonds in the recipe with more sesame seeds or pepitas. As always, read the labels of other packaged ingredients to check for potential nut allergens.

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I feel so blessed your recipe was put in my path, this is as close as I remember making it with the women in my family. Loved the wonderful smells in my kitchen as it cooked. Everyone was so very happy when we sat down to finally enjoy the wonderful mole. I was inspired to make fresh homemade corn tortillas, oh so yummy so satisfying. People this is well worth the time and effort. I will give you all the stars above me for the perfect rating. I am so happy

    1. Ah, you made my day, Boo! I love it when I can connect with someone who totally gets our food culture. Yes to homemade corn tortillas too! I’ve been wanting to put that recipe on the blog as well. I so appreciate your kind words, and I’m thrilled you got to share this with your family. Buen provecho!

  2. 4 stars
    I don’t know a lot about Mole nor am I a professional, or even educated, but this was good. My mouth tries to tell me that this could be sublime…. I just don’t know for sure what it is lacking. Some acid? Some tang? MSG? Worcestershire? Anchovies? I wish I knew!

    1. Thanks for the comment, Jason. The legend has it that mole is a recipe that originated with nuns trying to throw many ingredients together to impress dignitaries, so I encourage you to continue experimenting until you find that it appeals to your personal taste. Good luck!

  3. That looks absolutely fantastic! I am feeling so hungry after reading that. I love reading about you and your mom and your family traditions!

    1. Thanks so much, CiCi! I’m glad I still have some sauce in the freezer so I can relive the experience again soon. So many traditions to record, so little time! Thanks for stopping by! 😘

  4. Your chicken mole looks so good, Crissy! I love that you and your mom worked together to perfect this recipe. My mouth is watering just looking at your beautiful photographs.

    1. Thank you, Paula! I’m so happy I can record some of these family recipes so I can always remember how to make it again. Thanks for stopping by and sharing! Sending hugs, Crissy

  5. Oh my goodness… this chicken mole recipe looks amazing, Crissy! I can smell and taste it from here! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial… Such an authentic mexican recipe, too! Pinned!

    1. Thanks so much, my sweet friend! It took a few tries, but I can truly stand by this recipe. It’s fun to try different variations too. Thanks for pinning!