Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame
Tender chicken simmered in a rich, complex Oaxacan mole negro sauce featuring toasted sesame seeds and dark chocolate. This Mexican-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 90 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, dried ancho chiles, dried pasilla chiles for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 dried ancho chiles
- 3 dried pasilla chiles
- 2 dried mulato chiles
- 1 dried chipotle chiles
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 oz Mexican chocolate
- 1 medium, quartered white onion
- 4, peeled garlic cloves
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Toast 3 dried ancho chiles, 3 dried pasilla chiles, 2 dried mulato chiles, and 1 dried chipotle chile in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, turning often to avoid burning.
- Step 2: Remove stems and seeds from toasted chiles and soak them in 2 cups of hot water for 20 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium quartered white onion and 4 peeled garlic cloves, sautéing for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Step 4: Transfer soaked chiles with their soaking liquid, sautéed onion and garlic, 1 oz Mexican chocolate, 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 small cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves, and 1 tsp dried oregano to a blender. Blend until smooth to create the mole sauce.
- Step 5: Season 4 bone-in chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. In a heavy pot over medium-high heat, brown chicken in 1 tbsp oil for 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
- Step 6: Pour the mole sauce over the chicken, add 3 cups chicken broth, bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 1 hour until the chicken is tender and sauce thickens.
- Step 7: Serve chicken topped with additional toasted sesame seeds and mole sauce spooned generously over.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame take to make?
Total time is about 90 minutes (25 min prep + 65 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep bone-in chicken thighs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Chicken Mole Negro with Toasted Sesame?
Mexican chicken like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
