Slow-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew
A rich and complex chicken stew featuring a blend of seven traditional Oaxacan moles, slow-simmered to deepen flavors and tenderize the meat. This mexican-inspired chicken ready in about 140 minutes pairs bone-in chicken thighs, vegetable oil, large, diced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2, stemmed and seeded dried ancho chiles
- 2, stemmed and seeded dried pasilla chiles
- 3, stemmed and seeded dried guajillo chiles
- 1, stemmed and seeded dried chipotle chiles
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 oz, chopped unsweetened Mexican chocolate
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 2 medium, roasted and chopped tomato
- 4 cups chicken broth
- to taste salt
- 1/4 cup chopped for garnish fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 6 bone-in chicken thighs and brown on all sides for about 6 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Toast 2 dried ancho, 2 pasilla, 3 guajillo, and 1 chipotle chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until aromatic, then soak in hot water for 15 minutes until softened.
- Step 4: Drain chiles and blend with 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 oz chopped Mexican chocolate, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 tsp black peppercorns, and 2 roasted chopped tomatoes until smooth.
- Step 5: Pour the mole sauce into the pot with onions and garlic. Add 4 cups chicken broth and stir well. Return chicken thighs to the pot.
- Step 6: Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 hours until chicken is tender and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
- Step 7: Season with salt to taste, garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, and serve hot with warm tortillas or rice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew take to make?
Total time is about 140 minutes (30 min prep + 110 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-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew?
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-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew?
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-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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-Simmered Seven Moles Chicken Stew?
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.
Related recipes
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
