Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
A traditional Guatemalan chicken stew featuring a rich, spiced tomato and roasted pumpkin seed sauce simmered to savory perfection. This latin american-inspired chicken ready in about 75 minutes pairs medium (150g) white onion, chopped, medium (450g) tomatoes, chopped, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 2 pounds chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 1 medium (150g) white onion, chopped
- 3 medium (450g) tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 3 chiles dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
- 1/3 cup (40g) roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas), ground
- 1 stick (2 inches) cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 6 whole allspice berries
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp for garnish fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Toast 3 dried guajillo chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes per side until fragrant but not burnt, then soak them in 1 cup hot water for 20 minutes to soften.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat and add 1 medium chopped white onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Step 3: Add 3 chopped medium tomatoes to the pot and cook for another 5 minutes until they break down and become saucy.
- Step 4: In a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind 4 whole cloves, 6 allspice berries, and 1 cinnamon stick until finely ground.
- Step 5: Blend the soaked guajillo chiles with their soaking water, the ground spices, and 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds until smooth.
- Step 6: Pour this blended sauce into the pot with the sautéed vegetables and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and deepens in color.
- Step 7: Add 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs to the pot, coating them well with the sauce; pour in 2 cups chicken broth, season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Step 8: Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook over low heat for 40 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce is rich and slightly reduced.
- Step 9: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving alongside rice or corn tortillas.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds take to make?
Total time is about 75 minutes (25 min prep + 50 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 Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds?
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 garlic cloves, minced from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds?
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 Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 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 Stewed Chicken Pepian with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds?
Latin American 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.
