Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole

February 5, 2014

Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole


Cocoa and chilli in Mexico always symbolized power and glory. Mole is the combination of both, and for this very reason, so worthy of your attention.
Before taking any step further, let’s do the name thing. This is not “Mohl”, there’s an accent on the “e”; so “Moh-LAY.”
Mole is a sweet and spicy rich dark sauce; made with chocolate, two different kind of chiles, tomatoes, almonds, raisins, cumin, cinnamon, and onion (aka the usual suspect).


Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole


Spices add flavour, chocolate depth.
Mole is like a good wine. It has rough sweetness paired with a refined silkness.
It doesn't taste like chocolate at all; it just has a hint of that.
There are layers of rustic flavors that will convert even the skeptical ones.

Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole


I have an old mole recipe that I made when I had a lot of time in my hands — you know, when I was a student and all.
It’s very complicated and involves frying the chiles and melting chocolate in a double boiler. It’s amazing - of course - but not practical for this season of life.
So I adapted it, made a few changes to make it healthier, threw everything in the crockpot and hoped.
Hoped that this (way too easy) meal actually tasted somewhat edible.
Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole


I got lucky. By the time I got home, the kitchen (well, more like the whole apt) smelled amazing.
This chicken mole was awesome and so comforting. As in comfort food, just a little lighter and so easy to make. Oh-so-easy.
The kind of recipe you can throw everything in the crock-pot, turn it on and forget about it.
That easy.
Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole


I normally brown my meat before I put it in the Crock-pot, but for this I did not miss it at all. There is so much flavor in the mole sauce that you don’t need to brown the chicken first.
One less pan to worry about.
The color of the sauce may vary from light brown to almost black, depending on the chocolate you’re using. I recommend at least +70% dark chocolate. Sharp, not too sweet, just fantastic.
This chicken mole is perfect for a warming weeknight meals or a great weekend get-together.
Like I said, just throw it all in and go.
When it’s ready, crank up some music, perhaps a Margarita, whirl whirl, eat and enjoy.
Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole
Easy Healthier Crock-Pot Chicken Mole                                                                Print this recipe!

Ingredients
Serves 5

1 lb / 453 gr boneless organic free-range chicken breast, cubed
1 can (28 oz / 793 gr) whole tomatoes (I used Muir Glen)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 dried ancho chile pepper (I used San Miguel)
1 chipotle chile pepper
½ cup / 1.8 oz / 50 gr sliced almonds
¼ cup / 1.3 oz / 40 gr raisins
3 oz / 85 gr, +70% dark chocolate, chopped (I used Dagoba)
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
½ ground cinnamon
Fresh chopped cilantro, for serving

Directions

In a blender (or food processor) puree tomatoes, onion, ancho chiles, chipotle chile, almonds, raisins, chocolate, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and olive oil until smooth.
Add the chicken to a slow cooker and then pour the tomato mixture over the chicken so the chicken is completely covered, and place the lid on.
Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. I like to stir mine once or twice during cooking, but it is not necessary. When ready to serve taste and adjust with seasoning.

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 560 calories, 24 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbs and 64 grams of protein.

33 comments:

  1. Looks delicious! Is the nutrition facts when served as on the picture? Or is it without the rice?

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  2. OMG, can I have some?

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  3. Minus the raisins and almonds, I could dive head first into this mole, naked. Don't mind me doing the back-stroke in your dinner!

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    1. Absolutely not Gigi, you can do as many laps as you like!

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  4. Oh, I can have chocolate for lunch? right on. This looks great - I love crock pot recipes. Thanks!

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  5. With all the Mexican food I've eaten throughout my life, I have yet to try mole. I think the savory/chocolate thing kind of throws me off, but this looks so easy and delicious! Like so many of your other recipes, I am pinning this to try soon! :)

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    1. You should totally give mole a shot Lauren, it's so worth it!

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  6. I need to try this as soon as possible! Chocolate sounds like a fantastic addition and it makes this dish so interesting! What a lovely and easy dinner! Pinning : )

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    1. It's really delicious Consuelo, you should totally try it!

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  7. Mike - this looks incredible and your review has me so sold on this (you are getting good at this door-to-door food salesman gig)!
    I use chocolate in my chili -so can so imagine the depth of flavor in this - and the raising and almonds are such an amazing texture enhancer! When I come to NYC - you are gonna have to bring me some of this! :)

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  8. That looks delicious. And now I'm hungry for dinner at 6AM!

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    1. Mole for breakfast? Not sure, but it's worth trying... ;)

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  9. Raisins, almonds and chocolate? *swoon* This sounds amazing!

    Think I can make this in a Dutch Oven? Or on the stove top, in a regular stockpot? Or in the microwave, perhaps? Kidding!

    You sure have convinced me that I need to get me a crock-pot. I've never used one before but have been wanting to get one for years now. I think now is as good a time as ever.

    Especially, I now have one recipe that I really, really need to try...

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    1. You can definitely make it in a Dutch Oven or in a regular stockpot over very low heat. I do it all the time when I'm in the mountains (where I don't have a Crock-Pot). But yeah, you definitely need to get you a slow-cooker, it's so worth it!

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  10. I've been on the look-out for new, exciting slow cooker recipes! This is definitely one I need to try... I love me a good mole recipe and the fact that this is so ridiculously easy is a major bonus! Can't wait to try it Mike!

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    1. Oh yeah man, it's doesn't get easier than this. If you like spicy food, this recipe is definitely worth a shot!

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  11. Made this last night for dinner, absolutely delicous! And super easy. I don't have a crockpot but it still turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. That's awesome Michelle, I'm so glad you liked it!

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  12. There is no accent mark or stress on the "e". It is pronounced [MOH-lay] with the stress on the first syllable, not the last. Nevertheless, the photos are lovely. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

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  13. Mike! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this delicious recipe! I just made it for dinner tonight and it turned out beautifully. It's that rare combination of yummy and healthy! I'm so happy to have found your site. I look forward to trying many more of your wonderful recipes!

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    1. Awwwww Betsy, you're super sweet. I'm so happy you enjoyed the recipe this much, that's awesome!

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  14. Hey there mike! Made this last night and it was fantastic. LOVE simple, quick recipes that are healthy and filling. I was amazed at how flavorful and tender the chicken was putting the crockpot on high for 3 1/2 hrs. Thanks again!

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    1. Hey Laura, that's fantastic and I'm so happy this recipe was a huge hit with you!

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  15. this looks so good...definitely adding this to next week's rotation, although i may have to sub roasted poblanos and jalepeños, as sadly I can barely find any peppers at all in UK, and definitely no dried ones lol

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  16. Hello! What unit of measurement did you use for the cinnamon? It just says "1/2 ground cinnamon." Thanks!

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  17. This looks amazing. I have some left over chilis in adobo sauce from another recipe - would subbing them for the chilis here work?

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  18. This looks amazing! I have some leftover chilis in adobo sauce - could I sub them for the chilis here? Thanks!!

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  19. This was so very good. I love mole, but I've always been afraid to give it a try. I mean...raisins and chocolate with chicken? Sounds like it could easily go awry, but I love your coconut chicken curry, so I had faith, and this was just perfect. Next time, I'll add more chicken because there was plenty of the sauce to go around. Thank you for the wonderful, quick and healthy recipes! I'll definitely be trying more of them.

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