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Mexican Chicken Adobo Recipe

Mexican Chicken Adobo Recipe

4.7 from 24 reviews

This Mexican Chicken Adobo recipe features tender chicken thighs in a rich, spicy, and slightly sweet sauce made from dried chiles, aromatics, and warming spices. It’s a traditional Mexican dish bursting with flavor.

Ingredients

Units Scale

    Chicken:

  • 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or legs
  • Adobo Sauce:

  • 4 dried guajillo chiles (stemmed and seeded)
  • 2 dried ancho chiles (stemmed and seeded)
  • 1 medium onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1/2 teaspoon whole cumin seeds (or 1/4 tsp ground)
  • 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • Other:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Adobo Sauce: Toast dried chiles in a skillet, soak in hot water, and blend with onion, garlic, spices, vinegar, and broth until smooth. Strain if desired.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Season chicken with salt, brown in oil, then pour adobo sauce over. Simmer until chicken is tender.
  3. Finish and Serve: Thicken sauce if needed and serve the chicken adobo with rice, tortillas, or beans.

Notes

  • This dish tastes even better when made ahead and reheated.
  • For added heat, include 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
  • Leftovers freeze well for future meals.

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