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–+ servings
Chicken legs swimming in guajillo sauce in a stock pot.
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5 from 8 votes

Chicken in Guajillo Sauce

Chicken in Guajillo Sauce wows with flavor. Incredibly delicious and perfect for weeknights. Serve with rice or bread to mop up all the yummy sauce.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 226kcal
Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

For the Guajillo Sauce:

  • 4 guaijllo chile
  • ½ onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • pinch cumin (ground or whole)
  • ½ tablespoon salt
  • 4 cups water (for boiling)
  • 2 cups water (for blending the sauce)

For the Chicken:

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 chicken legs packages
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
  • 2 calabacitas diced (or your vegetable of choice)

Instructions

For the Guajillo Sauce:

  • Cut the stems off the guajillos and cut lengthwise.
  • Remove all the seeds and veins from the inside.
  • Repeat with all the dried chiles.
  • Boil 4 cups water.
  • Turn heat off and add the chiles.
  • Cover and let sit for 7 minutes, or until pliable.
  • Discard the water.
  • Add the rehydrated chiles, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and 2 cups water.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Set aside until ready to use.

For the Chicken:

  • Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with a paper towel.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat olive oil in a large stock pot.
  • Sear the chicken on all sides.
  • About 4-5 minutes on all sides.
  • Do not overcrowd the pot, or it will not sear properly.
  • Place a strainer above the pot.
  • Using a cooking spoon, strain the sauce into the pot.
  • Discard any remaining bits.
  • Add 1 cup water, bouillon, and calabacitas.
  • Mix as best as you can.
  • Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until chicken is ready.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Make the sauce ahead of time for FASTER cooking. 
Swap Out Option: Instead of using 1 cup water + chicken bouillon, use 1 cup chicken broth. 
If the chicken does not pull away easily when you're trying to turn the chicken, it will tear the skin. Let it sear longer before turning. 
Stand back! The sauce can splatter at you when adding to the pot. 
You can add any vegetables you like: calabacitas, broccoli, green beans, peas, carrots. 

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 971mg | Potassium: 416mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg