Healthy Chicken Mole

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Published 2/7/2022
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Diabetic
Healthy Chicken Mole

The rich flavors of chocolate, raisins and almonds give this mole sauce an unforgettably decadent presence. Allow the luscious, Mexican inspired flavors to wash over you in this heart-healthy one pan chicken recipe.

Total Time
45 minutes
Servings
12
Calories
306
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Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chicken Mole

In the mood for a healthy Mexican chicken dish? This diabetic friendly and heart healthy chicken recipe is low in saturated fat because it’s made with lean chicken. It also uses no-salt-added canned tomatoes, making it a low sodium chicken dish. And the classic mole sauce combines the rich flavors of chocolate, raisins, almonds and garlic for an unforgettable taste. When you’re looking for a flavorful meal that’s also good for your health, this is one you have to try.

Although not all chicken mole is healthy, this one is. At only 306 calories per serving, this is the perfect low calorie chicken recipe to make when you’re craving bold flavors. By using lean chicken breasts, it keeps the saturated fat low. The rest of the fat in the dish is of the heart healthy variety, coming from a small amount of olive oil and almonds. This shredded chicken recipe also has nutrient-rich vegetables, including onions, garlic, tomatoes and chipotle peppers. Using whole grain tortillas adds fiber. 

Mole sauce can sometimes be loaded with oil, but to make our mole sauce healthy, we used just a small amount of olive oil as the base and then added lots of vegetables like onions, garlic and tomatoes. The unsweetened chocolate keeps the sugar count low. There are only enough almonds added to provide flavor without raising the fat or calorie count too much. The low sodium chicken broth and canned tomatoes keep the sodium level in check.

Mexican food can be healthy when prepared with fresh ingredients like vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Some healthier Mexican dishes are Grilled Chicken Tacos, Fish Tacos, Black Bean Soup, and Black Bean Quinoa Salad. A chicken mole dish can be healthy depending on its preparation. Look for recipes that use lean chicken, minimal sugar and not a lot of added fat or sodium. 

Ingredients

Recipe yields 12 servings

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How to Make Chicken Mole

  1. Step 1

    In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil until hot. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chipotle pepper, raisins, lime juice and tomatoes and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Carefully pour the mixture into a blender. Add the almonds, broth, chili powder, cinnamon and black pepper. Purée the mixture until smooth

  3. Step 3

    Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate and stir constantly until melted. Add the shredded chicken and heat through.

  4. Step 4

    Serve chicken on tortillas and garnish with lime wedges and cilantro.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1 tortilla

306
Calories
11
g
Fat
44
mg
Cholesterol
297
mg
Sodium
30
g
Carbs
3
g
Sat. Fat
3
g
Fiber
22
g
Protein
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More Healthy Chicken Recipes Like Chicken Mole

Chicken is a versatile meat that can be used in many different dishes. Whether you’re looking for a healthy chicken sandwich recipe for lunch or a quick and easy chicken and vegetable recipe for dinner, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from. 

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