This guajillo chicken recipe consists of chicken drumsticks simmered in a flavorful guajillo pepper sauce. It goes great with a simple side of white rice or Mexican rice and you can’t forget the warm corn tortillas!
What is guajillo sauce?
Guajillo sauce is made from dried guajillo chilies. Dried guajillo chilies can be found at your local Mexican supermarket. This kind of dried chili is used in a lot of Mexican recipes such as enchilada sauce, tamales, birria and Mexican pork ribs.
Is guajillo sauce spicy?
I’ve been using guajillo chilies for many years and I have never come across a spicy one. On the Scoville scale their heat level can range from 2,500-5,000 units. Their heat level is considered mild to medium.
Ingredients needed
- Chicken drumsticks
- Guajillo chilies
- Garlic cloves
- White onion
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Whole cloves
- Ground cumin
- Chicken bouillon
- Salt and pepper
- Bay leaf
- Water
- Olive oil
How to make guajillo chicken
First we’re going to make the guajillo sauce. Put the guajillo chilies in a pot and cover with water. Then bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and cover. Let the chilies soak for about 20 minutes. Next transfer the chilies to a blender. Add the garlic cloves, onion, oregano, thyme, whole cloves, ground cumin, chicken bouillon and water to the blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth then set aside.
Add the chicken to a large bowl and season well with salt and pepper. Next heat up a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Then flip the chicken and continue to cook for 5 more minutes or until the chicken is nice and browned.
Strain the sauce into the skillet using a fine mesh strainer. Add the bay leaf to the sauce and let the sauce come to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 30 min. Then flip the chicken over and cover. Continue to cook for another 30 min.
By now the chicken will be cooked through and tender. I like to serve it with a simple side of rice. Either white rice or Mexican rice.
By the way if you want a really smooth sauce you should use a fine mesh strainer! The strainer I used didn’t do the best job but it was still super delicious none the less!
Looking for more delicious chicken recipes? Check these out:
Chicken guajillo
Guajillo chicken is a delicious and easy Mexican recipe the whole family can enjoy! If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think of it in the comments below!
Guajillo Chicken
Guajillo chicken is a Mexican dish consisting of chicken simmered in a sauce made from guajillo chilies.
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 8 guajillo chilies rinsed and seeds removed
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 1/4 piece of a small white onion
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 3 whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbs olive oil
Instructions
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Put the guajillo chilies in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and cover. Let the chilies soak for about 20 min.
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Next transfer the chilies to a blender along with the garlic cloves, onion, oregano, thyme, whole cloves, ground cumin, chicken bouillon and water. Blend until the sauce is smooth and set aside.
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Add the chicken to a large bowl and season well with salt and pepper.
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Heat up a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 5 min. Then flip the chicken and cook for another 5 min.
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Strain the sauce into the skillet using a fine mesh strainer. Add the bay leaf to the sauce. Let the sauce come to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for 30 min. Then flip the chicken over and cover. Continue to cook for another 30 min.
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The chicken is now ready. Serve and enjoy!