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Chicken thighs in creamy chipotle sauce in a skillet garnished with cilantro leaves.

Chicken in Creamy Chipotle Sauce (Pollo en Crema de Chipotle)

Chicken in creamy chipotle sauce (Pollo en crema de chipotle) is a creamy, spicy, smoky, and savory dish. It's made with chicken, chipotle chiles, Mexican crema, tomatoes, onion, and garlic.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb boneless & skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 roma tomatoes
  • 1/4 white onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 chipotle chiles in adobo plus 1 tbsp of the adobo
  • 1/2 cup Mexican crema
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp avocado, canola, or vegetable oil
  • Salt to taste

Method
 

  1. Add the tomatoes, chile chipotles, adobo, onion, garlic, and water to a blender. Blend until smooth.
  2. Heat oil over medium heat in a large pan.
  3. While the pan is preheating, season chicken thighs with salt.
  4. Add chicken thighs to the pan over medium heat and sear for about 5 to 7 minutes per side.
  5. Once the chicken is seared, remove the chicken thighs and set aside.
  6. Add the tomato and chipotle sauce to the pan, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape off the browned bits on the bottom of the pan for about 2 minutes.
  7. Reduce the heat to low and add the crema. Stir and mix into the sauce, until it turns an orange color.
  8. Add chicken thighs back into the pan and simmer partially covered for about 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and at your preferred tenderness (See notes). The internal temperature should reach to at least 175°F for chicken thighs.
  9. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley leaves and enjoy!

Notes

  1. If you prefer a less spicy sauce, use 1 chipotle chile or use just the adobo. 
  2. For even more tender chicken thighs, simmer until internal temperature reaches 185°F to 195°F.