Qdoba Chicken Recipe | Tastes Just Like The Restaurants

This Qdoba chicken recipe tastes just like the one from Qdoba. This restaurant-quality chicken recipe is rich, savory, and smoky, and it pairs great with practically everything!

The Best Qdoba Chicken 

One of my favorite things to get at Qdoba is the chicken.

In fact, pretty much every time I go there I order the Qdoba chicken protein bowl. It's loaded with black beans, fajita veggies, salsa verde, pico, guacamole, and of course, lots and lots of chicken! Gah, it's good.

 

But, it can be expensive - especially if you order from Qdoba multiple times a week as I do - so I wanted to recreate their chicken at home. 

And I may be a little biased, but I think this version might be even better than the one you can get at the store. 

Salty, herbaceous, and savory, the marinade used in this Qdoba chicken recipe will give a flavorful kick to any dish.

It's inspired by the traditional tastes and flavors of South America and Mexico, and I think it can transform your understanding of what flavors chicken can take on. Honestly, the chicken acts as the perfect vessel for the smoky-sweet flavors of the adobo. 

And this chicken literally goes with everything from pairing it with an Air Fryer Baked Potato to adding it to this Spicy Southwest Salad or Crunchwrap Supreme. Or you can make a Qdoba chicken protein bowl - like I like to do - a Qdoba quesadilla, or a burrito with it!

Plus, since this Qdoba chicken takes under 15 minutes to cook, it's a life-saver if you need a quick and easy weeknight meal. And you can leave the chicken marinating for a few days, so it also makes an excellent prep-ahead meal!

Ingredients 

So, along with the chicken, you'll need just a couple of spices and seasonings to complete the one-of-a-kind taste of this Qdoba chicken. 

And you might have half or more of the ingredients you need in your pantry! 

Check out everything you'll need:

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons adobo sauce from a small can of chipotle peppers
• ½ teaspoon oregano or Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

What makes the flavor of this recipe so unique is the adobo sauce. Adobo has a smoky, lightly spiced flavor with a bit of sweetness that goes incredible with the savoriness from the oregano or Italian seasoning. 

So I highly recommend using every ingredient to give this adobo chicken recipe a complete flavor profile.

How to Make Qdoba Chicken 

This recipe doesn't just have a simple and inexpensive ingredients list - it's beyond easy to make too! 

And the versatility of the flavor is what makes this such a popular chicken recipe.

So, now that you have everything you need, let's get cooking! 

Step 1: Marinating The Chicken

The first step to this delicious dish is to prepare the marinade. 

If you have a specific taste preference, feel free to adjust the measurements to give it your own unique flavor. Or, you can just prepare the marinade as outlined.

Now, add the chicken, garlic, olive oil, adobo sauce, oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt, and pepper to a large bowl and mix to combine. If you want less clean-up, you can put everything directly in a Zip-Lock bag for ultimate ease and convenience. 

Next, transfer the bag to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This works best if you want to cook the chicken immediately, but you can also keep it marinating in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keeping in the fridge deepens the flavors and makes it convenient to take the chicken out and cook if you're busy. 

Step 2: Cooking The Chicken 

Once your Qdoba Chicken has marinated sufficiently, you can start cooking. 

First, take out a medium to large-sized skillet, cover the surface in olive oil, and put it over medium-high heat.

Then, add the marinated chicken to the pan, and cook it for about 6-7 minutes on each side. Oh, and you'll want to turn the chicken occasionally while cooking to ensure an even sear throughout.

With that said, you'll know the chicken is done when it reaches an internal temp of 165° Fahrenheit. 

Step 3: Serving

Once the chicken is cooked, allow it to rest on a cutting board for about 5 minutes, then slice, chop, or leave whole.

Serve it with Instant Pot Spanish Rice and add in any toppings you want to make a Qdoba chicken protein bowl. Enjoy!

How to Store Qdoba Chicken 

So this Qdoba chicken recipe will make about 6 servings of chicken. And, as I mentioned earlier, it's great for meal prep, or even a big family dinner.

However, if you have chicken leftover, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

The best part about storing the chicken after cooking it is that the flavors elevate even more. And the chicken is delicious, both cold and reheated.

Reheating Cooked Chicken

Ok, so there are a few different ways that you can reheat the chicken. 

One is to put it back in a skillet over medium heat. First, add some water to cover the bottom of the pan and heat it until the water simmers. Then add the chicken, lower the heat, and warm until the chicken reaches your desired temp.

Another method is reheating chicken in an air fryer. To do this, preheat the air fryer to 375°F for a few minutes. Then add the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and heat it for about 4 minutes, flipping it halfway through.

Wrapping It All Up 

Well, that is how to make Qdoba chicken in the comfort of your own home. It's just as good - if not better - than getting it at the restaurant!

Seriously, this copycat recipe takes chicken up a notch, or three. And it truly delivers on bringing that addicting savory, spicy, sweet, and smokey flavor combination that you'll find in Qdoba's chicken.

Honestly, everyone who tries this chicken recipe always loves it, and I hope you enjoy it too!

EASY DINNER RECIPES

If you're looking for some more easy dinner recipes, we have a bunch on the blog that you have to try next.

Check out these easy recipes:

• Stuffed Chicken Breast
• Chicken Tempura
• Huli Huli Chicken
• Instant Pot Paella
• Air Fryer Pierogies
• Fried Spaghetti

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