This Qdoba chicken copycat recipe is as close to the real deal as possible. Charred, tender, and juicy chicken seasoned with southwest spices explodes with flavor in every bite. Use it to make a chicken burrito bowl, chicken tacos, or just alone. Either way, it's delicious!

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The Best Copycat Qdoba Chicken Recipe

If you've ever had Qdoba chicken before, then you know it's probably the most delicious chipotle grilled chicken out there. I mean, I'm pretty obsessed with it, so I had to come up with a copycat recipe. It's safe to say that I nailed it!

This Qdoba chicken is juicy and tender with a crisp charred crust, and it's loaded with a blend of delicious flavors! Plus, it makes the most flavorful chicken quesadillas or chicken burrito bowls. You can also serve it as loaded nachos with tortilla chips and all your favorite toppings, or mixed in this Mexican street corn pasta salad. Or it's just so mouth-watering that you can make it a simple dinner and serve it alone with some rice and veggies. Trust me, you'll never run out of ways to eat this chicken!

Ingredients Needed

1 lb. chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ tablespoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cumin powder
¼ teaspoon Italian herbs
Salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make Qdoba Chicken

Step 1: Prepare the chicken

To start, pound the chicken breasts thin to ¼ inch thick. Then, add the olive oil, adobo sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin powder, and Italian herbs to a mixing bowl.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides and add it to the bowl with spices. Mix to coat the chicken in the spices, then refrigerate for 2 hours.

Step 2: Cook

To cook, heat a large skillet sprayed with oil over medium heat. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook it for 7 minutes on each side. Allow the chicken to rest for a fe minutes before slicing or chopping to keep it nice and juicy. Enjoy!

Expert Tips

For even more flavor, marinate the chicken overnight. I'll do this to have a quick and easy dinner for the next day. All that's left to do is cook the chicken which will take no more than 15 minutes!
Don't move the chicken once you put it in the pan to cook. Only move it when it's ready to flip. This will help the chicken cook evenly and stay extra juicy.
You'll know the chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
To ensure the chicken gets a smokey char, turn the stovetop up to medium-high heat towards the end of cooking.

How To Store Qdoba Chicken

You can store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. To keep it for longer, put the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for about 3 months.

How To Reheat The Chicken

My favorite way to reheat the chicken is in a skillet over medium heat for about 3- minutes on each side until it's heated thoroughly again. You'll want to let the frozen chicken thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

More Chicken Breast Recipes

Yield: 4 servings

Qdoba Chicken

Ingredients

1 lb. chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ tablespoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cumin powder
¼ teaspoon Italian herbs
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Pound chicken breasts thin, to ¼ inch thick.
Add olive oil, adobo sauce, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin powder, and Italian herbs.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the bowl with spices.
Refrigerate the chicken for 2 hours.
To cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 7 minutes per side.
Allow the chicken to rest slightly before slicing or chopping.
Serve alone, with rice in a burrito bowl, or in your favorite salad.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

¼ lb chicken
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 180Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 263mgCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 32g