Qdoba Adobo Chicken Recipe
Tender chicken thighs are marinated with chipotle chilies, lime juice, garlic, and warm spices, then skillet-cooked for bowls, burritos, tacos, or salads.
Print
Pin
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 4 tbsp olive oil divided
- Juice of ½ medium lime
- 2 chipotle chilies from a can rinsed and chopped
- 1 tsp chili sauce from a can of chipotle chilies optional for extra spice
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the chicken.
- Place the chicken thighs on a sheet of parchment paper. Cover with a second sheet of parchment paper and gently pound the chicken with a kitchen mallet until the pieces are even in thickness.
Cut the chicken.
- Cut the prepared chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Transfer the chicken pieces to a large zip-top bag.
Prepare the marinade.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2 tbsp olive oil, lime juice, chopped chipotle chilies, chipotle chili sauce, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir until fully combined.
Marinate the chicken.
- Pour the marinade over the chicken in the zip-top bag. Seal the bag securely and gently massage the chicken until all pieces are evenly coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Heat the skillet.
- Heat 1 to 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Cook the chicken.
- Add enough chicken to the skillet to form a single layer. Cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Brown the chicken.
- Cook the chicken undisturbed for approximately 6 minutes, allowing it to brown on one side.
Finish cooking.
- Flip the chicken pieces with a spatula and continue cooking for approximately 1 additional minute, or until the chicken is fully cooked through.
Serve.
- Serve the adobo chicken as desired in burrito bowls, burritos, tacos, salads, quesadillas, or nachos.
Notes
This recipe can be gluten-free when all ingredients are verified gluten-free.
Use certified gluten-free chipotle chilies and chipotle sauce, as some canned products may contain additives or cross-contamination warnings.
Confirm that the chili powder, cumin, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are labeled gluten-free.
Serve with gluten-free sides such as rice, corn tortillas, beans, salsa, lettuce, avocado, or gluten-free tortilla wraps.
Avoid flour tortillas unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.
Use certified gluten-free chipotle chilies and chipotle sauce, as some canned products may contain additives or cross-contamination warnings.
Confirm that the chili powder, cumin, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper are labeled gluten-free.
Serve with gluten-free sides such as rice, corn tortillas, beans, salsa, lettuce, avocado, or gluten-free tortilla wraps.
Avoid flour tortillas unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.