Our Qdoba chicken recipe is a delicious and flavorful chicken recipe featuring tender chicken thighs infused with the smoky heat of chipotle chilies and the bright tang of fresh lime juice
2chilies from a can of Chipotle chilies✅ rinsed and chopped
1teaspoonchili sauce from a can of Chipotle chilies
4clovesgarlicminced
1tablespoonchili powder✅
2teaspoonscumin✅
1teaspoonItalian seasoning✅
1teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonpepper
Instructions
⭐️Prep the chicken thighs. Place the chicken thighs on a piece of parchment paper then top them with another piece of parchment. Pound the chicken thin with a kitchen mallet. Next, cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and place into the ziplock bag.
2.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Make the marinade. In a mixing bowl combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, chopped chilies, the juice from the can of chilies (skip for less spice), garlic, chili powder, cumin, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour onto the chicken. Seal the bag then mix well using your hands, making sure each piece of chicken is coated. Let sit for at least 30 minutes.
4 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 medium lime, 2 chilies from a can of Chipotle chilies, 1 teaspoon chili sauce from a can of Chipotle chilies, 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
⭐️Cook. In a large skillet heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Place enough chicken into the pan to cover the bottom in a single layer. Make the chicken in batches if needed. Cook for 6 minutes over medium heat undisturbed. Use a flipper to flip the chicken and stir it around the pan for an additional minute.
4 tablespoon olive oil
Serve. Serve as is or in a chicken bowl or burrito as they do at Qdoba.
Notes
Always cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Always insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken when temping.
Customize the flavorprofile of chicken by adjusting the amount of chili juice that you pour into the chicken marinade. The more you add, the spicier the chicken will be! If you are hesitant to serve a spicy meal, you can rinse the chilis in a colander to reduce the level of spice.
Use a large skillet so the chicken pieces can spread into a single layer in the pan. Cook chicken in batches if needed.
Once chicken is added to the hot skillet, let it cook undisturbed. Chicken should lift easier from the bottom of the pan when it is ready to flip.
Let the oil heat in the pan over medium heat before adding the chicken as this helps create the desired char on the chicken.
For a stronger flavor, let the chicken marinate in the fridge overnight.
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you're new to eating gluten-free we understand it's overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don't. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn't require a helper.