Many people wonder if Qdoba chicken is spicy or not. Qdoba is a popular Mexican grill restaurant chain that serves burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican-inspired dishes. Chicken is one of the most commonly ordered proteins at Qdoba. When ordering chicken, customers can choose between grilled adobo chicken or spicy chipotle chicken. This brings up the question – just how spicy is Qdoba’s chicken? In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the spiciness levels of Qdoba’s chicken options to help you determine if it packs enough heat for your preferences.
An Overview of Qdoba’s Chicken Options
Qdoba offers two main chicken options:
Adobo Chicken
Adobo chicken features boneless, skinless chicken thighs that are marinated in a blend of spices and grilled. The adobo marinade includes ingredients like garlic, oregano, cumin, and chile peppers. However, Qdoba describes this chicken as having just a “hint” of spice. So while the adobo chicken does contain some spicy chile peppers, the overall spice level is mild.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken
As the name implies, this chicken option is seasoned with spicy chipotles in adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are smoked and dried jalapeño peppers that are known for having a deep, earthy heat. The spicy chipotle chicken is marinated in a blend of adobo sauce, garlic, cumin and oregano. Qdoba confirms that the spicy chipotle chicken does pack more heat and a bigger punch of flavor than the standard adobo chicken.
So in summary, the standard adobo chicken tends to be mildly spiced, while the spicy chipotle chicken contains a bolder, smokier spice flavor. But just how spicy is “spicy” at Qdoba? Let’s take a closer look.
Scoville Heat Units
One way to measure a chili pepper’s pungency and spice level is by using Scoville Heat Units (SHUs). The scale was created by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. It measures the concentration of capsaicin, the chemical compound responsible for the heat and spiciness of chili peppers. Here are the Scoville heat units for peppers used in Qdoba’s chicken:
Jalapeño Peppers
Jalapeño peppers register 2,500 to 8,000 SHUs on the Scoville scale. This makes them about mid-range on the heat spectrum. Jalapeños can vary in their heat levels, but most would be considered mildly to moderately spicy.
Chipotle Peppers
Chipotle peppers measure 5,000 to 10,000 SHUs. So they are actually fairly similar in heat intensity to jalapeños. Chipotles tend to have a deeper, earthier flavor than jalapeños, but the overall spiciness is comparable.
Adobo Chile Peppers
The adobo sauce used at Qdoba contains a blend of dried chile peppers. These can include anchos, pasillas, and guajillo peppers. Their Scoville heat units fall below 2,500 SHUs, meaning they register very low on the spice scale.
So in terms of Scoville units, the peppers used in Qdoba’s chicken rank on the milder side. But remember, spiciness is also very subjective! What feels mild to one person may be fiery to someone else.
Spiciness of Adobo Chicken
Let’s start with the milder adobo chicken option. As noted, Qdoba themselves describe the adobo chicken as having just a “hint” of spice. Most customers agree that this chicken is mildly spiced at most. The adobo marinade does contain jalapeños and other chile peppers, but they are used sparingly in the blend of spices. The jalapeño flavor takes a backseat to flavors like cumin, garlic, and oregano.
Overall, the consensus is that Qdoba’s adobo chicken provides just a little bit of warmth. It adds subtle depth of flavor, without being overly spicy or pungent. The average person would likely rate the heat level at 2 out of 10. Some say the chicken even tastes slightly sweet. So those with very mild palates or low spice tolerance should find the adobo chicken comfortable to handle.
Spiciness of Spicy Chipotle Chicken
Now onto the spicier chipotle chicken option. As the name states, this chicken packs more punch than the standard adobo. The chipotle marinade contains jalapeños and adobo sauce, but uses higher concentrations of the peppers. Customers note that you can taste the smokier, hotter flavor of the chipotles, especially when you bite into a larger pepper chunk in the chicken.
Compared to the mellow adobo chicken, the spicy chipotle option provides a bigger spike of heat. Most customers describe the heat level as moderate. The chipotle flavor adds a warm, lingering heat that slowly builds as you continue eating. Some have said the chicken makes them sweat or leaves a mild burning sensation in the mouth.
On a scale of 1 to 10, the spicy chipotle chicken seems to average around 5 or 6 in perceived spiciness. It likely won’t be too overwhelming for the average person. But those with very sensitive palates may find it to be on the hot side. Overall, Qdoba’s spicy chipotle chicken adds a nice kick of heat, but it’s not so fiery that you can’t taste the other complex flavors.
Factors that Influence Spiciness
It’s important to remember that the perceived spiciness of Qdoba’s chicken can vary depending on these factors:
Individual Tolerance
Some people have palates much more sensitive to spice than others. What may be mild for someone used to spicy food could feel quite hot for someone not accustomed to it.
Amount of Chicken
Obviously the more chicken you eat in one sitting, the more the spice level builds. Eating a couple bites provides less heat than consuming a whole plateful.
Amount of Sauce
Dousing the chicken in hot salsa or other spicy sauces like guacamole or queso ups the overall heat level. Going light on sauces keeps it more mellow.
Pairing with Other Ingredients
Loading up on cool, creamy ingredients like cheese, sour cream, or lettuce can help counterbalance the chicken’s spice. Combining it with only hot ingredients increases the burn.
So the amount of heat you perceive is dependent on personal tastes and how you customize your meal.
Heat Level Compared to Other Restaurants
To put Qdoba’s spicy chicken into perspective, most customers say it is not nearly as hot as chicken dishes served at other Mexican restaurants. Chains like Chipotle, Moe’s, and Taco Bell often use bolder, hotter peppers in their chicken.
Compared to the habanero, ghost pepper, Carolina reaper and other super-hot chile varieties, both Qdoba chicken options are quite mild. Many users noted the spicy chipotle chicken has a heat level similar to the warm, lingering tingle of KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken. It ranks lower than Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich or McDonald’s Spicy Chicken Mc Nuggets in terms of heat intensity.
So Qdoba’s chicken overall does not seem to match the extreme spice levels found at some other quick service chains. But of course, you can always amp up the heat on your own by adding lots of spicy salsa or hot sauce!
Reviews of Spicy Chipotle Chicken
Here are some first-hand reviews from customers describing their experiences with Qdoba’s spicy chipotle chicken:
Spice Level 5 out of 10
“I would rate the spicy chipotle chicken to be about a 5 out of 10 on the spice scale. It definitely adds a nice amount of heat and smoky flavor, but it won’t burn your mouth terribly. I think it provides just the right amount of kick to keep things interesting.”
Nice Lingering Heat
“Compared to the regular chicken, the spicy chipotle has a slower, building heat. It starts with a little tingle on your lips and the warmth grows steadily as you keep eating. I like that it’s not an immediate punch of spice. The lingering heat pairs well with the burrito toppings.”
Good for Spice Lovers
“As someone who loves spicy food, I was overall pleased with the spicy chipotle chicken. It gave my burrito a flavor boost well beyond the usual plain grilled chicken. The smoky chipotle seasoning adds nice depth. I’d say it’s spicy enough to satisfy spice-seekers, but probably not hot enough for extreme spice fans.”
Too Hot for Kids
“I ordered the spicy chicken for myself but got the regular adobo for my kids. They are too sensitive for spicy foods, so I knew the chipotle chicken would be too hot for them. With the milder adobo chicken, they were able to enjoy their quesadillas without issue.”
Nice Kick of Heat
“I was happy with the spicy chipotle chicken in my burrito bowl. It had a solid punch of heat, especially when I got a bigger piece that was soaked in the sauce. The spice level crept up on me at first before turning into a nice tingle. Overall an enjoyable heat level for my preferences.”
How to Adjust the Spice Level
Luckily, with build your own burritos and bowls, it’s easy to adjust the spice level of your Qdoba meal:
- For milder heat, stick to the regular adobo chicken.
- For bolder spice, opt for the spicy chipotle chicken.
- Add hot salsas like the habanero salsa to turn up the heat.
- Use spicy sauces like guacamole or queso for extra kick.
- Ask for chopped raw onions and jalapeños as added toppings.
- For tamer spice, load up on cooling ingredients like lettuce, cheese, Greek yogurt, etc.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice to help mellow the heat.
The beauty of build your own meals is that you’re in control of the ingredients and spice level!
Conclusion
So is Qdoba’s chicken spicy? Well, it depends…
The classic adobo chicken is mildly spiced at most. It adds subtle depth of flavor without much pungency. The spicy chipotle chicken packs more punch with its smoky chipotle flavor. Most agree it provides a solid medium heat that builds as you eat.
In the scope of all restaurant chicken, Qdoba’s spicy chicken is milder than extreme heat-seekers may like. But the chipotle chicken should meet the needs of average spice fans looking for a little kick. Adjusting sauces and toppings allows you to customize the heat to your personal tastes.
So in summary, Qdoba’s chicken isn’t terribly hot, but the spicy chipotle option offers a nice touch of heat for those craving a little zing in their bowl or burrito!