Qdoba Mexican Eats is a popular fast casual restaurant chain that specializes in Mexican cuisine. One of the top reasons people love Qdoba is their delicious shredded cheese that they generously add to burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and more. But what exactly is the magical shredded cheese blend they use?
What Makes Qdoba’s Cheese Special?
There are a few key factors that set Qdoba’s shredded cheese apart:
- It’s a proprietary blend – The exact blend and ratios used are a secret recipe only known to Qdoba.
- It melts perfectly – The cheese melts smoothly and evenly throughout Qdoba’s hot dishes.
- Adds creamy texture – The melted cheese adds a creamy, rich texture to balance the other ingredients.
- Flavorful – It has a noticeably tangy, salty, and umami flavor profile.
- Abundant – Qdoba doesn’t skimp and adds generous portions of cheese.
Customers love the ample amounts of cheese added to dishes like burritos where the cheese is melted to perfection, adding ooey-gooey texture and flavor in each bite. Let’s take a closer look at what types of cheese could be included in their signature cheese blend.
Potential Cheese Types in Qdoba’s Shredded Cheese Blend
Although the exact blend ratios are proprietary information, some of the likely cheese varieties found in Qdoba’s shredded cheese include:
Monterey Jack Cheese
Monterey Jack is a popular semi-soft white cheese that melts exceptionally well. It originates from Monterey, California and has a creamy, mildly tangy flavor. When melted, Monterey Jack cheese gives Qdoba’s dishes a smooth, creamy texture. This is likely a major component of their cheese blend.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is a widely popular semi-hard cheese known for its rich, nutty flavor. Originally from England, cheddar cheese comes in a range of varieties from mild to extra sharp. The tanginess and bold cheddar flavor balances well with the other cheese varieties and ingredients at Qdoba. Finely shredded cheddar cheese also has great melting properties.
Oaxaca Cheese
Oaxaca cheese, also known as quesillo, is a white, semi-soft string cheese that originated in Mexico. It has a mild, salty, and lightly earthy flavor. When melted, Oaxaca forms stretchy strings making it perfect for dishes like quesadillas and cheese sauces. As a Mexican restaurant, Oaxaca cheese would be an authentic addition to the Qdoba’s cheese blend.
Asadero Cheese
Asadero is a creamy, semi-soft Mexican cheese that melts smoothly. It typically has a mild flavor making it an adaptable melting cheese. Asadero’s melting properties likely make it useful for enhancing Qdoba’s cheese sauces and dishes like chile con queso.
Pepper Jack Cheese
For some kick, pepper jack cheese adds a punch of spice. Pepper jack is Monterey jack cheese mixed with spicy chiles and jalapeño peppers. The spicy blend of cheeses gives Qdoba’s dishes a fiery flavor and southwestern touch.
Feta Cheese
Crumbled feta cheese is included in some of Qdoba’s menu items. Feta cheese has a creamy, tangy and salty flavor that pairs well with the Mexican seasonings and ingredients. The crumbled feta adds a different texture to balance the melted cheeses.
Queso Quesadilla Cheese
In addition to shredded cheeses, Qdoba uses a smooth, creamy queso cheese sauce on items like their 3-Cheese Queso Bliss Quesadilla. This queso cheese sauce likely contains a blend of cheeses like Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, and cheddar to achieve a smooth, liquidy texture and rich flavor.
Factors Impacting the Cheese Flavor
While the cheese blend is important, there are other factors that impact the flavor of Qdoba’s cheese:
- Freshness – Qdoba uses real, shredded cheese rather than processed cheese products.
- Temperature – The cheese is freshly melted at a hot temperature to perfectly melt all the cheese varieties.
- Pairings – Qdoba’s spices, salsa, and other ingredients also complement the cheese flavor.
- Cooking method – The cheese is evenly melted using methods like grilling, steaming, microwaving.
- Portion size – Generous portions of cheese mean more cheesy flavor in each bite.
The combination of cheese varieties, generous amounts of cheese, and proper melting results in Qdoba’s addictively cheesy dishes.
Attempting to Replicate the Qdoba Cheese Blend
To recreate the magic of Qdoba’s cheese blend at home you’ll want to grab a grater and try shredding and mixing together cheeses like:
- Monterey Jack
- Cheddar
- Oaxaca
- Asadero
- Pepper Jack
- Feta
Aim for roughly equal parts Monterey Jack and cheddar as the base along with smaller amounts of the other cheeses for flavor and texture. Adjust the ratios to your taste preferences. Shred all the cheeses so they melt evenly.
For queso sauce, melt the shredded cheese blend with some of the cheese’s natural oils, milk or cream, and seasonings like cumin and chili powder.
The key is using high-quality, real cheeses and the right melting methods. Generously layer your cheese blend on dishes like burritos before grilling, microwaving, or steaming to melt it thoroughly. Top it off with extras like guacamole, salsa, and sour cream for the full experience!
While the exact proprietary cheese blend remains a mystery, this homemade mixture gets you close to Qdoba’s cheese perfection.
Nutrition Facts of Qdoba’s Shredded Cheese
Qdoba’s shredded cheese blend is certainly delicious, but how does it stack up nutrition-wise? Here is a table looking at the nutrition facts of Qdoba’s shredded cheese based on available online information:
| Nutrition Facts | Per 1 oz | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 110 | 6% |
| Total Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 220mg | 9% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
*Based on a 2000 calorie diet
As you can see, a 1 ounce portion provides 110 calories and 9g of fat, with 6g coming from saturated fat. It also contains 220mg of sodium.
Cheese is high in calories, fat, and sodium so consuming it in moderation is key. Try sticking to a 1-2 ounce portion of shredded cheese in your Qdoba burrito. Pair it with veggies and healthier ingredients like grilled chicken breast, brown rice, beans, salsa, and guacamole.
While cheese adds great flavor, be mindful of overdoing your cheese intake when dining at Qdoba.
Cheese-Lover’s Guide to Eating at Qdoba
If you’re a cheese fiend, Qdoba with their melted cheeses, quesos, and cheese sauces is your ideal restaurant. Here are tips for fellow cheese-lovers when dining at Qdoba:
- Add extra cheese – Upgrade your protein or side to add extra cheese for only a small charge.
- Try the 3-Cheese Queso Bliss Quesadilla – Ooey-gooey cheesy perfection.
- Dip chips in queso – Get a side of queso dipping sauce for your chips.
- Say “yes” to cheese sauce – Add cheese sauce to burritos, bowls, and other items.
- Mix up your cheese – Opt for shredded cheese on one item and queso sauce on another for a variety.
- Take home extra queso – Order sides of queso to enjoy later.
At Qdoba you really can’t go wrong when ordering cheesy items or adding extra cheese. It’s the ultimate cheese lover’s paradise. Just be mindful of your overall calorie and sodium intake when making cheesy choices.
Qdoba vs. Other Mexican Chains: Who Has the Best Cheese?
Qdoba has some stiff competition when it comes to melted cheese at other popular Mexican fast casual chains. How does their cheese compare?
Qdoba vs. Chipotle
Both Qdoba and Chipotle offer shredded cheese as a protein topping. However, Qdoba has more melted cheese menu options including queso dip, nachos with melted cheese sauce, and quesadillas. For melted, ooey-gooey cheese, Qdoba wins over Chipotle.
Qdoba vs. Moe’s
Moe’s Southwest Grill offers cheese as a protein topping and queso dipping sauce. However, their cheese options are limited compared to Qdoba’s wide selection of melted cheese dishes and generous cheese portions. Moe’s queso also seems to have mixed reviews compared to Qdoba’s consistent, creamy queso.
Qdoba vs. Baja Fresh
Baja Fresh offers items like nachos, tacos, and burritos with melted cheese but their menu is focused on more traditional Mexican fare compared to Qdoba’s Americanized Tex-Mex options. For specialty melted cheese dishes, Qdoba holds the advantage.
Qdoba vs. Taco Bell
Taco Bell uses a limited, relatively low-quality shredded cheese blend on their tacos and other items. As a national Mexican fast food chain, they prioritize low cost over high-quality melted cheese dishes. Taco Bell’s cheese sauces also rely more on thickeners versus real melted cheese.
Conclusion
Qdoba’s shredded cheese blend and queso sauces are a cut above competitors. The variety of high-quality cheeses melted to cheesy perfection is a major reason people are obsessed with Qdoba. While the exact proprietary cheese blend they use remains a secret, it likely contains a mixture of cheeses like Monterey Jack, cheddar, Oaxaca, and queso quesadilla.
Be mindful of your overall calorie and sodium intake when indulging in Qdoba’s cheeses. But there’s no doubt their generous portions and melted cheeses make dishes like burritos and quesadillas simply mouthwatering. Qdoba knows that when it comes to Mexican food, extra cheese please is the only way to go.