Moe’s Adobo Chicken is a popular entrée item offered at Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants. Moe’s Southwest Grill is a fast casual Tex-Mex restaurant chain that was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000. The chain has over 700 locations across the United States and is best known for its burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and other Tex-Mex fare. Moe’s Adobo Chicken is one of the protein options that can be added to any entrée at Moe’s.
What is Adobo Chicken?
Adobo is a seasoning blend that is commonly used in Latin American and Spanish cuisine. The adobo blend contains salt, garlic, oregano, pepper, and traditionally a vinegar or citrus juice. This mixture both seasons and helps preserve meat. Adobo chicken is chicken that has been marinated in an adobo blend. The adobo marinade infuses the chicken with bold, robust flavors.
Moe’s Southwest Grill has put its own Tex-Mex spin on adobo chicken. Their adobo chicken contains flavors like garlic, lime, crushed red pepper, cumin, and oregano. The chicken is marinated overnight in this zesty blend to maximize flavor. Moe’s Adobo Chicken provides a kick of spicy and citrusy flavor in every bite.
How is Moe’s Adobo Chicken Prepared?
To prepare Moe’s signature Adobo Chicken, fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts are trimmed and cut into smaller pieces. The chicken is then tossed in the flavorful adobo marinade which contains:
- Lime juice
- Minced garlic
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Canola oil
The chicken marinates for a minimum of 12 hours to allow the seasonings to deeply permeate the meat. Once fully marinated, the chicken is grilled until juicy and cooked through. It is then chopped into bite-sized pieces and held in a heated holding area until an order is placed.
How is Moe’s Adobo Chicken Served?
Moe’s Adobo Chicken can be added to any entrée order at the restaurant. Some popular ways to order Moe’s Adobo Chicken include:
- Burrito – Adobo chicken, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and other toppings wrapped in a flour tortilla.
- Bowl – Adobo chicken served over cilantro-lime rice, black beans, corn salsa, cheese, and pico.
- Tacos – Adobo chicken tucked into two soft flour tortillas with shredded lettuce, pico, and a lime wedge.
- Quesadilla – Adobo chicken, cheese, and other fillings grilled between two flour tortillas.
- Nachos – Adobo chicken, beans, queso, pico, lettuce, jalapeños, and sour cream layered over tortilla chips.
- Salad – Adobo chicken, romaine, corn salsa, cheese, avocado, crispy tortilla strips, and chipotle ranch dressing.
The Adobo Chicken can also be enjoyed by itself as a protein item a la carte. Moe’s recommends topping the adobo chicken with any of their salsas to add even more vibrant flavor.
Nutrition Information on Moe’s Adobo Chicken
Here is the nutrition information for a serving of Moe’s Adobo Chicken:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Fat | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 55mg |
| Sodium | 480mg |
| Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Fiber | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Protein | 21g |
Moe’s Adobo Chicken is a lean protein choice, with 21g of protein per serving. It is low in saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. The seasoning blend does add quite a bit of sodium at 480mg per serving. Those restricting sodium may want to be mindful of that.
The History of Moe’s Adobo Chicken
Moe’s Adobo Chicken was one of the original protein choices on the menu when Moe’s Southwest Grill was founded in 2000. The flavors were developed by Moe’s head chef to complement the bold, Tex-Mex flavors the chain is known for.
In the early 2000s, adobo chicken was not as ubiquitous on menus as it is today. Moe’s adoption of the adobo style helped introduce many people to those flavors for the first time. The entrée was an immediate hit with customers who loved the spicy, garlicky, citrusy flavor profile.
Over the years, Moe’s has kept Adobo Chicken as one of its core protein choices. It has become a signature menu item that Moe’s fans now associate strongly with the brand. The recipe has remained unchanged since it first debuted.
Limited Time Adobo Chicken Offerings
While the original adobo chicken has stayed on the menu, Moe’s has released some limited time variations over the years. These have included:
- Adobo Chicken with Ghost Pepper Seasoning – released in 2015 for a limited time. Featured their adobo chicken kicked up with the intense heat of ghost peppers.
- Honey Adobo Chicken – released in 2018 for one month. The adobo chicken was drizzled with honey to balance out some of the spice.
- Adobo Chicken and Waffles Bowl – launched in 2020 and brought together adobo chicken with Belgian waffles and maple syrup.
These limited time offerings have allowed Moe’s to build excitement around their classic adobo chicken. Fans love when the chain puts fun, new twists on the popular entrée.
Why Customers Love Moe’s Adobo Chicken
There are several reasons why Moe’s Adobo Chicken has earned such a loyal fan following over the past 20+ years:
- Unique, bold flavor – The blend of citrus, garlic, oregano, and heat makes Moe’s adobo chicken stand out from plainer grilled chicken at other chains.
- Works well in entrees – The strong seasonings and textures complement rice, beans, salsas, and other ingredients when adobo chicken is added to a burrito, bowl, etc.
- Tender and juicy – The overnight marinating ensures the chicken stays moist and tender when cooked.
- Spice level is customizable – Customers can amp up the heat by adding hot salsa or ease it by mixing in sour cream or cheese.
- Good portion size – Most locations are generous with the scoops of adobo chicken in each order.
- Nutritious option – With lean protein and low carbs/fat, adobo chicken fits into many dietary preferences.
Adobo Chicken has clearly been a enormous hit for Moe’s. Its reputation for flavor and versatility help make it one of the most popular protein choices on the menu.
Where to Find Moe’s Adobo Chicken
Moe’s Southwest Grill has over 700 locations across the United States. Here is a breakdown of where Moe’s restaurants featuring Adobo Chicken can be found:
| State | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 20 |
| Arizona | 18 |
| Arkansas | 5 |
| California | 21 |
| Colorado | 18 |
| Connecticut | 18 |
| Delaware | 3 |
| Florida | 98 |
| Georgia | 73 |
| Illinois | 29 |
| Indiana | 16 |
| Iowa | 4 |
| Kansas | 6 |
| Kentucky | 11 |
| Louisiana | 23 |
| Maine | 2 |
| Maryland | 26 |
| Massachusetts | 26 |
| Michigan | 17 |
| Minnesota | 8 |
| Mississippi | 4 |
| Missouri | 18 |
| Nebraska | 5 |
| New Hampshire | 7 |
| New Jersey | 36 |
| New Mexico | 5 |
| New York | 62 |
| North Carolina | 49 |
| Ohio | 39 |
| Oklahoma | 8 |
| Pennsylvania | 51 |
| Rhode Island | 4 |
| South Carolina | 31 |
| Tennessee | 26 |
| Texas | 80 |
| Utah | 13 |
| Vermont | 1 |
| Virginia | 44 |
| West Virginia | 5 |
| Wisconsin | 15 |
As the table shows, Moe’s has concentrated its growth primarily along the East Coast and throughout the Southern United States. Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia have the greatest concentration of locations. However, Moe’s has been expanding nationwide over the past decade, bringing Adobo Chicken to hungry fans across America.
Conclusion
Moe’s Adobo Chicken is a beloved menu item that has developed a cult following over the past 20+ years. Its standout flavor, juicy texture, and versatility have made it a staple choice for protein at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Fans can’t seem to get enough of the zesty, garlicky adobo seasoned chicken. While new menu innovations have come and gone, Adobo Chicken has stood the test of time. It continues to be a customer favorite today at over 700 Moe’s locations nationwide.