15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (2024)

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15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (1)

ByAllison T.S. Robicelli

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Jan. 22, 2024

    Skip the line! You can have a made-from-scratch burrito or bowl at home with our copycat Chipotle recipes.

    1/15

    Slow-Cooker Barbacoa

    My husband adores this barbacoa, which is beef roast simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it one a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver, Colorado

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    2/15

    15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (2)

    LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE HOME

    Chipotle Chicken Copycat

    Chipotle chicken is tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned to complement all the burrito fixings in those gigantic flour tortillas. Making this copycat Chipotle chicken recipe at home couldn’t be easier; the key is marinating your chicken overnight in a spicy, smoky blend of herbs, spices and aromatics.

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    3/15

    Chipotle Queso Blanco Copycat

    Ooey-gooey cheesy queso is great in bowls, burritos—even straight out of the cup! This copycat recipe tastes just like Chipotle’s queso blanco, but if you want your queso to look more similar, use shredded white cheddar instead of yellow.

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    Editor’s Tip: The famous Chipotle queso blanco is especially popular and personally, keeps us coming back for more. It’s creamy, cheesy, andperfectly spicy. The only downside? It will set you back a few bucks to add queso to your order.

    4/15

    Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

    Chipotle Guacamole Copycat

    Chipotle’s guacamole is legendary—and for good reason. The secret? Its freshness! Though many dips tend to improve the longer they sit, guacamole tastes best shortly after it’s made, so the flavor of fresh avocado shines through the rest of the ingredients. Eating it right away also keeps guacamole from browning.

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    5/15

    Chipotle Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa Copycat

    Tomatillos may look like green tomatoes, but they’re not the same thing. Instead, tomatillos are small, round and firm with a dense interior. When raw, tomatillos have a bright, extremely tart flavor that’s somewhat reminiscent of limes. When roasted, tomatillos lose that acidic edge and become a little sweeter. They’re the perfect addition to salsa.

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    6/15

    Chipotle Rice Copycat

    Have you ever dreamed of going to Chipotle and eating nothing but a big, heaping bowl of fluffy cilantro-lime rice? Well, you can make that dream come true in your very own home with this simple five-ingredient recipe.

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    7/15

    15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (7)

    LAUREN HABERMEHL FOR TASTE OF HOME

    Chipotle Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa Copycat

    If possible, try to find fresh or frozen sweet white corn for the most authentic Chipotle corn salsa. It’s what the restaurant uses in its recipe. However, if all you can find is yellow corn, this salsa will still be spectacularly delicious.

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    8/15

    Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa Copycat

    You only need five ingredients (plus salt and pepper) to make this vibrant salsa, which livens up just about everything it’s paired with. Although this fresh tomato salsa is delicious the day it’s made, it gets even better the longer it sits—double the recipe so you can snack on salsa and veggies or chips all week.

    9/15

    Chipotle Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa Copycat

    This recipe isn’t an exact replica of Chipotle’s fiery red salsa, but it’s a great “close enough” option if you don’t have access to fresh tomatillos. If you like your salsa extra spicy, don’t hold back when adding the hot sauce!

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    10/15

    Chipotle Carnitas Copycat

    Carnitas is arguably one of the most popular meats at Chipotle. Though there’s no shortage of winning options on the menu, it was the irresistible slow-roasted spiced pork that put Chipotle on the map when it opened its first location in Denver, Colorado, in 1993.

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    11/15

    Taste of Home

    Chipotle Steak Tacos Copycat

    Fire up the grill to make these Chipotle-inspired flank steak tacos, topped with a simple fresh salsa made explosive with fresh lime juice. For even more delicious acidity, serve these tacos with pickled red onions.

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    12/15

    Chipotle Chicken Tacos Copycat with Avocado Salsa

    As good as these chicken tacos are, the real star of this copycat recipe is the easy-to-make avocado salsa, which you’ll want to eat straight out of the bowl. Let your guests choose between crispy corn tortillas or soft flour tortillas, just like you would at Chipotle.

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    13/15

    Chipotle Cheese Quesadillas Copycat

    If you don’t want to worry about ordering a quesadilla ahead of time for pickup at Chipotle, you can make quesadillas at home instead. This is a basic, easy quesadilla recipe everyone should know how to make, and once you do, you can start experimenting with all sorts of additional fillings.

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    14/15

    Chipotle Veggie Burrito Copycat

    Perfect for meatless Mondays, no one will miss the meat when you dish up these satisfying burritos bursting with a fresh filling. Double the recipe, and you can eat the leftovers for Taco Tuesday! Include guacamole for an even closer copycat recipe.

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    15/15

    Chipotle Steak Salad Copycat

    This vibrant flank steak salad is easy and quick to prepare, tastes delicious and is a healthy dinner all on one plate. For a non-Chipotle-inspired take, toss this salad with blue cheese dressing instead of the recommended vinaigrette, or maybe a drizzle of homemade steak sauce. Learn how to make a copycat of Chipotle vinaigrette.

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    Originally Published: January 13, 2018

    Author

    Allison T.S. Robicelli

    Formerly the chef-owner of Robicelli’s Bakery, Allison is a James Beard-nominated food writer. At Taste of Home, she tests kitchen tools with the hands-on insight she gained from her time as a professional chef. Her cookbook “Robicelli’s: A Love Story, With Cupcakes” was published in 2013 and appeared on several Best Cookbooks of the Year l...

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    15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (16)

    15 Chipotle Copycat Recipes That You Can Make at Home (2024)

    FAQs

    How many ingredients does Chipotle use? ›

    53 of them, to be exact. Every single item you can build and order at Chipotle is made from a selection of only 53 total ingredients, all of which are prepared fresh. So what are the 53 real ingredients that come together to create the flavorful favorites you love at Chipotle?

    What kind of chicken do they use at Chipotle? ›

    Chicken thighs are a lot more juicy and the cut that Chipotle uses! However, you can also make this with breast meat. To save time on a busy day, marinade it the day before or the morning of so all you have to do is cook it when it's time to eat.

    Is Chipotle good for you? ›

    The veggies are what makes Chipotle really shine as a healthy fast food option, so load up as much as you like on lettuce and grilled fajita vegetables that contain a lot of fiber and nutrients and very few extra calories.

    Is Chipotle hot spicy? ›

    Chipotle peppers are dried smoked jalapeno peppers. They have an underlying sweetness with bitter and smoky notes. These chiles measure 2,500-10,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), so they deliver medium heat and smoky-sweet flavor. There are different types of Chipotle peppers.

    Does Chipotle have 53 ingredients? ›

    Chipotle also lists the 53 ingredients used to make every item on the menu, committing to “preparing real food made with real ingredients.” They describe each ingredient and list the menu items it appears in.

    How to make Chipotle from scratch? ›

    Instructions
    1. Lay the peppers in your smoker in one layer, ideally not touching. ...
    2. Smoke the peppers at least 6 hours, but I prefer all day, like 16 hours. ...
    3. If you want, you can pull the jalapenos at any time after 6 hours and finish them in a dehydrator set on low heat. ...
    4. Store them in a bag at room temperature.
    Sep 4, 2023

    Which Chipotle meat is pork? ›

    FOR THOSE WHO AVOID PORK: Our carnitas are made with pork.

    Does Chipotle use thighs or breasts? ›

    How to Cook Chipotle Chicken. If you've ever been to the restaurant, you know Chipotle grills their boneless, skinless chicken thighs on a flat-top grill. Slice or dice and use for burritos, tacos, bowls, salads, everything!

    How much is a Chipotle Bowl 2024? ›

    Lifestyle Bowls
    Menu ItemPricesCalories
    High Protein Bowl$20.55850
    Veggie Full Bowl$14.75700
    Wholesome Bowl$18.60470
    Balanced Macros Bowl$18.60700
    3 more rows

    Is Chipotle healthier than Taco Bell? ›

    So if you tend to eat your entire burrito, Taco Bell is the lower-fat and lower-cholesterol choice. On a gram-per-gram basis, however, the math is slightly different: Chipotle's burrito has nearly 50% more fat per gram than Taco Bell's and almost three times as much cholesterol.

    Is Chipotle healthier than McDonald's? ›

    By analyzing calorie counts, sodium level and overall nutrients in a basic entree, you may realize Chipotle may not be the best option when compared against other fast-food heavyweights, such as McDonald's. The main problem when eating at Chipotle comes with sodium intake.

    Is Chick Fil A junk food? ›

    As a lean-meat protein, Chick-Fil-A's nutrition profile can offer great choices for a healthy meal-all depending on the cooking method. Breading and deep frying both add unnecessary fats and calories to the meal, taking away from some of its nutritional value.

    What is a smoked jalapeno called? ›

    What is a chipotle pepper? Chipotle peppers are basically ripened jalapeño chiles that have been smoked and dried. They can be ground and used in many Mexican and Tex Mex cooking and are typically sold in a rich, smokey flavored adobo sauce.

    How hot is 100 000 Scoville? ›

    Principle of Scoville Scale:
    DegreeEvaluationScoville heat unit
    7Burning15 000 – 30 000
    8Torrid30 000 – 50 000
    9Volcanic50 000 – 100 000
    10Explosive+ 100 000
    7 more rows

    What is the spiciest pepper in the world? ›

    According to PepperHead and based on the new world record, here are the five peppers that pack the most heat:
    • Pepper X: 2,693,000 SHU.
    • Carolina Reaper: 2,200,000 SHU.
    • Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: 2,009,231 SHU.
    • 7 Pot Douglah: 1,853,936 SHU.
    • 7 Pot Primo: 1,469,000 SHU.
    Feb 22, 2024

    Does Chipotle use all natural ingredients? ›

    Chipotle prepares its food using real, whole ingredients, and is the only national restaurant brand that prepares its food using no added colors, flavors or other industrial additives typically found in fast food. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in Denver in 1993 and now operates more than 2,300 restaurants.

    What is the ingredient in Chipotle? ›

    Our namesake ingredient, the chipotle chili pepper is a dried and smoked jalapeño produced using the age-old craft of smoking them over pecan wood for several days. These intensely smoky, spicy peppers are the foundation for much of the food we serve - from our chicken, steak, and Barbacoa to our beans and vinaigrette.

    What is Chipotle made with? ›

    Chipotle peppers are basically ripened jalapeño chiles that have been smoked and dried. They can be ground and used in many Mexican and Tex Mex cooking and are typically sold in a rich, smokey flavored adobo sauce. The best thing to do is grab about 20 fresh jalapeños and allow them to ripen and turn red.

    How does Chipotle make their ingredients? ›

    The steak is partially cooked and gets a final sear on the grill. The mild salsa (pico de gallo), corn salsa, and guacamole get made fresh every day. Onions, cilantro, and jalapeños are diced fresh by hand every day for making the salsas and guac. Cilantro is also cut by hand for the cilantro lime rice.

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