Chipotle Chicken Recipe (2024)

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This quick and easychipotle chicken recipe is made with boneless chicken thighs (or breasts), delicious for homemade burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and more.

Chipotle Chicken Recipe (1)

Chipotle Chicken

This Chipotle Chicken recipe is a delightful combination of smoke, spicy and savory flavors. Whether you cook them in a skillet, on a grill or grill pan, or in the air fryer, the result will be juicy and delicious. If you’re craving a homemade version of the popular food chain restaurant, you’ll love this quick recipe that doesn’t require any marinating time. Turn it into a burrito bowl or burrito with my copycat cilantro lime rice, guacamole and pico de gallo. Or use it for taco night, over salad or quesadillas. My family devours them!

Chipotle Chicken Recipe (2)

Why This Recipe Works

  • Quick: It takes only a few minutes to make the rub, and there’s no need to wait for the chicken to marinate. Season and cook it right away – it’ll be ready in about 15 minutes.
  • Juicy Chicken: Chicken thighs are a tasty cut of meat that can be prepared in various ways.
  • Flavorful: The chipotle in adobo sauce and ancho chile powder pack this dish with bold flavors.
  • Easy: This chipotle chicken recipe uses a few pantry ingredients and requires almost no chopping.
  • Gluten-free: Perfect for gluten-free and dairy-free dietary restrictions.

Chipotle ChickenIngredients

  • Chicken: Trim the fat off boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  • Garlic: Mince or crush two garlic cloves.
  • Chipotle in Adobo Sauce: You’ll only need one tablespoon of the sauce. Freeze the rest in an ice cube tray and then transfer to a zip-locked bag for later use.
  • Seasoning: Ancho chile powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, pepper

How to Make Chipotle Chicken

  1. Season Chicken: Season the thighs with salt and pepper on both sides. Combine the garlic, chipotle in adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, cumin, and oregano in a bowl. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken and let them sit for a few minutes. You can cook them right away or refrigerate as long as overnight for more flavor.
  2. Skillet: Preheat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and spray with oil. Cook the thighs for about six minutes on each side.
  3. Grill: Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grease the grill grates with oil and cook on each side for six to eight minutes.
  4. Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook the chicken for 14 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  5. How do you know when chicken is done? No matter which method you choose, the chicken is ready whenever it’s browned on the outside, and the internal temperature is 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
  6. Serving: Once cooked, transfer the meat to a plate and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. This step prevents the juices from running out of the chicken.

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Bowl

When I order from Chipotle, I always get the chicken bowl, but it’s so easy to make at home. Here is a list of ingredients and toppings you can mix and match from to build your own Chipotle Chicken Bowl:

1. Start with a Base:

  • Cilantro Lime Rice
  • Brown rice
  • Shredded Romaine lettuce
  • Cauliflower rice

2. Add Protein:

  • Adobo-marinated chicken
  • Barbacoa (shredded beef)
  • Carnitas (slow-cooked pork)
  • Steak

3. Add Beans:

  • Black beans
  • Pinto beans

4. Finish with Toppings:

  • Sauteed peppers and onions
  • Pickled red onions
  • Pico de gallo
  • Corn salsa
  • Salsa verde
  • Guacamole
  • Sour cream or use Greek yogurt
  • Cheese (shredded Monterey Jack or queso fresco)
  • Shredded romaine lettuce

How to Store Chipotle Chicken

Meal prep chipotle chicken thighs and have easy meals for half the week. Leftovers will hold in the fridge for up to four days and in the freezer for three months. Reheat it in the microwave until warm, and serve in tacos, quesadillas, burrito bowls, taco salads, and more.

Variations

  • Chicken: If you prefer white meat, use chicken breasts.
  • Ancho Chile Powder: If you don’t have ancho, swap it for regular chili powder.
Chipotle Chicken Recipe (3)
Chipotle Chicken Recipe (4)
Chipotle Chicken Recipe (5)

More Chicken Thigh Recipes You’ll Love

  • Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
  • Crock Pot Chicken a la Criolla
  • Yogurt-Marinated Chicken
  • Sticky Tamarind Chicken with Crisp Lettuce
  • Air Fryer Asian-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Chipotle Chicken Recipe (6)

Chipotle Chicken Recipe

5 from 27 votes

4

Cals:216

Protein:34

Carbs:2

Fat:7

This quick and easy chipotle chicken recipe is made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts). It's smoky, spicy, and delicious for homemade burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and more.

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Meal Prep

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Chipotle Chicken Recipe (7)

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1 /4 th

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat (about 8 thighs)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
  • 1/2 to 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo sauce, from 1 can, you can freeze the rest for future use
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

  • Season Chicken: Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.

  • In a mixing bowl, combine the minced garlic, chipotle in adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, ground cumin, and dried oregano. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, making sure they are thoroughly coated. Let them sit a few minutes to let the flavor set in. You can cook right away or refrigerate as long as overnight, the longer the more flavorful!

Skillet Method:

  • Preheat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and spray with oil.

  • Place the chicken thighs in the skillet and cook for about 6 minutes per side or until browned on the outside and the inside reaches an internal temperature of165°F.

  • Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will help the juices redistribute formaximum flavor. Slice it up and serve in tacos, rice bowls, burritos, etc.

Grill or Grill Pan Method:

  • Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grease the grill grates or grill pan with oil to prevent sticking.

  • Place the chicken thighs on the grill or grill pan and cook for approximately 6-8 minutes per side, or until they are fully cookedand reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

  • Once cooked, remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Resting allows the flavors tomeld together and the juices to redistribute. Slice it up and serve in tacos, rice bowls, etc.

Air Fryer Method:

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer in batches as needed in the air fryer basket.

  • Cook the chicken for 14-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to confirm it has reached 165°F.

  • Once cooked, transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This step ensures thatthe chicken remains juicy and flavorful. Slice it up and serve in tacos, rice bowls, etc.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 /4 th, Calories: 216 kcal, Carbohydrates: 2 g, Protein: 34 g, Fat: 7 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 69 mg, Sodium: 561 mg, Fiber: 0.5 g

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Chipotle Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chipotle chicken made of? ›

To make it just like Chipotle, we're using boneless & skinless chicken thighs. They're super juicy because of their higher fat content! If you would like to make this with chicken breast, it's totally possible too. But for the authentic Chipotle experience, use chicken thighs.

Why is Chipotle chicken so good? ›

That smoky, spicy flavor in Chipotle's chicken comes from two primary ingredients: Dried ancho chiles and adobo sauce. To create this flavor, you can: Buy Ancho Chile powder – Depending on how much you want to buy, we recommend McCormick Gourmet Ancho Chile Pepper and Amazing Ancho Chile Powder.

Does Chipotle use chicken thighs or breasts? ›

Ingredients Notes and Substitutions

In fact, the restaurant uses thigh meat. Chipotles in Adobo – These little peppers are special: dried and soaked in a spicy, tangy sauce, they're as acidic as they are hot! As an alternative, you could use regular whole chipotles and an additional 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce.

What oil does Chipotle use for chicken? ›

Rice bran oil is our primary cooking oil at Chipotle.

What is the main 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.

Does Chipotle use MSG in their chicken? ›

Short answer: No, not as a food additive. Long answer: Chipotle uses a lot of different spices, and it's always possible that you have an allergy to one of them like cumin or coriander. If you're also allergic to MSG, you may have the same reaction.

What type of rice does Chipotle use? ›

Around here, all you need to know is that we use long-grain white rice. We have always been committed to preparing real food made with real ingredients. You know, the kind you can recognize and pronounce.

Is the Chipotle chicken healthy? ›

Chicken is a nutritious alternative, containing nearly half the amount of fat found in carnitas and a whopping 32 grams of protein per serving (1). If you're trying to lose weight, limit high-calorie toppings like cheese, sour cream, queso, and guacamole.

What was the special chicken at Chipotle? ›

What is Chicken al Pastor made of? Chipotle's new menu item Chicken al Pastor is made with spicy adobo chicken, seared morita peppers, ground achiote and then perfectly balanced with a splash of pineapple, fresh lime, and cilantro.

Is Chipotle chicken healthier than steak? ›

PROTEIN. When choosing a protein source you have the option to choose from meats or tofu. the chicken, steak, barbacoa, and carnitas pack between 170-190 calories and 24-32 grams of protein. Chicken and steak rank similar in the amount of nutrients and have the highest amount of protein.

Does Chipotle use white or dark chicken? ›

And Mexican fast food chain Chipotle said it's always used mostly dark meat in its burritos, salads and tacos because the meat is more flavorful. Consumers looking to cut back on fat in their diet have long been told by dietitians and others to choose boneless, skinless breast meat and avoid the higher-fat dark meat.

Does Chipotle add oil to their rice? ›

After the rice is cooked, it's tossed in the smallest amount of olive oil to keep the grains separated (according to their website, Chipotle uses rice bran oil, although it's much more likely you have olive oil in your pantry). There's also the balance that's found in tossing the rice in both lime and lemon juice.

What sour cream does Chipotle use? ›

Chipotle uses the brand Daisy, so that's what we're using. Put the sour cream in the bowl. All you gotta do is whisk it. Keep whisking until you reach the desired texture.

Does Chipotle put garlic in their chicken? ›

Ingredients for the Chipotle Chicken Marinade

Red Onion + Garlic – The base of the aromatics for the marinade. Adobo Sauce – This is from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (you can freeze and save the peppers and any additional sauce for future uses).

What oil makes chicken the crispiest? ›

Lard is a great choice for frying chicken because it gives your chicken an excellent flavor and unparalleled crispy crust.

Is Chipotle chicken slaughtered? ›

Chipotle reported in 2022 that 14% of the chickens in their supply chain are slaughtered using controlled atmospheric stun instead of live shackle slaughter.

What kind of meat does Chipotle use? ›

Chipotle primarily uses responsibly raised and sourced meats such as steak, chicken, carnitas (pork), barbacoa (spicy shredded beef), and sofritas (organic tofu) in their dishes. How is Chipotle's meat prepared? Chipotle's meat is seasoned with a blend of spices and then grilled to perfection.

Are Chipotle meats processed? ›

Chipotle is one of the healthier fast-food joints: they use fresh ingredients with no processed or artificial additives.

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