Former Chipotle Employee Reveals Chipotle's Chicken Recipe—We Made It Easier

It's so tasty that you'll find yourself making it on repeat.

By
Melissa Gray
Melissa Gray
Melissa Gray is a Recipe Developer and Food Stylist for Dotdash Meredith, working on titles such as Food & Wine, Southern Living, Real Simple, Health, and Simply Recipes. Melissa began her career in publishing at a regional magazine company in 2015, working on titles such as Southern Cast Iron, Southern Lady, and Taste of the South for 4 years before joining Meredith Corporation in 2019.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
Myo's recipes, writing, and food styling can be found on King Arthur Baking, Food Network, Delish, Food52, and more. She collaborated on the cookbook Delish Vegan Dinners and trained at Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published October 22, 2023
Bowl of copycat Chipotle chicken with a spoon at a table setting with a small plate of lime quarters, glasses of water, and a scarlet table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

My family loves Chipotle and their chicken burrito bowls are our grab-and-go dinner on busy weeknights. My kids always pick out all the chicken first and ask for seconds, so we often request a double order of chicken. This can get quite expensive! So here's a reliable and equally delicious Chipotle chicken recipe that I make at home—my kids LOVE it and can't tell the difference.

This recipe makes enough for about four burrito bowls. You could easily cut the recipe in half, but why not have leftovers? I use them to top tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and my kids' favorite: eat them as is.

How To Make Copycat Chipotle Chicken

This recipe calls for the same ingredients Chipotle lists on their site and is based on a recipe revealed by a former Chipotle employee, but easier. You simply blend garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, vinegar, and spices into a marinade for chicken thighs. It could be used for marinating beef, pork, and shrimp too.

After marinating the chicken for at least eight hours, cook it on a cast-iron skillet until lightly charred. If you have a grill available, that's a great way to cook the chicken and how Chipotle does it. The chicken turns out flavorful, well-seasoned, and juicy.

Bowl of copycat Chipotle chicken with a spoon, and in the surroundings, a bowl of lime quarters, glasses of water, and a scarlet table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

Recipes To Build a Chipotle Burrito Bowl at Home

Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Marinate Time 8 hrs
Total Time 8 hrs 30 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic

  • 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce from a 7-ounce can

  • 2/3 cup water

  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 4 tablespoons sunflower oil, divided 

  • 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds total)

Method

  1. Marinate the chicken:

    Place the garlic, peppers, water, vinegar, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil in a blender and process until smooth.

    Pour the marinade into a large bowl or a large resealable zip-top bag. Add the chicken and toss until fully coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or seal the bag and refrigerate the chicken for 8 to 12 hours.

    Chicken thighs marinating in a bowl of marinade for copycat Chipotle chicken recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
  2. Cook and serve:

    You will cook the chicken in two batches.

    Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken, letting as much of the marinade drip off as possible. Cook until deep golden brown and charred in spots, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, until cooked through. A thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken should register at least 165°F.

    If your chicken is sticking to the pan, add a little more oil as needed.

    Transfer the cooked chicken onto a cutting board and loosely cover with foil to keep it warm.

    Scrape off any stuck-on brown bits from the skillet and wipe it clean with a paper towel. Cook the remaining chicken.

    Use a chef's knife to cut the chicken into 1/2-inch cubes and serve warm.

    Love the recipe? Leave us a review and stars below!

    Copycat Chipotle chicken cooking on a cast iron skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
    Copycat Chipotle chicken flipped and continued to cook on a cast iron skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
    Copycat Chipotle chicken covered in aluminum foil and resting on a cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
    Cubed copycat Chipotle chicken on a cutting board

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
515 Calories
36g Fat
5g Carbs
46g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 515
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 46%
Saturated Fat 9g 43%
Cholesterol 245mg 82%
Sodium 1112mg 48%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 46g
Vitamin C 21mg 104%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 3mg 16%
Potassium 626mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.