Recreate Chipotle’s famous chicken at home with this tried-and-true Copycat Chipotle Chicken recipe! My family favorite, with tips for tender, flavorful chicken every time. Perfect for burritos, bowls, and more!
Chipotle Chicken Bowl Recipe
This Chipotle Chicken recipe has been a favorite in our house for years—so much so that when our boys come home from college, it’s the first thing they ask for! It’s incredibly easy to make, super versatile, and dare I say, even better than the original. Plus, it freezes beautifully, so I usually make 1-2 extra baggies for quick, no-brainer dinners another night.
My Secrets to Success:
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness for even cooking.
- Marinate for at least 4-6 hours (up to 3 days for even more flavor).
- Let the chicken come to room temperature before grilling.
- Rest the chicken for 5 minutes under foil after grilling to lock in the juices.
- Freezes well—perfect for meal prep!
Reader Review: Cynthia says, “Super easy and so flavorful! I served it with some cilantro rice – perfect combo!”
Why you will love Copycat Chipotle Chicken
- Instead of heading to your nearest Chipotle restaurant for one more night of fast food, bring the whole family around the table with some hot, crispy tortilla chips and this amazing copycat Chipotle chicken recipe.
- It tastes like the real thing! I have made it over a dozen times, typically weekly, I’ve tweaked it a smidge to make it work best for our family.
- EASY | Takes less than 15 minutes to put this recipe altogether.
If you enjoy this delicious copycat Chipotle chicken recipe, you might want to try my Copycat Chipotle Carnitas, or these amazing Shish Kebabs.
Simple Copycat Chipotle Chicken Marinade Ingredients
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- Chipotle jalapeno powder | You can also use ancho chili powder
- Spices | Chili powder, Cumin, and Dried Oregano
- White vinegar | Distilled or I have also used Apple Cider vinegar
- Lime Juice | Just a squeeze from a half of lime, use the rest to serve with the chicken
- Garlic cloves | minced
- Vegetable oil (I used Avocado Oil and Grapeseed Oil)
Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs?
Chipotle restaurants use primarily chicken thighs, which are much more tender and juicy than chicken breasts, however; we have made this both ways and both are quite delicious! Use one or the other, or combine.
How to make Copycat Chipotle Chicken
- To start, place chicken in a a freezer baggie or between two pieces of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken until they are all about the same thickness, about half inch.
- In a small bowl add the rest of the ingredients and whisk together.
3. I use a baggie, but you can also place in a casserole dish, combine the marinade with chicken and coat. Allow to hang out in the fridge 4-6 hours, longer is better.
4. Heat grill to medium-high heat, allow to heat up for 5-10 minutes. Then reduce to medium heat and grill chicken for 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked through.
Pro Tip
Always allow chicken to rest on a plate covered for 5 minutes before chopping into bite sized pieces.
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Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl Variations
- Replace Chipotle chili powder and chili powder, you can use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (also called chipotle chiles) , replace with 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (see notes) and 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder or 1 ounce dried ancho chiles, soaked, omit the vinegar. Add chili peppers and other marinade ingredients to a food processor, combine and use marinade as planned.
- Instead of grilling outside, use a grill pan.
- Try making some Cilantro Lime Brown Rice instead
Make Ahead Freezer Instructions
Can I freeze the chicken in the marinade? Absolutely! In fact, I encourage it, make a mess once, eat two or three times I always say! As I mentioned above, this recipe is on repeat in our home, so I typically have one in the freezer ready to go.
Simply place your pounded chicken in a freezer ziplock baggie (you might want to write on it before you place your food in the baggie, no mystery meats here), pour the marinade over the chicken, squish to distribute marinade, squeeze as much air out as you can and freeze flat.
To prepare from frozen, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight (or on the counter for a couple of hours if you are comfortable with that). Squish the marinade around during the thawing process to ensure it’s touching all of the chicken. Then grill as above.
How to store a Homemade Chipotle Bowl
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. The marinated chicken will keep refrigerated up to 3 days in the fridge, frozen for up to 3 months.
Recipe adapted from Dinner Then Dessert
Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl FAQs
Not in an overwhelming way. I am a professed spice wimp, so if I can eat, anyone can eat it! The flavors are pleasing and so delicious!
Chipotle uses a blend of milder Monterey Jack cheese and sharper white cheddar cheese, my favorite on our copycat Chipotle chicken, but you can use any cheese.
According to my research, both options are healthy. Chipotle grills their chicken while Viva uses a Peruvian rotisserie. Both are lean and use clean ingredients, so take your pick! Viva chicken is a fast growing chain mostly in North and South Carolina, with a new location in St. George, Utah!
That’s it! How will you use your Copycat Chipotle Chicken? In tacos, enchiladas, on a salad, in a bowl, in eggs (my oldest makes his omelet with it every time we make this recipe), nachos, quesadillas?
While you are thinking about it, Pin the recipe to your favorite board using the pin below! Then be sure to print the handy-dandy recipe below!
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More great Mexican Inspired recipes:
- Healthier Crack Salsa Chicken is a great make ahead chicken recipe to use in bowls, tacos, enchilada’s and more!
- Swap out the rice for this easy Spanish Mexican Rice
- Make some of these Baked Chicken and Veggie Quesadillas, so good!
- How about a healthy Hibiscus Margarita or this Hibiscus Mojito?
- Or these 4 ingredient Margarita’s
- Chicken Tortilla Soup is always a winner or this even better Chicken Poblano soup
- Don’t forget this authentic Colorado Pork Green Chile
- Chile Relleno Casserole (one of my most popular recipes)
For our family, this is the perfect meal; it’s also great for meal prep!
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Copycat Chipotle Chicken
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Print Pin RateIngredients
- 2.5-3 pounds chicken breasts boneless, skinless or boneless thighs or combination
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chipotle jalapeno powder
- 1 teaspoon regular chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil I used Avocado Oil and Grapeseed Oil]
- 2-3 tablespoons water
- ½ lime Optional
Instructions
- Pound chicken using mallet until even thickness, about a half inch thick. Tip | place chicken in freezer ziplock baggie or between two sheets of plastic wrap before pounding.
- In a small mixing bowl, add all spices, garlic, oil, vinegar and water together, mixing well.
- Pour over chicken placed in freezer bags or in baking dish, lifting and moving to make sure all chicken is covered in marinade. Best if marinated for 6 hours, but tastes decent at 3-4 hours too. If marinating in dish, be sure to occasionally turn the chicken.
- Heat grill to medium heat and grill for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through, if grilling thighs, and they are thin, reduce time to 3-5 minutes per side. Remove from grill, allow to rest 5 minutes covered before chopping into bite sized pieces.
- Serve in burritos, bowls, salads, enchiladas or just serve over rice for dinner. Add your favorite toppings.
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Video
Notes
Variations & Substitutions
- Replace Chipotle chili powder and chili powder, you can use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (also called chipotle chiles) , replace with 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (see notes) and 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder or 1 ounce dried ancho chiles, soaked, omit the vinegar. Add chili peppers and other marinade ingredients to a food processor, combine and use marinade as planned.
- Instead of grilling outside, use a grill pan.
- Try making some Cilantro Lime Brown Rice instead
Nutrition
Lisa Bond
This was fantastic! We had company and I needed something quick & easy, so I threw some frozen chicken tenderloins in a ziplock bag with this and everyone loved it (and asked for the recipe, too).
I like it spicy, so I doubled the recipe & added red pepper flakes & a finely-diced jalapeño pepper. FANTASTIC.
That sounds perfect Lisa, thank you for your kind comment!! Love your twist on it!
Grace
I have made this recipe several times and its absolutely amazing for burritos …. I butterfly my chicken breast versus pounding them.
Thank you Grace!! Butterflying is way easier than pounding! Great idea!
Grace
Absolutely delicious and will be my new go to for chicken burritos or tacos.
Thank you Grace! That made my day! It’s my boys FAVORITE meal!
Claudia Lamascolo
This is really a spot on flavor for chipotle chicken we were amazing and will make this recipe often!
Thank you!
Ieva
Loved this bowl! Never had the original dish so cannot comment on how similar it is, but it is really tasty for sure! Perfect combination of all my favourite things! Will definitely be making it again!
So glad you enjoyed it, it has amazing flavor!
Anita
Delicious! Instead of a grill, I just use my very well seasoned cast iron skillet to cook the chicken.
Perfect! You can use a grill pan too if you had one!
Kris
Better than the original! SO good!
Thanks so much!
Cynthia
Super easy and so flavorful! I served it with some cilantro rice – perfect combo!
Love it Cynthia!
Becky
This recipe is my current go-to! It’s easy, healthy, and tastes just like Chipotle Restaurant!
Becky
Love this recipe! Making a double batch tonight! Thanks Kathleen!
YAY! Thank you for sharing that Becky, I make double batches weekly, starting to think we should move so we can raise chickens! Have a great day! Kathleen
Amy Nash
I haven’t really been wanting to pick up takeout these days, just to err on the side of caution, so I’ve been making ALL the things at home myself. This really satisfied a craving I was having!
Deb Clark
We love Chipotle and this is just like that only better! Five stars – excellent meal!
Julie Menghini
I had every thing that I needed for this recipe! I loved how easy it is.Marinating the chicken makes such a difference! This is going to be a regular in our house.
Jennifer Stewart
Made this for lunch yesterday and made a big batch so we ended up eating it for dinner too!
HOORAY! Love hearing this!
Sandra Shaffer
Fabulous! The marinate gives this dish a perfect amount of flavor. I made my bowl with salad and my husband had his as written.
LetsCurry
Kathleen
I’m smiling at the prefixing of the name of this recipe in you calling it as Copycat? Thank you for keeping positive amidst this downtime. My girls will love this recipe and I’m going to put them along to make this for a week day dinner. Thank you!
Stay safe ????
Hello! So glad you are doing well and I am glad that you might enjoy this with your girls! You be safe as well! Kathleen
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This chipotle chicken sounds right up my family’s taste buds!! Definitely pinning!!
Debi
My family loves their food, and since we aren’t going out at all, now I can make this at home. Thanks so much for the recipe.
thanks Debi, AND I hope you love it!
Lynn Spencer
Thanks for filling my menu plan for the next week! My guys will love this for dinner. Take care, my friend.
Haha! Hopefully you will too! Glad I could help! Be well my friend!