6 Best Meats at Chipotle


If you love Chipotle, then you will love their abundance meat options on their extensive menu.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has some of the best meats around and is one of the most popular eating spots when it comes to enjoying the real goodness of Mexican food.

If you don’t want to cook something at home and are craving some fast food but also want it to be healthy and nutritious, chipotle’s menu can serve you all!

From burritos to tacos to soft tender meat dishes, chipotle has one of the yummiest and healthiest menus to serve.

This article includes the 6 best meats available at Chipotle.

We’ve tried to gather as much detail as possible so that you know what you’re eating! So, let’s get to it.

Best Meats at Chipotle

Pollo Asado   

Chipotle often launches some options that are offered for a limited time but are always proven to be blockbusters! Well, Pollo Asado is one of them! This newly launched, meaty dish has challenged chipotle’s standard chicken not only in its taste but in nutrition as well. People want it to be a permanent option on the menu and here is the reason behind it.

Pollo Asado includes healthy chicken which is marinated in different citrus juices and powdered cumin. It is usually best served with pico-de-gallo and tortillas. It is usually made using dark meat seasoned with lime, garlic, and guajillo peppers. The meat is then grilled on plancha. Without the addition of extra spices, the dish gets its characteristic flavor from guajillo peppers. They are commonly referred to as the holy trinity of Mexican peppers and are often used in mole sauces.

The chicken for the dish comes from the breasts of responsibly grown birds and has no added antibiotics and hormones. It is all-dark meat that is naturally moist and juicy!     

The nutrition stats for this bold, spicy and flavorful option are as follow.

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 210 kcal12g   1340 mg               3g       0g      22g

Chipotle Standard Chicken

The standard chicken at Chipotle is usually cubed into smaller pieces that are marinated in chipotle chili vinegar, garlic, ground cumin, sunflower oil, salt, pepper, and oregano. All these flavors combine to impart a spicier taste to the standard chipotle chicken as compared to Pollo Asado.   

It is more of a wet rub than a marinade. The wet rubbing usually concentrates the flavor of a robust chicken. The chicken is then bathed with aromatic Mexican spices like chipotle chili powder, onion powder, cumin, garlic, smoked paprika, etc. To tenderize the meat all these spices are usually mixed with olive oil and lime juice and then slathered over the chicken. 

The chipotle standard chicken goes best with rice but you can also pair it with tortillas if you want. The nutrients included in each serving of the dish are;   

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 230 kcal5g 310 mg         32g   1g   13g

Chipotle Steak Bites

If you are not fond of chicken and want some other meat options, chipotle won’t disappoint you on that too! They have the finest raised beef that is served in a variety of healthy dishes like chipotle steak bites. This super juicy and healthy dish is packed with so much flavor and offers a high protein content like none other!

Chipotle steak bites are perfectly salty, juicy, well-seasoned, and come in a nice chewy texture and a mouth-watering pink center! It is always served as fresh-grilled steak and thus has a captivating charred flavor.

First of all the beef is cooked under a vacuum. It is to lock the moisture by heating the beef at a low temperature for a long time. Then it is marinated with our favorite spicy chipotle pepper adobo and kept overnight. Finally, when the customers demand a steak, the marinated beef is grilled and added with bay leaf and spices like oregano and cloves to give it a characteristic aroma. Other ingredients included while marination is chile de arbol, jalapeno, cumin, garlic, salt, and sunflower oil.

Their steak comes from all over: bottom rounds, top rounds, eye of rounds, inside round, outside round, sirloin, knuckle, ball tip, and sirloin top.

You can eat this high-protein, low-calorie steak wrapped in a burrito or smothered with guacamole.

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 150 kcal6 g330 mg          1g0   21g

Barbacoa

Another healthiest meat option served at chipotle is the beef Barbacoa. This meat’s strength lies in its ridiculously soft texture. With every bite, juicy, delicious pleasure explodes.

So, what is barbacoa meat at Chipotle?

Instead of the more customary Cabeza, Chipotle uses shoulder-cut beef for their Barbacoa. It helps the meat stay soft by absorbing the marinade that the meat spends the night swimming in at Chipotle. Spending that extra time marinating helps this beef fly above the rest of Chipotle’s alternatives.

This high-protein and considerably low-sodium dish is dominated by oregano and cloves, as well as a hint of bay leaf and Chipotle’s customary pepper and adobo-forward flavor. It works great with tacos, burritos, or salads.

If somebody comes and tells you that chipotle lacks or has lost its flavor, get them a Barbacoa and blow their mind! The complete ingredient list includes beef, water, Jalapeno, cumin, oregano, black pepper, chile de arbol, sea salt flakes, cloves, and sunflower oil!

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 170 kcal7 g  530 mg            2 g 0 g23 g

Carnitas

At Chipotle, pork is slow-cooked with ingredients including juniper berries, thyme, and bay leaves to create the Carnitas dish. The meat is shredded after it has been cooked and is then ready to be used in a variety of Mexican-inspired meals.

Pork, Bay Leaf, Sea Salt Flakes, Black Pepper, Thyme, and Juniper Berries are among the components used in the making.

The flavor profile of Carnitas is noticeably more delicate. However, after lengthy cooking, it is browned, giving it a crispy texture. Since this recipe has no carbohydrates in any serving, it is a carb-free choice and won’t disturb your keto diet.

The spicy Carnitas is excellent on its own or in burrito bowls or tacos.

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 210 kcal12 g  450 mg            0023g

Sofritas

Last on the list of the best meats at Chipotle is Sofritas.

So, what is sofritas at Chipotle?

In this nutritious meal, firm tofu is diced or scrambled and simmered in a sauce comprised of tomato, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. The Spanish word “sofrito,” which means “gently fried,” is where the term Sofritas originates.

Tofu, a protein made from soy, which gives the dish its overall thick texture, is the major ingredient. The chipotle chiles in adobo sauce give the sauce a smokey-earthy taste. While Sofritas may appear fiery, the flavor is warm rather than scorching.

Naturally vegan and gluten-free, Sofritas. Tofu, the major component, is a great plant-based protein substitute for meat and dairy that is also cholesterol-free.

It can serve as a great option when you are on a budget but crave something healthy and fiestalicious!  

NutrientsCaloriesFatSodiumCarbohydratesSugarProtein
Amount per serving 150 kcal10 g560 mg            9 g5 g8 g

Summary: Best Meats at Chipotle

Whether you are looking for the most delicious burrito, the tastiest tacos, or the best Chipotle bowl order, the meat options, like barbacoa and carnitas, could make or break the dish. Whether you want a high protein meal that’s low in calories, or one that will you up and is high in carbs, chipotle has some of the best food options out there. If this is your first time at Chipotle, get the tacos, and put a different meat on all of them to try out which you like best!

In summary, the best meats at Chipotle include:

  • Pollo Asado
  • Chicken
  • Steak
  • Carnitas
  • Barbacoa
  • Sofritas

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