Copycat Chipotle Chicken

There’s something special about the chicken at Chipotle. It’s tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned to complement all the burrito fixings. And while the fastest route to eating this chicken is heading to the restaurant, making this copycat Chipotle chicken at home is easy and so much more affordable.

We’ve cracked the code on Chipotle’s chicken spice blend and marinade. A special mix of chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper gives it herbaceous, pungent flavor, while adobo sauce, red onions and fresh garlic bring the zippy, spicy notes. After an overnight marinade, the chicken is finished on the grill. This copycat Chipotle chicken recipe makes 2 pounds of chicken, so you’ll have enough for all your lunch and dinner cravings. I mean, who wouldn’t want to eat Chipotle-style burrito bowls, salads, quesadillas and burritos all week?

Ingredients for Copycat Chipotle Chicken

• Adobo sauce: Find this rich, spicy sauce in a can of chipotle peppers in adobo. It’s usually located in the international aisle of the grocery store.
• Spices: We’ve found that a pungent, earthy blend of cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper gets you the closest to the flavor of Chipotle’s chicken. Feel free to add more spices as desired, like onion powder, garlic powder or paprika.
• Olive oil: Olive oil will help the chicken brown. You can use canola or vegetable oil here in a pinch. No need to splurge on a fancy one for this recipe; I only recommend good olive oil when it’s used as a finishing ingredient (like on salads) or in olive oil cake.
• Apple cider vinegar: This type of vinegar adds a little tang and zing. Sub distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar if it saves you a trip to the store.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic brings a much zippier flavor to the chicken than garlic powder or “jarlic” (jarred garlic). Mince three garlic cloves before throwing them in the food processor.
• Red onion: You’ll need half a red onion for the marinade for this recipe. Turn the other half into pickled red onions and serve them on your copycat Chipotle chicken.
• Chicken thighs: Purchase 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Chicken thighs are almost impossible to overcook and are cheaper compared to chicken breasts, but feel free to use chicken breasts if you prefer.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the marinade

In a blender or food processor, combining all of the ingredients except for the chicken and water. Process them until smooth, then add 1/4 cup of water. Pulse for a few seconds to fully incorporate the water into the marinade.

Step 2: Marinate the chicken

Place the chicken in a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken and turn to coat it. Refrigerate the chicken in the marinade, covered, for eight hours or overnight.

Step 3: Grill the chicken

Drain and discard the marinade. Grill the chicken, covered, over direct heat for two to three minutes on each side. Move them to cook over indirect heat. Cook them for four to six minutes longer, or until a thermometer reads 165°F.

Editor’s Tip: Once the chicken is finished cooking, transfer it to a large platter and loosely cover it with foil. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes so the juices can redistribute.

Step 4: Chop or slice the chicken

If desired, slice or cube chicken and serve with lime wedges and cilantro leaves.

How to Serve Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Serve this grilled chicken with other Chipotle copycat recipes. Here are a few ideas:

• Burritos: Once you’ve made the chicken, the hardest part of making a burrito is complete. All you have to do now is build it on a giant tortilla with cilantro lime rice, pinto beans, fajita veggies, copycat Chipotle queso and the salsas of your choice.
• Burrito bowls: Burrito bowls are one of Chipotle’s best-selling items. Make your own at home with all the usual fixings, like brown rice, black beans, this chicken, and all your favorite veggies and copycat salsas.
• Salads: I love making southwestern-inspired salads for weekday lunches. Cook this chicken at the beginning of the week, then every day you can build it on a fresh bed of romaine with red bell peppers, black beans, corn, tomatoes and copycat Chipotle guacamole.
• Tacos: Chicken tacos are one of my favorite healthier dinner recipes. Chop up this chicken and load it into corn tortillas with white onions, cilantro, cheese, tomatoes, avocado and crema.
• Quesadillas: Quesadillas are a favorite last-minute snack in my household. As long as you have tortillas and cheese, they come together in just a few minutes. Add this chicken to make it a substantial snack.
• Nachos: Lay a bed of good tortilla chips out on a platter and pile them high with this copycat Chipotle chicken, plus cheese, bell peppers, copycat Chipotle corn salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, crema and salsa.

How to Store Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Allow leftover copycat Chipotle chicken to cool completely to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container. It can be kept in the fridge for up to four days. It’s the perfect recipe to prep at the beginning of the week and enjoy throughout the week.

Can you freeze copycat Chipotle chicken?

Yes, you can freeze copycat Chipotle chicken. It’s one of our very favorite things about this recipe. We recommend making a double batch, letting it cool completely to room temperature, then freezing the grilled, chopped chicken in freezer-safe bags or containers for later use. Individual portions are great for those living solo, and larger freezer portions make family weeknight meals a breeze. Store cooked chicken in the freezer for up to three months.

How do you reheat copycat Chipotle chicken?

To reheat frozen chicken, simply add it to a large skillet over medium heat with a half-cup of water. Cover the pan with a lid and let the chicken cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s heated through. If the chicken begins to dry out before it’s fully heated, add a little more water to the pan to keep it moist while it warms. Refrigerated chicken can be heated the same way.

Can you make copycat Chipotle chicken ahead of time?

Yes, you can make copycat Chipotle chicken ahead of time. In fact, you need to! The chicken has to marinate in the fridge for eight hours or overnight. Marinate the chicken the night before or morning of cooking. Taking that little bit of time to prep will make dinner so much easier to throw together.

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Tips

How can I make my copycat Chipotle chicken spicy?

Rather than using just the adobo sauce from the chipotle peppers, you can add one or two of the peppers to the marinade before blending it. That will kick things up a notch! Save the unused peppers in an airtight container in the freezer for use in other recipes.

Can I cook copycat Chipotle chicken on the stovetop instead?

Yes, you can easily make this recipe on your stovetop. To start, prepare the marinade and marinate the chicken as instructed. Then, preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet until it shimmers, then add three or four chicken thighs to the skillet. Take care not to overcrowd the pan, or you won’t get a good sear on the chicken. For best results, cook the chicken in batches when using the stovetop method.

Sear the chicken for three minutes on each side, then reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and let the chicken continue to cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of thighs in this copycat Chipotle chicken recipe. Thinly sliced chicken breasts are best for quicker cooking. Thicker breasts will brown rapidly before the inside is finished cooking. If you prefer to use whole chicken breasts, reduce the heat so the inside cooks thoroughly before the crust burns.