Pollo Al Chipotle is a popular grilled chicken dish at Chipotle Mexican Grill. With its mix of savory chicken, rice, beans, salsa, and other toppings, Pollo Al Chipotle provides a tasty and protein-packed meal. However, with its generous portion sizes and preparation style, this popular entree is also high in calories. So just how many calories are in an order of Pollo Al Chipotle?
What is Pollo Al Chipotle?
Pollo Al Chipotle is one of Chipotle’s signature menu items. It consists of marinated, grilled chicken breast served with your choice of toppings and sides. The basic Pollo Al Chipotle order includes:
- Chicken breast grilled with Chipotle’s signature adobo marinade
- Cilantro-lime rice
- Black or pinto beans
- Fresh tomato salsa
- Corn salsa
- Cheese
- Lettuce
From this basic template, customers can customize their bowl with extras like queso, guacamole, sour cream, and more. Pollo Al Chipotle can also be ordered as a salad, taco, quesadilla, or burrito bowl.
Calories in Pollo Al Chipotle Base
The base Pollo Al Chipotle order without any customizations contains the following calorie counts:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Chicken breast (6 oz) | 230 |
| Cilantro-lime rice (4 oz) | 170 |
| Black beans (4 oz) | 120 |
| Tomato salsa (2 oz) | 10 |
| Corn salsa (2 oz) | 80 |
| Cheese (1 oz) | 110 |
| Lettuce (1 oz) | 5 |
| Total | 725 |
So in its most basic form without any add-ons, a Pollo Al Chipotle bowl contains around 725 calories. This offers a substantial portion of food for under 750 calories. The protein-rich grilled chicken breast provides filling protein, while the rice, beans, salsas, and vegetables provide carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Calories with Toppings
One of the best things about Chipotle is customizing your bowl. But extra toppings can quickly add more calories to your meal.
Here are the approximate calories for Pollo Al Chipotle’s most popular add-ons:
| Topping | Calories |
|---|---|
| Guacamole (4 oz) | 230 |
| Queso (2 oz) | 140 |
| Sour cream (1 oz) | 30 |
| Chips (4 oz) | 540 |
Some healthier swap-ins include:
| Topping | Calories |
|---|---|
| Fajita veggies (4 oz) | 15 |
| Roasted chili corn salsa (2 oz) | 60 |
| Extra lettuce (1 oz) | 5 |
As you can see, topping choices can greatly vary the calories in a Pollo Al Chipotle bowl. Choosing no-cost veggie extras like lettuce, salsa, and fajita veggies can allow you to pile on the free flavor without extra calories.
Lower Calorie Customization Options
Here are some other easy ways to trim calories when ordering your customized Pollo Al Chipotle bowl:
Pick Your Protein
Opt for a single chicken breast rather than double chicken or steak, which nearly doubles the protein calories. A single chicken breast offers plenty of protein at around 230 calories.
Portion the Rice & Beans
Request a half portion of rice and beans to trim this down to about 150 calories each instead of 300+ for a full portion.
Hold the Cheese & Sour Cream
Say no to the cheese and sour cream, which add about 140 calories together.
Salsa is Free!
Load up on as much fresh salsa as you want for zero calories.
Swap Chips for Salad
Chips can add over 500 calories to your meal. Opt for a salad instead of the chips for a lighter crunch.
Highest Calorie Options
On the higher end, some customized Pollo Al Chipotle orders can add up to 1,000+ calories or more. Here are some of the highest calorie options:
- Double chicken or steak: Adds 200-300 calories over single protein
- Full portions rice and beans: 170 calories rice + 120 calories beans
- Chips: 500-600 calories for a full bag
- Queso: Around 140 calories for 2 oz
- Guacamole: 230 calories for 4 oz
- Extras like cheese, sour cream: 30-110 calories each
Adding full portions of the rice, beans, protein, chips, queso, guacamole, and extras can quickly result in a 1,000+ calorie bowl!
Lower Calorie Orders
On the lighter side, you can order a Pollo Al Chipotle bowl with around 500 calories or less by following these guidelines:
- Single chicken breast protein
- Half portions of rice and beans
- Lots of veggie salsas and toppings
- No chips, cheese, sour cream, or guacamole
This approach emphasizes the lean protein and fiber-rich beans and rice in sensible portions along with unlimited zero-calorie salsa and veggies.
Make It A Meal Under 750 Calories
To make a satisfying under 750 calorie Chipotle meal, order:
- Pollo Al Chipotle bowl with single chicken, half rice and beans, salsa, lettuce, skip the cheese and sour cream
- Side salad instead of chips
- Water, unsweetened iced tea, or diet soda as your drink
This full meal comes in at around or under 750 calories for a balance of protein, fiber, vitamins, and flavor. You don’t have to skip the guacamole completely either – a serving of 2 ounces of guac adds about 115 additional calories.
Nutrition Information
Along with calories, the Pollo Al Chipotle bowl offers these main nutrients:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 3.5g | 18% |
| Cholesterol | 55mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 730mg | 31% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 57g | 21% |
| Dietary Fiber | 10g | 38% |
| Protein | 44g | 88% |
The Pollo Al Chipotle bowl provides lean protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from ingredients like beans, rice, chicken, salsa, and veggies. Moderate amounts of fat come mostly from the chicken and cheese. It’s high in sodium from the adobo chicken marinade, cheese, salsas, and beans.
Pollo Al Chipotle Kids Meal
For kids ages 12 and under, Chipotle offers a Pollo Al Chipotle Kids Meal with the following nutrition:
- Calories: 470
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 57g
- Protein: 32g
The kid’s version comes with a smaller portion chicken breast, rice, beans, and toppings. This cuts the calories roughly in half compared to a regular bowl while still providing protein and nutrition.
Is Pollo Al Chipotle Healthy?
Overall, Pollo Al Chipotle can be a healthy meal choice when customized properly. A bowl with lean protein, fiber-rich rice and beans, salsa, veggies, and minimal extras offers nutrition without excess calories. However, extras like chips, queso, and guacamole can pile on fat and calories quickly. Following portion control and choosing the right add-ons makes all the difference in keeping this meal balanced.
Low Carb Options
To make your Pollo Al Chipotle order lower carb, follow these guidelines:
- Skip the rice and beans completely, or get just a half portion of one
- Maximize non-starchy veggies like lettuce, salsa, peppers
- Add extra fajita veggies, tomato, lettuce instead of rice
- Avoid chips, tortillas, and queso
This provides a generous serving of chicken, vegetables, and healthy fat without all the refined carbohydrates. Be mindful of sodium from salsas and other ingredients.
Keto Pollo Al Chipotle Bowl
To make a keto-friendly Pollo Al Chipotle bowl, try this:
- Double chicken or steak
- No rice or beans
- Fajita veggies
- Extra lettuce
- Guacamole
- Roasted chili salsa
This emphasizes protein and healthy fats while limiting carbs. Be careful of sodium and calories with extra meat and guacamole. A keto Pollo Al Chipotle bowl will have around 600-800 calories depending on exact customizations.
Low Calorie Options
To make your Pollo Al Chipotle lower calorie, follow these tips:
- Single portion chicken or steak
- Limit rice and beans to half portions
- Load up on salsa and low-calorie toppings like lettuce, tomato, peppers
- Avoid chips, queso, cheese, sour cream, guacamole
- Ask for any vinaigrette dressings and sauces on the side
- Opt for salad instead of the bowl if you want chips – you’ll get less
- Choose water, iced tea, or diet soda as your drink
Following these guidelines can keep your Pollo Al Chipotle order around or under 500 calories while still feeling fully satisfied from a flavorful meal.
Conclusion
Pollo Al Chipotle is a popular Chipotle menu item prized for its protein-packed grilled chicken and array of flavorful toppings. In its basic form, a regular bowl contains around 725 calories. But customized add-ons like guacamole, queso, and chips can drive up the calories to 1,000 or more if you’re not careful.
The best way to keep your Pollo Al Chipotle order in a healthy calorie range is to watch portions on rice and beans, limit extras like cheese and sour cream, and emphasize zero-calorie salsas and veggies. With the right customizations, you can enjoy a satisfying Chipotle meal with protein, fiber, and nutrition for 750 calories or less.