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What goes in a Chipotle burrito?

Chipotle burritos can be customized with a variety of tasty ingredients to create a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to get in your burrito. This article will break down all the different ingredients you can add to a Chipotle burrito and provide some recommendations for delicious combinations.

Meat Options

The first big decision when building your burrito is which protein you want. Chipotle offers a few different meat options:

  • Chicken – Chipotle’s classic chicken option. The chicken is seasoned with lime and spices.
  • Steak – Marinated and grilled steak. Provides a hearty, beefy flavor.
  • Barbacoa – Shredded beef barbacoa braised with Chipotle’s signature blend of spices.
  • Carnitas – Pork carnitas slow-cooked until tender and added with a spice blend.
  • Sofritas – Spiced tofu sautéed with onions and peppers. A vegetarian protein option.
  • No meat – You can also opt for a vegetarian burrito by skipping the meat altogether.

The chicken, steak, barbacoa and carnitas meats are all flavorful options. The sofritas or no meat choice is great for vegetarians. Choose based on your preferences!

Rice

After the meat, you’ll choose between white or brown rice. The rice adds a neutral base that soaks up all the additional flavors.

  • White Rice – Fluffy seasoned white rice.
  • Brown Rice – Nutty brown rice with a bit more texture.

Both are good options, so just opt for whichever rice variety you enjoy more.

Beans

Beans add fiber and plant-based protein. You can choose between:

  • Black Beans – Savory black beans seasoned with onion, garlic, and epazote.
  • Pinto Beans – Earthy pinto beans seasoned similarly to the black beans.

The beans have a similar flavor profile, so try out each type to see which you prefer.

Salsa

Now onto the fun part – salsa! Salsa adds a fresh, flavorful kick to your burrito. There are a few salsas to select from:

  • Mild Tomato Salsa – Tangy mild salsa with diced tomatoes.
  • Medium Salsa Verde – Tomatillos, chilies and spices provide medium heat.
  • Hot Tomato Salsa – The classic hot salsa with fresh tomatoes and several peppers.
  • Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa – Smoky roasted salsa with corn and peppers.

Pick based on your desired level of spiciness and flavor preferences. For extra salsa, you can also ask for it on the side.

Toppings

Finally, finish off your burrito with any additional toppings you want:

  • Lettuce – Cool, fresh shredded lettuce.
  • Fajita Veggies – Onions and bell peppers sautéed with seasoning.
  • Guacamole – Freshly made guacamole with avocado, onion, garlic, lime and cilantro.
  • Queso – Smooth queso dip adds a creamy, cheesy element.
  • Sour Cream – Cooling sour cream.
  • Cheese – Shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

The lettuce, fajita veggies, guacamole and queso are all great choices for extra flavor. The sour cream and cheese also complement the other ingredients nicely.

Recommended Burrito Combos

Here are some recommended ingredient combos for delicious burritos:

Burrito Meat Rice Beans Salsa Toppings
The Classic Chicken White Rice Black Beans Medium Salsa Lettuce, Sour Cream
The Tex-Mex Steak White Rice Pinto Beans Hot Salsa Lettuce, Cheese
The Californian Carnitas Brown Rice Black Beans Mild Salsa Fajita Veggies, Guacamole
The Vegetarian Sofritas Brown Rice Pinto Beans Roasted Chili Salsa Lettuce, Guacamole

Mix and match the ingredients you like best to craft your perfect burrito. With all the different options for meat, rice, beans, salsa and toppings, there are endless combinations to try!

How to Order

Now that you know what can go into a burrito, here is a step-by-step guide for ordering at Chipotle:

  1. Choose your meat protein or opt for sofritas or no meat if you want a vegetarian burrito.
  2. Pick white or brown rice.
  3. Select black or pinto beans.
  4. Choose your salsa – mild, medium or hot tomato or roasted chili-corn.
  5. Move down the line and add any toppings you want – lettuce, cheese, sour cream, etc.
  6. Ask for any extra sides of salsa, sour cream or guacamole.
  7. Pay at the register.
  8. Enjoy your burrito!

Following these steps will ensure you get the perfect combination of ingredients in your Chipotle burrito.

FAQs

How many calories are in a Chipotle burrito?

Calories can vary widely based on the ingredients used, but on average a regular burrito from Chipotle contains around 1,000 calories.

What are Chipotle’s vegetarian options?

For vegetarians, Chipotle offers sofritas (spiced tofu) or you can build a veggie burrito without any meat. Both options allow you to still customize with rice, beans, salsa, and toppings.

What is the healthiest burrito to order at Chipotle?

A vegetarian burrito with brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, salsa, lettuce, and guacamole is one of the healthier options. You can also request low-sodium ingredients.

Can you order burrito bowls at Chipotle?

Yes, Chipotle offers burrito bowls which contain all the same ingredients as a burrito, except served in a bowl without the tortilla. Burrito bowls are lower carb than burritos.

Does Chipotle have quesadillas?

You can order quesadillas on the side with your choice of meat, beans and salsa. Keep in mind the quesadillas use flour tortillas rather than corn.

Conclusion

With a vast array of ingredients and customizable options, Chipotle burritos can be tailored to meet anyone’s taste preferences. Start with your base meat or veggie protein, add hot or mild salsa, heap on fresh toppings, and don’t forget the sides of guacamole or queso! Trying different ingredient combinations each visit can keep your burrito exciting and delicious every time you visit Chipotle.