Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe (2024)

So you love Chipotle’s Chicken? Skip take out, because now you can make this Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito recipe right in your own home. A few simple pantry staples are all you need to make a delicious, copycat marinade, let it hang out in the marinade for a couple hours and WOW! Make a copycat chipotle burrito bowl or traditional burrito.

This Copycat Chipotle chicken recipe is on repeat in our home! In fact, I generally double or triple the recipe marinade and freeze in the marinade for another meal.

Enjoy this delicious copycat Chipotle chicken for a busy weeknight meal, or to whip up for a team feed and don’t forget dessert! Try my Fried Ice Cream Cake for a crowd or this Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream for a more traditional dessert.

If you enjoy this delicious copycat Chipotle chicken recipe, you might want to try my Copycat Chipotle Carnitas, or these amazing Shish Kebabs.

Make a Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls Bar

You know the drill, answer a few questions while they build your gigantic burrito or bowl. Flour, Corn, Bowl? White or brown rice — black or pinto beans? What type of meat? What’s your order?

My own chicken burrito bowl sounds like this; white rice, black beans, chicken, cheese, sour cream, fresh pico de gallo, peppers and red onion and yes, guacamole (even at $2 extra!) and I always get a side fo corn salsa because my hubby and I split our burrito.

• Grab my copycat Cilantro Lime Rice recipe, delicious fluffy rice recipe
• Warm some black beans or pinto beans (add a pinch of salt, a little cumin and a dash of cayenne pepper)
• Shredded romaine lettuce, fajita veggies, sour cream, Monterey jack cheese, guacamole and of course salsa, and you might want my queso too!
• Also try Barbacoa Beef, it’s amazing!
• Add your own homemade Chipotle Corn Salsa!
• Make available flour tortillas, medium bowls and be sure to put all of your own favorite burrito bowl ingredients.

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)

Instructions

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.

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.

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.

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.

See Also

Strawberry Jello Fluff Salad RecipeMaryland Crab Cakes (Pan Fried) - Mighty Mrs | Super Easy RecipesHoney Sesame Snack Mix RecipeThe Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Recipe (Crockpot or Stovetop!)

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.

Variations & Substitutions

• Replace Chipotle chili powder and chili powder, you can use chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (also called chipotle chiles) , replace with 2tablespoonsadobo sauce(see notes) and 2tablespoonsancho chile powderor 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

Recipe adapted from Dinner Then Dessert

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage

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.

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!