It can be a challenging feat to dine out anywhere these days while following the paleo diet, let alone at a fast food or quick service restaurant. But there are some chains that are more diet-friendly than others, and Chipotle Mexican Grill is one of them.
Chipotle doesn’t just offer vegan, vegetarian, keto-friendly, and gluten-free options, but paleo-friendly ones as well. While there are certainly items and orders to avoid to remain true to your paleo diet, there are also enough ingredients to work with that will allow for a paleo-friendly meal at Chipotle.
Wondering what all of your options are if you follow the paleo diet? Next time you’re craving Chipotle, here’s everything on the menu that will make a good choice for someone with a paleo lifestyle.
Paleo-friendly food and drinks available on the Chipotle menu
Eating paleo is all about consuming real, whole foods that those in the Paleolithic Era had access to – so plant-based foods, vegetables, meats, nuts, and seeds are all great choices for someone on a paleo diet. The tricky part, especially when eating out at a restaurant, is avoiding things like grains, refined sugar, processed ingredients, and other additives that are often found in fast or quick-service foods.
The main items to stay away from at Chipotle will be anything grain-based like flour, rice, and corn, as well as legumes and any processed ingredients or refined sugar. One of the more “iffy” categories within the paleo diet is dairy – some eliminate it entirely on the diet, while others allow for the occasional consumption of dairy products. It’s also worth noting that Chipotle uses sunflower oil or rice bran oil in most of their protein options, so if you consider these more processed oils that you want to avoid, then you may be better off skipping the meal entirely.
That means that things like rice, beans, tortillas, chips, and corn salsa are no-gos at Chipotle, while the meats and dairy products like cheese and sour cream are more a matter of personal discretion.
However, since Chipotle commits to a list of 53 real ingredients to create all of their recipes and dishes, there are also a good amount of fresh, whole foods available throughout the menu that you can feel good about eating on a paleo diet.
Below is the complete list of menu items and ordering choices at Chipotle that will fit into a paleo-friendly lifestyle.
Lifestyle Bowls | |
Wholesome Bowl | |
Grain Freedom Bowl* | |
(Build Your) Burrito Bowls | Paleo-Friendly Choices |
Choice of Protein or Veggie | Carne Asada Chicken Steak Barbacoa Carnitas Veggie |
No Rice | |
No Beans | |
Choice of Toppings | Guacamole Fresh Tomato Salsa Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa Sour Cream* Fajita Veggies Cheese* Romaine Lettuce |
(Build Your) Salads | Paleo-Friendly Choices |
Choice of Protein or Veggie | Carne Asada Chicken Steak Barbacoa Carnitas Veggie |
No Rice | |
No Beans | |
Choice of Toppings | Guacamole Fresh Tomato Salsa Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa Sour Cream* Fajita Veggies Cheese* |
(Build Your) Kid’s Meal | Paleo-Friendly Choices |
Choice of Protein or Veggie | Carne Asada Chicken Steak Barbacoa Carnitas Guacamole |
No Tortilla | |
Choice of Toppings | Fresh Tomato Salsa Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa Sour Cream* Fajita Veggies Cheese* Romaine Lettuce |
Chips & Sides | |
Side of Guacamole | |
Drinks | |
San Pellegrino Sparkling Water | |
Tractor Organic Black Tea |
Every paleo-friendly ingredient at Chipotle
Speaking of the 53 real ingredients that Chipotle uses to create all of their menu items, we’ve got the complete list for that as well.
The more problematic ingredients like flour, rice, beans, and corn have been removed from the list, but there are plenty remaining that fall within the confines of a paleo diet. Just keep in mind that dairy products and oils are dependent upon the specific paleo guidelines you follow and how strictly you avoid certain food groups.
Here’s everything on Chipotle’s list of 53 ingredients that can be considered paleo-friendly.
Produce |
Avocado |
Baby Kale |
Baby Spinach |
Cilantro |
Garlic |
Jalapeno |
Lemon Juice |
Lime Juice |
Romaine Lettuce |
Onion |
Bell Pepper |
Chipotle Chili |
Poblano Pepper |
Red Chili |
Serrano Pepper |
Tomatillo |
Tomato |
Tomato Paste |
Meat |
Beef |
Chicken |
Pork |
Dairy + Animal Products |
Milk* |
White Cheddar* |
Monterey Jack Cheese* |
Cheese Cultures* |
Cultured Cream* |
Honey |
Spices + Seasonings |
Salt |
Black Pepper |
Bay Leaf |
Cloves |
Cumin |
Juniper Berries |
Oregano |
Thyme |
Oils + Vinegars |
Canola Oil* |
Rice Bran Oil* |
Sunflower Oil* |
Distilled Vinegar |
Red Wine Vinegar |
Water, Minerals + Enzymes |
Water |
Lime |
Gypsum |
Vegetable Rennet |
The Lifestyle Bowl at Chipotle that’s designed to be paleo-friendly is the Wholesome Bowl. It’s made with a supergreens lettuce blend, chicken, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, and guacamole.
Chipotle did offer a cilantro lime cauliflower rice for a limited time in 2021, but the item was discontinued after its testing period and unfortunately cauliflower rice is no longer available at most Chipotle locations.
Chipotle’s sofritas are chopped tofu that’s braised in a spicy chipotle sauce, made with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and tomatoes, chipotle chiles, and a blend of spices. Because the dish is tofu-based and contains soybeans, this item is not considered paleo-friendly.
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