Chipotle is my favorite “fast food” restaurant – but it doesn’t taste like fast food to me thanks to the more whole food ingredients Chipotle uses. I love the ability to customize your ingredients to tailor to your unique nutrition preferences and goals.
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There are more than seven meals I would recommend at Chipotle, thanks to the different combination options. I’ve narrowed it down to my top seven, and have calculated the nutrition stats for each one. Heads-up: Chipotle only offers calories, total fat, carbs, and protein in their nutrition info.
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Burrito bowls are my favorite thing to order at Chipotle. Burrito bowls are great because you can cut down on the refined carbs in the tortilla while keeping the bowl rich in plant-based protein from the beans. Even better – the guac is included and free with the veggie bowl!
Here’s what I recommend putting in your veggie bowl:
- Extra beans (for more protein – either black beans or pinto beans)
- Guacamole
- Mild tomato salsa or tomatillo-green chili salsa
- Fajita veggies
- Romaine lettuce
Nutrition stats (as ordered above): 540 calories, 25 grams of fat, 62 grams of carbs, 19 grams of protein
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If you like burrito bowls but aren’t a fan of the veggie-only option, then the chicken burrito bowl is one of my top picks. It’s an excellent source of protein, and I prefer guacamole over sour cream since it’s rich in fiber and healthy unsaturated fats. (You can skip the guac if you want, though – it would cut down 230 calories.)
Here’s my recommended order:
- Chicken
- Light brown rice
- Light black beans
- Guacamole
- Fresh tomato salsa or tomatillo-green chili salsa
- Fajita veggies
- Romaine lettuce
Nutrition stats (as ordered above): 630 calories, 33 grams of fat, 47 grams of carbs, 41 grams of protein
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Chipotle’s Balanced Macros Bowl (part of the ‘Lifestyle Bowl’ collection) is more moderate in carbs compared to some of its other Lifestyle Bowls (some are as high as 90+ grams of carbs, which may be too much for some people, especially with blood sugar problems). The ingredients are listed as: Light Rice, Black Beans, Chicken, Fajita Veggies, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Guacamole, and Extra Romaine Lettuce.
Nutrition stats: 700 calories, 33 grams of fat, 45 grams of protein, 61 grams of carbs
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Another Lifestyle Bowl option, the Wholesome Bowl with Carnitas aligns more with my recommended macronutrient (carbs, fat, and protein) content for most people. Staying below 500 calories, this bowl is lower in carbs, making it ideal for those who are on a lower-carbohydrate diet. The ingredients are listed as: Salad Blend, Chicken, Fajita Veggies, Fresh Tomato Salsa, and Guac.
Chipotle lists this option as Paleo, Whole30®, Grain Free, Gluten Free, and Keto.
Nutrition stats: 490 calories, 34 grams of fat, 26 grams of protein, 18 grams of carbs
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You can customize salads just like you can burritos, so there are tons of different combination options. The combination I recommend ordering in addition to the salad greens are:
- Chicken (more protein than the steak at Chipotle)
- Black beans or pinto beans (or half and half)
- Fresh Tomato Salsa
- Fajita Veggies
- Cheese
I’d suggest skipping the Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette since the salad should be plenty flavorful as-is. If you do use it, just go easy on the dressing since it’s higher in sugar.
Nutrition stats (as ordered above): 470 calories, 17 grams of fat, 33 grams of carbs, 47 grams of protein
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Red meat is richer in iron than leaner meat like chicken, so I’m all about the beef – even though it’s a bit higher in saturated fat than chicken (Chipotle doesn’t list the saturated fat content for its meals, though).
Like burritos and salads, there are plenty of possibilities for tacos, but here is my suggested order for three tacos:
- Beef barbacoa (slightly higher in protein than Chipotle’s steak)
- Crispy corn tortillas (much lower in carbs than the soft flour tortillas)
- Black beans or pinto beans (or half and half)
- Fresh tomato salsa or tomatillo-green chili salsa
- Romaine lettuce
If ordered as above, here are the nutrition stats for the three tacos:
Nutrition stats: 545 calories, 18 grams of fat, 62 grams of carbs, 35 grams of protein
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As you’ve probably noticed, I recommend the burrito bowls over the burritos to cut down on extra refined carbs from the tortilla (it adds 320 calories and 50 grams of carbs on its own). If you’re a die-hard burrito fan, though, here’s how I suggest ordering it to keep the calories and carbs in check:
- Chicken
- Light black beans
- Fresh tomato salsa or tomatillo-green chili salsa
- Fajita veggies
- Romaine lettuce
Nutrition stats (as ordered above): 615 calories, 17 grams of fat, 71 grams of carbs, 45 grams of protein
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You’ve probably noticed that I don’t include any sides like chips and salsa. These meals are already generous in terms of calories and carbohydrates (carbs), so adding chips would add unnecessary carbs.
Why all the talk about carbs, anyway? Good question…
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I’m not against carbohydrates by any means, BUT there are millions of people living with insulin resistance, prediabetes, diabetes, and other blood sugar issues. Eating a balanced, moderate-carbohydrate diet can help with health conditions like these. That’s also why I suggest skipping the rice if you’re already including a major carbohydrate source in your meal, such as a tortilla.
If you have diabetes, follow your healthcare provider or dietitian’s recommendations for a target carb goal per meal!
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Okay, so let’s look at those top 7 meals again:
#1: Veggie Burrito Bowl
#2: Chicken Burrito Bowl
#3: Balanced Macros Bowl
#4: Wholesome Bowl with Carnitas
#5: Chicken Salad
#6: Beef Barbacoa Tacos (3)
#7: Chicken Burrito
Which one would I choose? Well, since you asked…
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That would be the veggie burrito bowl or the chicken burrito bowl!
How about you – what’s your favorite Chipotle menu item from my list?
Let me know in the comments!
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