Chipotle Copycat Chicken
Updated Jan 20, 2026
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Skip the trip to the restaurant and make Chipotle Copycat Chicken right at home in just 20 minutes of hands-on time. This easy copycat recipe uses a smoky chipotle adobo marinade to recreate the bold, juicy chicken you love from Chipotle.
It’s perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, and meal prep. Pair it with Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice, Chipotle Copycat Black Beans, Chipotle Copycat Guacamole to build the full Chipotle bowl at home.
🐝 Quick Look: Chipotle Copycat Chicken Recipe
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes (plus marinating time)
- 🍽 Servings: 8 (4 ounce servings)
- ⚡ Calories: ~174 per serving
- 🍳 Cook Method: Marinated, then pan-seared on stove
- 🧂 Main Ingredients: Chicken thighs, chipotle peppers in adobo, garlic
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Smoky, savory, mildly spicy
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy. Quick cooking with minimal hands-on time
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like Chipotle’s chicken: This recipe uses a smoky adobo marinade and high-heat cooking to recreate the bold, juicy flavor and signature char you get at the restaurant.
- Easy copycat recipe with big flavor: You only need a handful of pantry spices and one can of chipotle peppers in adobo to make this easy chicken recipe at home.
- Perfect for burrito bowls: Build a homemade Chipotle-style bowl with copycat Chipotle black beans, copycat Chipotle cilantro lime rice, and Chipotle copycat corn salsa.
- Great for meal prep: This chicken reheats well and makes enough for multiple bowls, tacos, salads, quesadillas, or burritos throughout the week.
- Versatile beyond bowls: Pair this Chipotle chicken with other flavors such as this refreshing Avocado Mango Salsa or prepare an elaborate dinner spread with Grilled Skirt Steak with Peach, Corn, and Avocado Salsa.
Table of Contents
How to Make a Chipotle Bowl at Home
Once you’ve made the chicken, you can turn it into a complete Chipotle-style bowl at home. Start with a base of cilantro lime rice, then add your protein, beans, salsas, and toppings. Mix and match based on what you have, or recreate your exact Chipotle order.
Try it with Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice, Chipotle Copycat Black Beans, Chipotle Copycat Fresh Tomato Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Guacamole, and Chipotle-Style Sour Cream.
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: This recipe uses one 7-ounce can. You’ll only need 4 chipotle peppers, but use all of the adobo sauce for that signature smoky, spicy flavor.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Thighs are the best choice for Chipotle-style chicken. They stay juicy, handle high heat well, and are much harder to overcook than chicken breasts.
Tips and Substitutions
- Marinating time: Marinate for 4–8 hours for the best flavor. If short on time, 1 hour still adds good smoky flavor. Avoid marinating longer than 8–10 hours, as the chicken can become too soft.
- Chicken cut: Boneless skinless chicken thighs are best for juicy, Chipotle-style results. Thin-sliced chicken breasts can be used but will cook faster and are easier to overcook.
- Heat level: This recipe uses 4 chipotle peppers for moderate heat. Use 2–3 peppers for a milder version, or add more for extra spice.
- Cooking method: Cook over medium-high heat in a hot skillet and avoid overcrowding the pan to achieve a proper char.
- No blender: Finely mince the garlic and chipotle peppers, then whisk all marinade ingredients together until well combined.
- Leftover peppers: Save 2 chipotle peppers and 2 teaspoons of adobo sauce to make Chipotle Copycat Black Beans for a complete burrito bowl
How to Make Chipotle Copycat Chicken
See the recipe card below for full instructions and exact amounts.
- Blend the marinade ingredients until smooth.
- Marinate the chicken thighs for up to 8 hours for best flavor.
- Cook the chicken thighs until nicely charred and cooked through.
- Rest the chicken thighs, slice, and serve.
Ready to try it? Scroll to the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and full instructions.
Chipotle Copycat Chicken FAQs
Chipotle peppers in adobo are smoked, dried jalapeños that come canned in a tangy tomato-based sauce. This recipe uses both the chipotle peppers and the adobo sauce, which together provide the smoky heat and depth of flavor that make Chipotle’s chicken taste authentic.
Yes. Finely mince the garlic and chipotle peppers, then whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. The marinade will be slightly chunkier, but the flavor will still be very close to Chipotle.
Boneless skinless chicken thighs are the best choice for Chipotle-style chicken because they stay juicy and are harder to overcook. Chicken breasts can be used, but thin-sliced breasts cook faster and should be watched closely to prevent drying out.
Yes. This chicken is great for meal prep and reheats well throughout the week. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, or wraps.
More Chipotle Copycat Recipes
Chipotle Copycat Chicken
Equipment
- Large Carbon Steel Pan cast iron or stainless steel work as well
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Marinade
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt, extra for sprinkling on top of the chicken while cooking
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 2 tablespoons Avocado Oil, or neutral oil of choice
- 1 can Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce, use only 4 peppers and all of the sauce from a 7 ounce can
- ½ cup Water
Instructions
- Add chicken thighs to a gallon-sized zip-top bag or large bowl. Blend the marinade ingredients until smooth, then pour over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
- Rest: Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or up to 8 hours for best flavor.
- Cook: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in an even layer, working in batches if needed. Season lightly with kosher salt.
- Char: Cook for about 5 minutes until nicely charred, flip, then cook another 4–5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Slice: Transfer to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes. Slice into strips, then cut into bite-sized cubes.
Notes
- Chicken: Boneless skinless thighs stay juicier and are closest to Chipotle’s texture. Thin-sliced chicken breasts can be used but will cook faster.
- Heat level: Using 4 chipotle peppers gives moderate heat. Use 2–3 for milder flavor or add more for extra spice.
- No blender option: Finely mince the garlic and chipotle peppers, then whisk all marinade ingredients together in a bowl until well combined. The texture will be slightly chunkier, but the flavor will still be very close to Chipotle.
- Cooking method: A hot skillet is key for proper char. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Meal prep: This chicken holds up well for bowls, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and salads throughout the week.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave in short intervals, stirring between.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This chicken tastes just like Chipotle! I love that the marinade is made in the blender so there’s almost no prep required.
Outstanding-so delicious. A huge hit with my family. All the Chipotle copies are amazing-and they wish they tasted this good!
Thank you so much, Heidi!