A Chipotle barbacoa burrito bowl is a customizable bowl with rice, beans, protein, salsa, cheese, lettuce and other toppings. The star of the barbacoa burrito bowl is the shredded beef barbacoa, which is slowly braised for hours in Chipotle’s signature blend of herbs and spices. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly goes into this popular Chipotle bowl.
The Base
The foundation of any Chipotle burrito bowl starts with the base. You get to choose between white or brown rice, pinto or black beans, or can opt for no rice or beans at all. The rice and beans add fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates to help make the bowl a balanced meal.
Rice
Chipotle offers two types of rice:
- White rice – This is Chipotle’s standard white rice. It is seasoned with lime and salt.
- Brown rice – Chipotle’s brown rice is seasoned the same way, but provides more fiber and nutrients than the white rice.
Beans
You also get a choice of beans:
- Pinto beans – These are a creamy pink bean that are a good source of fiber and protein.
- Black beans – The black beans have an earthier flavor and provide fiber, protein, and antioxidants.
Protein
The star of the barbacoa burrito bowl is the shredded beef barbacoa. Barbacoa is a Latin American style of slow-cooked meat, often beef. For their barbacoa, Chipotle rubs beef brisket with a blend of herbs and spices like chipotle chili peppers, cumin, and oregano. The beef is then braised until it becomes tender and shreds easily.
A standard portion of barbacoa contains about 3 ounces or 85 grams of protein. Beef is a high quality protein containing all 9 essential amino acids needed by the body. It is an excellent source of zinc, iron, vitamin B12 and other nutrients.
Salsa
What really brings a Chipotle bowl to life is the salsa. You get to choose from fresh, made-in-store salsas to add flavor, spice and texture to your bowl.
Types of Salsa
Some of Chipotle’s salsa options include:
- Tomatillo green chili – Tangy salsa made from tomatillos, garlic, onion and jalapeño.
- Tomatillo red chili – Spicier version made with red chili peppers.
- Tomatillo green chili medium – Milder version of the green tomatillo salsa.
- Roasted chili-corn salsa – Smoky salsa made with poblano, bell peppers and corn.
- Tomato salsa – Mild red salsa made from tomatoes, onions, jalapeño and cilantro.
- Roasted chili-garlic salsa – Hearty salsa made with fire-roasted chilies, garlic and oil.
Nutrition
Chipotle’s salsas are fat-free and contain minimal calories per serving. They provide a boost of vitamins and antioxidants from ingredients like tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro. The tomatillo-based green salsas are particularly high in vitamin C.
Cheese
To add some creaminess and texture, you can top your bowl with cheese. The cheese options are:
- Monterey Jack Cheese – This is Chipotle’s standard melty cheese option.
- Queso Fresco – White fresh cheese made from cow or goat milk that crumbles easily.
A serving of cheese adds protein, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin B12. However it does come with extra calories and saturated fat, so moderation is key.
Lettuce
Crisp lettuce adds freshness and crunch to balance the rich barbacoa and savory rice and beans. You can choose from:
- Romaine Lettuce – The usual salad-style lettuce option.
- Romaine Lettuce Iceberg Blend – A mix of crisp iceberg and darker green romaine.
Lettuce provides fiber, vitamins K, A and C. The darker green romaine has higher nutrient levels than iceberg lettuce.
Other Toppings
To finish off your bowl, you can add other toppings like:
- Guacamole
- Tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Onion
- Cilantro
- Jalapeños
- Lime
These additions provide extra flavor, texture, color and nutrients like vitamin C, calcium and probiotics.
Dressing
Don’t forget to finish your bowl with a drizzle of Chipotle’s red or green chili lime vinaigrette. This ties everything together and adds a tart, spicy and tangy flavor note.
Nutrition
One of the great things about Chipotle is the ability to customize your bowl based on your preferences and nutrition needs. Here is the nutrition breakdown for a standard barbacoa burrito bowl with:
- White rice
- Black beans
- Barbacoa (3 oz)
- Tomatillo red chili salsa
- Cheese
- Romaine lettuce
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 790 | 39% |
| Total Fat | 18 g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 90 mg | 30% |
| Sodium | 1710 mg | 73% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 92 g | 31% |
| Dietary Fiber | 12 g | 48% |
| Protein | 44 g | 88% |
As you can see, this bowl provides an excellent source of protein. It also contains dietary fiber, vitamins A, C and K, iron, calcium, zinc and more. Where it is high is in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol due to the barbacoa, cheese and salsa.
Customizing Your Bowl
You can modify your bowl to make it fit your personal nutrition goals. For example:
- Skip the cheese or salsa to cut down on sodium and saturated fat.
- Choose brown rice for more fiber.
- Add extra veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions or cilantro.
- Choose black beans for more fiber and vegetarian protein.
- Add guacamole for more heart-healthy fats.
- Use salsa as your dressing instead of the creamier chipotle dressing.
Their online nutrition calculator makes it easy to see the nutrition for whatever combination of ingredients you select.
Price
The cost of a barbacoa burrito bowl can vary depending on your location and ingredients. However, on average you can expect to pay:
- Barbacoa: $7.80 for a single portion
- Guacamole: $2.40 extra
- Queso fresco: $1.25 extra
- Extra rice/beans: $0.50 extra
So a bowl with barbacoa, guacamole, cheese, rice, beans, salsa, lettuce and other basic toppings would be around $12. This makes the bowl a reasonably priced meal, though it is certainly more expensive than making something similar at home.
Comparison to a Burrito
You can also get the barbacoa as a burrito or burrito bowl. Here is how the two compare:
| Burrito (with flour tortilla) | Burrito Bowl |
|---|---|
| Higher in calories and carbs due to large flour tortilla | Lower carb and calorie option without the tortilla |
| Tortilla adds carbohydrates and a good amount of fiber | Allows you to add other higher fiber options like brown rice or extra beans |
| Harder to eat on-the-go; can get messy | Easier to eat on-the-go; less messy |
| Warms your hands on a cold day! | Allows you to see and thoroughly mix all ingredients |
In the end it comes down to personal preference. You really can’t go wrong with either the burrito or burrito bowl!
Conclusion
The Chipotle barbacoa burrito bowl makes for a tasty, customizable meal that can fit a variety of nutrition needs. It starts with a foundation of rice and beans, then is loaded with warm, shredded barbacoa beef. Tangy salsas, creamy cheese, crisp lettuce and other fresh toppings add flavor, texture and nutrients. While the bowl is high in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol, you can modify the ingredients to create a healthier version. At around $12, it provides a convenient and reasonably priced lunch or dinner option.