Chipotle Mexican Grill is a popular fast casual restaurant chain that serves burritos, tacos, bowls, and salads. One of their most popular menu items is their chicken, which can be added to burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads. But what exactly is in Chipotle’s chicken? Let’s take a closer look.
The Type of Meat in Chipotle Chicken
According to Chipotle, their chicken is made from responsibly raised chickens without the use of added hormones or steroids. Specifically, Chipotle chicken is made from whole muscle chicken thighs and chicken breasts.
Chipotle states that their chickens are raised in humane environments and are fed a vegetarian diet. The chickens are raised without the use of antibiotics or added growth hormones. Chicken thighs and breasts are delivered fresh (never frozen) to each Chipotle restaurant daily.
Chipotle’s Chicken Suppliers
Chipotle obtains their chicken from a few preferred suppliers. These include:
- Miller Poultry – family-owned poultry supplier in Ohio
- Golden Plains – poultry supplier in Colorado
- Lincoln Premium Poultry – poultry supplier in Nebraska
By partnering with a select group of chicken suppliers, Chipotle states they can ensure quality, humane treatment, and responsible farming practices. The fresh chicken thighs and breasts are delivered to Chipotle locations up to 5 times per week.
How the Chicken is Prepared
Once the fresh chicken arrives at each Chipotle restaurant, it is prepared using the following process:
- Chicken is trimmed of any excess fat or cartilage
- Chicken is marinated in a mixture of lime juice, garlic, cilantro, oregano, black pepper, and olive oil. It marinates for up to 24 hours.
- Chicken is grilled on a flat-top grill
- Grilled chicken is chopped into smaller pieces
- Chicken is stored at proper holding temperatures until use in entrees
This process of trimming, marinating, grilling, and chopping allows Chipotle to serve up flavorful chicken in their burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads.
Nutritional Information
The grilled chicken at Chipotle packs a good amount of protein while being relatively low in fat and calories. Here is the nutrition information for a standard serving of Chipotle chicken (4oz or 113g):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 |
| Fat | 3g |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Fiber | 0g |
| Protein | 24g |
As you can see, a 4oz serving provides 24g of protein, while being low in fat and calories. The chicken has no carbs or fiber since it contains no breading or thick sauces.
How It Compares to Other Chicken
Compared to fried or breaded chicken, Chipotle’s grilled chicken is much lower in calories, fat, and carbs. For example, a 4oz serving of KFC Original Recipe fried chicken contains 280 calories, 18g fat, 0g carbs, and 16g protein. The grilled preparation at Chipotle makes it a healthier option.
Why Customers Love Chipotle Chicken
There are several reasons why Chipotle’s chicken is a customer favorite:
- Flavor – the lime and garlic marinade gives it great Mexican flavor
- Grilled – the grilled preparation enhances the flavor without adding a lot of fat
- Fresh – using raw chicken thighs and breasts (not pre-cooked) makes it taste fresher
- Flexible – chicken can be added to bowls, tacos, burritos, and salads
- Nutritious – the grilled preparation makes it lower in fat and calories than fried chicken
Customers looking for a healthy protein to add to a Mexican-inspired meal will love the freshness and flavor of Chipotle’s chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chipotle chicken organic?
No, Chipotle chicken is not certified organic. However, it is responsibly raised without the use of antibiotics or added hormones.
What cut of chicken is used?
Chipotle uses whole chicken breasts and thighs for their chicken entrees.
How is the chicken cooked?
Chicken is grilled on a flat-top grill after being marinated in lime juice, garlic, and spices.
Is Chipotle chicken healthy?
Yes, compared to fried and breaded chicken options at other fast food chains, Chipotle chicken is relatively low in fat and calories while being high in protein.
Is Chipotle chicken gluten-free?
Yes, Chipotle chicken contains no breading or thickening agents, so it is naturally gluten-free.
Conclusion
Chipotle chicken is a go-to healthy protein option for customers looking for Mexican flavor without a lot of added fat and calories. Made from whole chicken thighs and breasts, it is marinated in lime and grilled fresh daily at each restaurant location. Compared to fried chicken, it packs less fat and more protein. Customers love the fresh citrus flavor and flexibility to add grilled chicken to everything from burritos to salads. So next time you visit Chipotle, you can feel good about adding some chicken to your meal.