• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Chelsea/PR Info
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Start a Blog
  • Travel

Gal on a Mission

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Meet Chelsea
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • Travel
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Aug 14, 2019 · Modified: Mar 23, 2021 by Chelsea · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Copycat Chipotle Chicken Recipe

    • Facebook263
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Copycat Chipotle chicken recipe is to die for and even better than the original! It's so juicy and made with an incredible marinade that is simple, fast, and so tasty! 

    chipotle chicken recipe

    Chipotle Chicken Recipe

    Chipotle Mexican Grill has always been one of my favorite places to pick up a quick, healthier meal option to-go. You can pretty much get anything you would like on it, and it's fast. Even though it's one of my favorites, I am trying to kick the habit of getting things out when I know I can make them at home for a fraction of the cost and I know what's precisely in the ingredients. Quality ingredients are everything in a simple recipe.

    So I went on a mission to be able to create everything you can order in the Chipotle line, but it's been a lot of hard work trying to nail the flavors perfectly. With that being said, I am going to be sharing all of the recipes over the next couple of weeks (there are a lot of them!). And I must say I think my copycat chipotle chicken recipe is even better than the original. You can bake it; you can grill it, you can also fry in a skillet on the stove. So easy and so versatile, my friends.

    chipotle chicken

    What goes into a chipotle chicken marinade?

    Two main components have a significant role in Chipotle's chicken marinade: adobo peppers in adobo sauce and ancho chili powder. With ancho chilies, you can always buy dried ancho chilies and soak them, but that method isn't for me because the process is so long. I like to purchase ancho chili powder which you can find at or local supermarket or even grab it on Amazon.

    chipotle mexican grill chicken

    How to cook chipotle chicken:

    • Grill - you can grill it over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until it's cooked through or at 165 degrees F.
    • Stovetop - you can use a cast iron or any other type of skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until it's cooked through or at 165 degrees F.
    • Baked - preheat an oven to 425 degrees and bake for 20-25 minutes or until it's cooked through or at 165 degrees F.

    All cooking methods are explained more in detail in the recipe down below.

    ________________________________________________________________________________________
    See more Chipotle Recipes:

    • Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

    ________________________________________________________________________________________

    If you love chicken recipes, I highly recommend making my perfect oven-baked chicken breasts, baked cajun chicken breasts (so good!), 5-ingredient tex-mex chicken marinade, or even baked teriyaki chicken. All are lovely options to try.

    4.11 from 148 votes
    Print
    Copycat Chipotle Chicken
    Prep Time
    2 hrs 10 mins
    Cook Time
    8 mins
     

    Copycat Chipotle chicken recipe is to die for and even better than the original! It's so juicy and made with an incredible marinade that is simple, fast, and so tasty! 

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Keyword: spicy chicken, diced chicken, grilled chicken, adobo chicken, chicken thighs, authentic
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 290 kcal
    Author: Chelsea
    Ingredients
    • 4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts
    • 4 garlic cloves
    • 1 small white or red onion, quartered
    • ¼ cup distilled vinegar
    • 2 tbsp ancho chili powder
    • 2 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • 4 tbsp oil , divided (vegetable, canola, rice bran)
    • 1 tsp salt
    • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
    • 2 tbsp adobo sauce
    Instructions
    Marinade
    1. Add garlic, onion, vinegar, ancho chili powder, cumin, oregano, 2 tbsp oil, salt, pepper, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce to the blender or a food processor and blend until smooth.

    2. Place the chicken thighs in a large Ziplock bag and pour in the marinade. Close the bag and mix everything together until the chicken thighs are coated. Place into the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours or overnight.

    Grill instructions
    1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat and coat grill with 1-2 tablespoons of oil and grill each side for 3-4 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. You may need to cook all of the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet, depending on size.

    2. Allow chicken thighs to rest and roughly chop.

    Stovetop instructions
    1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. You may need to cook all of the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet, depending on size.

    2. Allow chicken thighs to rest and roughly chop.

    Oven instructions
    1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken thighs in a large baking dish and bake for 18 minutes.

    2. Remove baking dish from oven and place aluminum foil on top and bake for another 4-5 minutes.

    3. Allow chicken thighs to rest and roughly chop.

    Nutrition Facts
    Copycat Chipotle Chicken
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 290 Calories from Fat 117
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 13g20%
    Sodium 781mg34%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Sugar 0.75g1%
    Protein 44g88%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    « Italian Pasta Salad
    Cranberry Margarita »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori says

      April 11, 2020 at 2:27 am

      5 stars
      Chelsea, this was fantastic! My family loved it, and everyone but my son, said it was definitely better than Chipotle. To be fair, that’s only because he gets steak, yet he did admit it was amazing! My only change, due to not reading the directions thoroughly, was I precut the raw chicken into cubes and combined it with the marinade. Then I cooked it all together in a cast iron skillet, so it was saucy and delicious!! Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        April 13, 2020 at 7:58 am

        So glad you and your family enjoyed it, Lori!

        Reply
    2. Alicia says

      May 06, 2020 at 7:24 am

      5 stars
      We loved this recipe! I sliced the chicken thighs prior to marinating because I only had about 1.5 hours to marinate. I broiled in the oven and it turned out perfectly for our burrito bowls. I will definitely be making this again.

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        May 07, 2020 at 9:03 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Alicia! It's one of our favorites.

        Reply
    3. Carolyn says

      May 06, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      delish!!! Wow. Honestly this is almost better than Chipotle!!!

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        May 07, 2020 at 9:03 am

        Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Carolyn!

        Reply
    4. Lisa says

      May 26, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today because my daughter wanted chipotle and I feel they are over priced. She told me it was better than Chipotle it made me feel good because she loves loves that place. Now we can make our own bowls. Thank you for the recipe

      Lisa

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        May 27, 2020 at 9:00 am

        Yay! So happy you and your family enjoyed it, Lisa! It's one of my favorites.

        Reply
    5. Jen says

      May 28, 2020 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      I had 3lbs of boneless chicken thighs and had no idea what to do with them until I saw this recipe. It was delicious! I made it exactly as directed other than using chipotle chili pepper (my grocer didn’t have ancho) and grilled them. So good! Definitely a keeper and repeater for us! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        June 01, 2020 at 10:58 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Jen!!

        Reply
    6. Donna says

      May 31, 2020 at 6:16 pm

      Do you think I could freeze this marinade without meat in it? Or any idea how long it would stay in the fridge without meat in it? Thanks

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        June 01, 2020 at 10:57 am

        Sure! I would say 4-5 days in the fridge, Donna.

        Reply
    7. Robin says

      July 13, 2020 at 4:17 pm

      Do you think this would work well in a crockpot?

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        July 21, 2020 at 8:27 am

        I haven't tried it in the crockpot, Robin. Try on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
        • Robin says

          July 30, 2020 at 6:07 pm

          We tried the crock pot- it worked pretty well, as it is chopped finely for tacos. The flavor is very nice. Thank you for sharing.

          Reply
    8. Melissa says

      August 21, 2020 at 7:55 pm

      I just discovered you today when searching for a crispy sesame beef recipe — which is currently marinating, since I’m trying some of the sauce with a bit of tofu as a test, more to come as a comment on *that* recipe — and I am SO HAPPY to have found you! I look at each of the recipes you create and it’s like “her thought process is just like mine and it’s spooky!”

      So I plan on trying this “Chipotle” chix recipe this week or next, and I wondered how you think chicken breasts would fare? I know thighs are used regularly in so many recipes because of the flavor and tenderness the extra fat adds, but as an eating disorder survivor (battling for 27 years, many of them active) the one stickler I have is to use chicken breasts whenever possible bc I know it’s lean and nutritionally predictable. And in a dish such as this, so much of the flavor comes from the spices anyhow.

      That may be TMI for some, but a) I’m sure I’m not the only one with that question, for any number of reasons; and b) mentioning an ED *should* become less taboo and more normalized since 10% of the population struggles with some form of ED.

      Thank you for ALL the recipes and extra tips you blog about! I love how you offer interpretations and choices in your narratives, and I just know I’ll be stalking your IG and site first when looking for something new and exciting!

      Much love and stay safe! ♥️

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        August 25, 2020 at 9:43 am

        Hi Melissa! Thank you so much!! Hope you enjoyed the Sesame Beef, it's so delicious. You can absolutely make this recipe with chicken breasts instead of thighs. I hope you are doing well on your journey! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Allison says

      January 05, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      This turned out so good! I marinated 2 servings and cooked on the day of in the air fryer. It was really good and a couple days later i cooked the remaining marinated chicken on a frying pan! It’s was a lot more spicy after the couple days of being marinated! The only ingredient i didn’t have was the vinegar! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    10. Whitney says

      April 03, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! Definitely hit the spot for the Chipotle but way better!

      Reply
    11. Jenny says

      June 19, 2021 at 10:02 am

      Have you frozen the chicken after it was cooked? I’m going camping and would like to cook it ahead of time and just reheat in a cast iron pan.

      Reply
      • Chelsea says

        June 28, 2021 at 9:00 am

        You sure can, Jenny! Enjoy.

        Reply
    12. Katherine Wilson says

      May 24, 2023 at 4:03 pm

      I've made this recipe several times now and it's delicious. I make cilantro rice in the rice cooker and my son and I make bowls and tacos all week long for lunches or quick dinner because I have it all made ahead of time. I do the bake option and after I know the chicken has cooked long enough and at temp, I put it under the broiler for just a couple minutes while in the baking pan. Let it rest and then chop it up and into a Tupperware container..after I make a bowl! Great recipe!! 😋😋😋

      Reply
    4.11 from 148 votes (141 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there, I'm Chelsea! Welcome to my little kitchen on the internet. Here I create easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes. in life I believe that good food is meant to be shared, and I can't wait to share all my favorites with you! More about me →

    Reader Favorites

    • Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts - Oh, so juicy and they contain the perfect flavor. Enjoyed on sandwiches, salads, you name it!
      Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts
    • Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Recipe - The best soup ever! It's creamy, flavorful, and filling. Made with easy pantry ingredients. Can be made in the crockpot or a soup pot, so easy either way!
      Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
    • baking chicken breast
      Perfect Oven Baked Chicken Breast
    • One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup Recipe - The EASIEST homemade creamy tomato tortellini soup made from scratch! Loaded with fresh herbs, diced tomatoes, and three-cheese tortellini! So easy you can even make it in your slow cooker!
      One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
    • Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites - These bites are addicting, spicy (to some), and surprisingly fantastic! Grab your favorite dip and let's dip in!
      Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
    • These butter and garlic chicken wings are really the best ever! Perfect game food!
      The Best Butter and Garlic Chicken Wings

    Hi there, I'm Chelsea! Welcome to my little kitchen on the internet. Here I create easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes. in life I believe that good food is meant to be shared, and I can't wait to share all my favorites with you! More about me →

    Reader Favorites

    • Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts - Oh, so juicy and they contain the perfect flavor. Enjoyed on sandwiches, salads, you name it!
      Baked Cajun Chicken Breasts
    • Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Recipe - The best soup ever! It's creamy, flavorful, and filling. Made with easy pantry ingredients. Can be made in the crockpot or a soup pot, so easy either way!
      Copycat Panera Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
    • baking chicken breast
      Perfect Oven Baked Chicken Breast
    • One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup Recipe - The EASIEST homemade creamy tomato tortellini soup made from scratch! Loaded with fresh herbs, diced tomatoes, and three-cheese tortellini! So easy you can even make it in your slow cooker!
      One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
    • Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites - These bites are addicting, spicy (to some), and surprisingly fantastic! Grab your favorite dip and let's dip in!
      Healthy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
    • These butter and garlic chicken wings are really the best ever! Perfect game food!
      The Best Butter and Garlic Chicken Wings

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    Gal on a Mission is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2022 · Gal on a Mission

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.