Chipotle Chicken (Copycat Recipe)

ByCarla Hours Posted on Hours Updated On:
4.8 Stars (6 Reviews)
 Servings: 6 Total Time: 45 mins

Chipotle Chicken is an easy copycat recipe made with chicken marinated in smoky adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, garlic, cumin, paprika, and red onion.

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Chipotle Chicken

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Chipotle Chicken copycat recipe is made with tender chicken marinated in smoky adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, garlic, cumin, paprika, and red onion. The chicken is cooked in a hot cast iron skillet until browned and juicy, then chopped into bite-sized pieces just like the chicken in your favorite Chipotle bowl.

Chipolte Chicken

Chipotle burrito bowls have always been one of my favorite things to order, so this was a restaurant recipe I wanted to recreate at home. I can make a batch of the chicken and use it for bowls, burritos, tacos, salads, or whatever everyone is in the mood for.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • Smoky Chipotle flavor: Adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, cumin, and paprika give the chicken plenty of bold flavor.
  • Simple marinade: Everything goes into the blender before being added to the chicken.
  • Great for meal prep: Make the chicken ahead and use it for quick meals throughout the week.
  • Use it so many ways: Add it to burrito bowls, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, or salads.
Ingredients-for-marinate
ingredients for chipotle chicken marinate

Ingredient Notes

  1. Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well for this recipe. Try to use pieces that are similar in thickness so they cook evenly.
  2. Red Onion: Blended directly into the marinade to add savory flavor and a little sweetness.
  3. Adobo Sauce: This is the sauce from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo. It gives the chicken its smoky, slightly spicy Chipotle-style flavor.
  4. Ancho Chili Powder: Adds a mild, smoky chile flavor without making the chicken overly spicy. Ancho chili powder is different from regular chili powder, so I recommend using ancho for this recipe.
  5. Garlic: Fresh garlic is blended into the marinade for plenty of savory flavor.
  6. Cumin: Adds the warm, earthy flavor that pairs with the adobo and ancho chile.
  7. Olive Oil: Helps the marinade coat the chicken and promotes browning when the chicken hits the hot skillet.
  8. Paprika: Adds another layer of mild pepper flavor and helps deepen the color of the chicken.
  9. Lime: Optional, but a squeeze of fresh lime over the cooked chicken adds a bright finish.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

How To Make Chipotle Chicken

  1. Add the red onion, garlic, ancho chile powder, paprika, adobo sauce, and cumin to a blender. Blend until combined.
  2. Place the chicken in a large bowl or resealable bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Coat evenly.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Remove the chicken from the marinade and add it to the hot skillet.
  6. Cook for 5–8 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  7. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 10 minutes.
  8. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken, if desired.
  9. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

  • Marinate For Chicken
  • Chicken-Marinating-in-bag

Tips I Found Helpful

  • Give it time to marinate: At least 30 minutes works, but overnight gives the chicken even more flavor.
  • Keep the chicken even in thickness: If the breasts are very thick, pound them slightly or slice them in half so they cook evenly.
  • Use a hot skillet: Let the cast iron skillet heat before adding the chicken to get good browning on the outside.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cook the chicken in batches if needed so it sears instead of steaming.
  • Use a meat thermometer: Chicken breasts vary in thickness, so cook to 165°F rather than relying only on cooking time.
  • Let the chicken rest: Give it about 10 minutes before chopping so the juices stay in the chicken.
  • Chop instead of slice: For that Chipotle-style chicken, cut it into small bite-sized pieces after resting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and stay especially juicy. Cooking time may vary, so cook until the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.

This chicken has a smoky flavor with some heat from the adobo sauce and ancho chile powder, but it isn’t extremely spicy. You can adjust the amount of adobo sauce if you prefer less heat.

Adobo sauce is the smoky, seasoned sauce found in cans of chipotle peppers in adobo. For this recipe, you only need the sauce, although you can add some of the chipotle pepper if you want additional heat.

Yes. Let the cooked chicken cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until heated through.

More Copycat Recipes I Love

chipotle Chicken
Yield: 6

Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Chipotle Chicken
4.8 Stars (6 Reviews)

Chipotle Chicken is an easy copycat recipe made with chicken marinated in smoky adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, garlic, cumin, paprika, and red onion.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Add the red onion, garlic, ancho chile powder, paprika, adobo sauce, and cumin to a blender. Blend until combined.

  2. Place the chicken in a large bowl or resealable bag and pour the marinade over the chicken. Coat evenly.

  3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

  4. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

  5. Remove the chicken from the marinade and add it to the hot skillet.

  6. Cook for 5–8 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

  7. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 10 minutes.

  8. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the chicken, if desired.

  9. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces and serve.

Notes

Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or overnight for more flavor. If the chicken breasts are very thick, pound them to an even thickness or slice them in half. Cook in batches if needed and use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before chopping to help keep it juicy.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 298Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 131mgSodium: 112mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 47g

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© Adventures of a Nurse
Cuisine: American / Category: Copy Cat Recipes

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Hi, I’m Carla, the recipe creator behind Adventures of a Nurse. After more than 25 years in nursing, I traded my scrubs for an apron and turned my love of cooking into a full-time food blog.

My recipes are all about easy comfort food, family favorites, and the dishes I grew up with in Central New York. You’ll find everything from simple weeknight dinners to Utica classics like Chicken Riggies and Utica Greens.

I’m glad you’re here—let’s get cooking! 💙
....Carla Adventures of a Nurse

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