Chipotle Tacos

5 from 10 votes
11 Comments

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Chipotle tacos are perhaps one of the most craveable foods on this planet! Whether you have been to Chipotle or not, now you can enjoy Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos whenever you want.

Three Chipotle Tacos with chicken
Featured with this recipe
  1. Chipotle Copycat Recipe
  2. Ingredients
  3. Frequently Asked Questions
  4. Love Tacos?
  5. How to Make Chipotle Tacos
  6. Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos with Chicken Recipe

We first fell in love with Chipotle while we were living in California. I’m not kidding when I say we tried pretty much everything on the menu, but the one thing we went back for again and again? The crispy Chipotle tacos.

When we moved to Boise, we were so sad not to have one in the area. I’m happy to report we now have several. I actually have a scar from the first restaurant that opened here. I’ll spare you the details but it involved me locking my keys and phone in my car and running back into the restaurant way too fast in flip flops. 🙂

What can I say? I was distracted by the draw of those Chipotle tacos! These copycat Chipotle tacos are true to their namesake with a crispy shell, perfectly grilled and seasoned chicken, and corn salsa topped with cheese, sour cream and lettuce. To this day, I still order these tacos more than any other fast food item. The best part? You can make them at home!

A hand holding a hard shell taco


Chipotle Copycat Recipe

There are several components that go into making the Chipotle tacos so good:

  • Crispy taco shells. You may be surprised to hear it, but the crispy taco shells are lower in calories than the soft tacos. Plus, they add a delicious crunch factor. They’re just plain fun!
  • Grilled chicken. The soft, grilled chicken is the perfect counterpoint to the crispy shell. The chicken in the Chipotle tacos are expertly seasoned, so our copycat had to be as well. We use taco seasoning with a pinch of paprika to keep it tasty and simple.
  • Corn salsa and pico. I’m pretty obsessed with the salsa offerings at Chipotle. It’s very similar to our fresh corn salsa, so we just use that to simplify things.
  • Shredded cheese, lettuce, and sour cream. You can leave these off if you like, but they definitely add to the flavor profile.

Another fun thing about these tacos is how customizable they are. If you want to try a different salsa, or even make these with steak, go ahead! You can even experiment with different cheese options, but if you want copycat Chipotle tacos, I recommend sticking with the recipe.

cubed seasoned grilled chicken in a bowl

Ingredients

  • Crispy taco shells
  • White cheddar or jack cheese – or both, shredded
  • Romaine lettuce – chopped into thin slices
  • Fresh corn salsa
  • Sour cream
  • Boneless chicken breasts
  • Taco seasoning
  • Paprika
Three Chipotle Tacos with chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What to have with chicken tacos?

It’s all up to personal preference, but you could serve anything from refried beans, to pico de gallo, to guacamole, to Mexican rice, to cilantro-lime rice, to black beans, to elote (Mexican street corn).

What meats can you use for tacos?

If you are feeling like a change from chicken, there are plenty of other options for you. You could try shrimp, fish, steak, brisket, pork, chorizo, ground beef, or turkey. The way you cook the meat can vary as well. You could broil, fry, grill, slow cook…the options are mouthwateringly endless!

Are all corn tortillas gluten free?

Typically, corn tortillas are gluten free because they usually only contain the ingredients corn, salt, and water. However, like with anything, it is always safest practice to check the label.

Read more: 75+ Best Mexican Recipes

Love Tacos?

Here Are Some More Delicious Taco Recipes:

How to Make Chipotle Tacos

Three Chipotle Tacos with chicken

Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos with Chicken

5 from 10 votes
Whether you have been to Chipotle or not, now you can have Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos whenever you want! There is something about the crispy shell, the perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken, and the corn salsa topped with cheese, sour cream and lettuce that makes these tacos
over the top tasty!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican/Spanish
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Outdoor BBQ Grill

Ingredients

For the Chicken

Instructions

  • Filet the chicken so you have two thin halves of each breast. Mix together the taco seasoning and paprika and rub it all over the chicken.
    seasoned raw chicken breasts on a cutting board
  • Grill over medium heat until you get nice grill marks and the chicken is fully cooked.
    Two pieces of seasoned grilled chicken
  • Remove chicken from grill and chop it into one inch cubes.
    cubed seasoned grilled chicken in a bowl
  • Warm your crispy taco shells, either in the microwave or oven (it makes them more crispy). Then layer each one with chopped chicken, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and other toppings if desired.
    Three Chipotle Tacos with chicken

Notes

Tremendous Toppings – if you want to take these chipotle chicken tacos from a delicious meal to something that you’ll never forget, try some of these topping ideas!
  • Lime – lime juice give a sweet acidity and brightness
  • Avocado – avocado slices are creamy and earthy, they balance out spice
  • Onion – finely chopped red onion is essential for lending a sharp and spicy taste
  • Roasted red bell pepper – sweet, savory, bright
  • Adobo sauce – just a splash of this smoky, sweet, and spicy sauce can give a really interesting and explosive flavor to your taco
  • Cabbage – chopped cabbage adds crunch without overtaking the dish (consider adding shaved radish for a similar experience, plus to addition of a light peppery flavor)
  • Queso fresco – delicious and lightly salty
  •  Fresh cilantro – you can’t go wrong with a handful of fresh copped cilantro. The pleasant, citrusy flavor is so fresh, and the bright green adds so much beautiful color do your taco plate!
*Buy corn salsa from the store, or make it fresh with our corn salsa recipe. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 18gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 229mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1935IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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5 from 10 votes

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love Chipotle but they aren’t close to my so it’s wonderful that with this recipe I can make these tacos right at home.

  2. 5 stars
    I think I have only made tacos once, so this came at the perfect time! Thanks so much for the recipe, bookmarked to make during the weekend 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    This is surely the best happy snack for my kids. Love the crispy Tacos and delicious chicken in it. Crunchy and yum.

  4. 5 stars
    Great flavor and the instructions were spot on which made these copycat tacos so easy to make. Saving the recipe to make again.

  5. 5 stars
    I love tacos and these ones look scrumptious! We don’t have Chipotles here in Italy but I can certainly enjoy these chicken tacos at home!

  6. Oh, these sound so good an I’m hungry. You should link these up to our Tips and Trick Link Party right now!!