What do you do when you want a delicious Mexican meal prepared just how you like it with all your favorite ingredients but are not in the mood to cook?
I drive to the nearest Chipotle!
Not only is it convenient, but it’s also oddly satisfying to see your food made right in front of you just how you want it. Fortunately, there are quite a few plant-based ingredients, too, at Chipotle.
Want to know what they are so you can also go through the assembly line at the same speed as others?
Let’s talk about Chipotle vegan options.
What’s Vegan at Chipotle?
The majority of Chipotle’s ingredients are vegan-friendly. The endless possibilities feel so refreshing when you’re used to maneuvering your way through extremely limited menus at most places.
But, with so many choices, it’s also easier for people to get confused (or overwhelmed). Let me take you through the whole process to help make ordering vegan food at Chipotle a breeze.
How to Order Vegan at Chipotle?
There are two ways to order a vegan meal at Chipotle:
Choose a Veggie Bowl, Burrito, Taco, or Salad
Chipotle’s menu includes a veggie option for all its items; salads, bowls, burritos, and tacos.
This makes a good option when you’re in a rush and can’t go through the entire assembly line picking each ingredient of your food. You can simply choose the veggie option to get vegan food at Chipotle.
Just make sure to specify you also want ‘no dairy’ in your food and, if ordering a salad, skip Chipotle’s signature dressing; chipotle-honey vinaigrette.
Build-Your-Own Food
Here’s where all the fun takes place. You get to choose every single component of your meal and go as wild and crazy as you want. Let’s go through the whole process step-by-step to know all the vegan options Chipotle offers in each category.
Step 1 – Choose Your Base
Like any other place that offers this option, you start building your vegan meal at Chipotle by deciding what you want to eat. In the mood for something healthy? Salad is your best option.
Want something more filling? You may opt for a burrito. Here for a quick lunch or snack? How about getting yourself some vegan tacos?
As you must already know, there are four primary food choices at Chipotle:
- Salads – These are traditionally made with your choice of vegetables and toppings on a bed of romaine lettuce. But, you may also request the ‘Super Greens Lettuce Blend” instead of romaine. This new salad blend was introduced in 2020.
- Burritos – Chipotle burritos are made with your choice of ingredients – vegetables, toppings, sauces, and condiments – in a flour tortilla. These are rich, hearty, filling, and, of course, delicious.
- Burrito Bowls – When you can’t choose between salad and burrito or craving rice, order a vegan burrito bowl at Chipotle. These can also be customized with your choice of ingredients.
- Tacos – Available in soft and crispy varieties, Chipotle vegan tacos can be ordered individually, or you can choose a taco meal with three pockets full of deliciousness.
Step 2 – Choose Your Toppings/Fillings
Your vegan choices for topping/filling at Chipotle include:
- Cilantro-Lime White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Sofritas – Organic tofu shredded and braised in roasted poblano peppers, chipotle chilies, and Chipotle’s special spice blend
- Fajita Veggies – Onions and bell peppers grilled with oregano and salt.
- Romaine Lettuce
- Super Greens Lettuce Blend – Contains lettuce, baby spinach, and kale.
- Black Beans
- Pinto Beans
Chipotle introduced Plant-Based Chorizo in the US earlier this year (January 2022). It was available nationwide, but the announcement said it was there for a limited time only.
The restaurant didn’t specify a date, though. You may try asking at your local Chipotle if plant-based chorizo is still on the menu or has been pulled off.
If it is still offered, add the meatless chorizo to your vegan Chipotle meals to make them more flavorful and exciting.
Promising to offer a rich flavor with a slight kick of spice, Chipotle’s plant-based chorizo is (was) made with pea protein without any artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
The ingredients used to give it a powerful flavor profile include tomato paste, chipotle peppers, Spanish smoked paprika, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil.
Chipotle also had Cauliflower Rice, but they are no longer on the menu. However, you may ask for them at your local Chipotle; they might be available at some locations. They are vegan but come at a small extra price.
Step 3 – Choose Your Salsa
What’s vegan food without salsa? And Chipotle has a salsa variety for everyone.
Whether your spice tolerance level is very low or you love the kick of spice in your food, even if that makes your eyes water and leaves you with a runny nose, or prefer just a hint of spice, neither too low nor too high, Chipotle has got you covered.
It offers four salsa varieties, and fortunately, they are all vegan.
Your vegan salsa options at Chipotle include:
- Fresh Tomato Salsa – Has Mild Spice
- Roasted Chili Corn Salsa – Contains Medium Spice
- Tomatillo Green Chili Salsa – Classifies as Medium Hot
- Tomatillo Red Chili Salsa – For Spice Lovers. It’s Hot.
Step 4 – Add Guacamole
Made fresh in-house every day, Chipotle’s guac is rich, creamy, and herby with a kick of spice and citrusy freshness. And it’s vegan!
They only use six ingredients to make guacamole at Chipotle – fresh, ripe avocados, red onions, jalapeno, cilantro, salt, and lime juice. Isn’t it incredible how these few simple ingredients yield such a delicious dip?
In case you don’t like guacamole (though it’s a little hard to believe that there may be people who don’t like guac), skip this step.
*You will have to pay extra for guacamole if you opted for Chipotle vegan sofritas in toppings/fillings.
Your Vegan Chipotle Order Is Ready!
There you have it – irresistibly good Mexican food made with all vegan ingredients of your choice right in front of you and that too within just a few minutes on the assembly line. What’s there not to love about Chipotle?
But before you take your food and leave the counter, don’t forget to get yourself a side and drink to experience the pleasure of having a full vegan Mexican meal.
Vegan Sides at Chipotle
When it comes to Mexican food, there is only one thing you want to have as a side to your meal – tortilla chips. Chipotle knows its customers too well, so it offers just that. And it’s vegan!
Vegan options on the Chipotle menu’s ‘sides’ category include:
- Chips & Salsa (of your choice)
- Chips & Guacamole
- Chips
- Guacamole
Chips are made fresh in-house every day at Chipotle. These come seasoned with salt and lime, so you can expect a savory-citrusy kick just enough to enhance the flavor.
Vegan Drinks at Chipotle
You may not get the best selection of drinks at Chipotle, but there are pretty good vegan drink options at the Mexican eatery. While the exact variety may vary across different locations, here’s what you can expect to find at most Chipotle restaurants:
- Sodas
- Organic Lemonades from Tractor Beverage Co. – Options include Classic Lemonade and Hibiscus Lemonade.
- Organic Watermelon Limeade (Seasonal)
- Organic Mandarin Agua Fresca – from Tractor Beverage Co.
- Organic Berry Agua Fresca
- Organic Lemonade – Bottled
- Organic Sri Lankan Black Tea – Bottled
What is Not Vegan at Chipotle?
Chipotle provides a list of its menu items that vegans should avoid. These are the obvious non-vegan items that we all know need to be avoided on a vegan diet. However, I am still listing them here for your reference.
Non-vegan items at Chipotle include:
- Meats
- Monterey Jack Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Queso
- Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette
Chipotle Vegan Menu – FAQs
- Does Chipotle have vegan cheese?
No. Chipotle doesn’t offer vegan chees (yet).
- Does Chipotle have vegan chicken?
Sadly, no. Chipotle doesn’t offer vegan chicken.
- Does Chipotle have vegan chorizo?
Chipotle introduced vegan chorizo in January 2022 at all its locations in the US, after a test run in Indianapolis and Denver in August 2021.
However, the announcement said it was only offered for a limited time, so I am not sure if it’s still available. It’s likely not, but you may try asking for it at your local Chipotle.
- Are Chipotle tortillas vegan?
All the tortillas they have at Chipotle – small flour tortillas for tacos, large flour tortillas for burritos, and crispy corn tortillas – are confirmed vegan.
- Are the beans at Chipotle vegan?
Unlike many other Mexican places where they add dairy to beans, Chipotle beans are vegan.
For those who may not know, there are two varieties of beans available at Chipotle – Black Beans and Pinto Beans.
- Are Chipotle chips vegan?
According to Chipotle’s allergen menu, their tortilla chips are suitable for vegans.
Conclusion – Is Chipotle Vegan-Friendly?
IT IS!
Chipotle, without a shadow of a doubt, is one of the best Mexican eateries for vegans. It’s also easily available in most parts of the country and, as we all know, Chipotle’s food tastes great. What more do you want?
The next time you crave Mexican food, don’t think twice and head to the nearest Chipotle for a delicious vegan meal.
Did you find this article helpful? Interested to learn about other Mexican food chains and their vegan options, too? I have done similar menu reviews for many Mexican eateries.
Check out my article Taco Time Vegan Options to know what this chain, known for its home-style Mexican food, offers for vegan customers.
