How much cholesterol is in a Chipotle tortilla?

November 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Chipotle's official nutritional data, a single large flour tortilla contains 0mg of cholesterol. This may be surprising for those who assume all large restaurant tortillas are high in unhealthy fats. The real question is not how much cholesterol is in a Chipotle tortilla, but what other factors contribute to the total meal's nutritional profile.

Quick Summary

Chipotle's flour tortillas for both burritos and tacos contain zero milligrams of cholesterol, as they are plant-based. The overall health impact of a Chipotle meal is more significantly affected by other ingredients, including animal proteins, dairy toppings, and the tortilla's high calorie and sodium content.

Key Points

Zero Cholesterol: Chipotle's flour tortillas, both for burritos and tacos, contain 0mg of cholesterol because they are made with vegetable oils, not animal fats.
Not Low-Calorie: Despite being cholesterol-free, a single large burrito tortilla contains 320 calories and 50g of carbohydrates, which can add significant calories to your meal.
Watch Other Ingredients: The biggest cholesterol-related concerns at Chipotle come from animal products and dairy toppings like cheese and sour cream, not the tortilla itself.
Opt for Lighter Options: For a healthier meal, consider skipping the large tortilla and choosing a burrito bowl, salad, or tacos with corn tortillas, which are lower in calories and fat.
Sodium and Saturated Fat: The burrito tortilla is also high in sodium (600mg) and contains some saturated fat (0.5g), which should be considered alongside your overall dietary goals.
Customize Your Meal: Controlling your choice of fillings is the most effective way to manage the fat, sodium, and total calories in your Chipotle order.

The Zero-Cholesterol Truth: Why Chipotle Tortillas Have None

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is only found in animal products. Because Chipotle's flour tortillas are made from fortified wheat flour, water, vegetable oils, and salt, they contain no cholesterol. This is a key distinction from traditional flour tortillas that historically used lard, an animal fat, which would introduce cholesterol. By using a plant-based oil instead of lard, Chipotle ensures its tortillas are cholesterol-free.

What are the ingredients in a Chipotle tortilla?

The recipe for Chipotle's tortillas is relatively simple and transparent, avoiding animal-based products. This is the foundation of their zero-cholesterol status. The primary ingredients are:

Fortified Wheat Flour
Water
Vegetable Oils (including palm oil and rapeseed oil)
Wholemeal Flour
Salt
Raising Agents (Sodium Carbonates, Diphosphates, Malic Acid)

This ingredient list demonstrates that the tortilla itself is inherently free of dietary cholesterol, making it a safe choice for individuals monitoring their intake of this specific nutrient.

Breaking down the nutritional data

While the tortilla is cholesterol-free, it is important to understand its full nutritional profile, which includes calories, fat, and sodium. The nutrition varies significantly depending on the size of the tortilla used for a burrito versus a taco.

Nutritional breakdown of a large Burrito Tortilla (4 oz):

Calories: 320
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Sodium: 600mg
Carbohydrates: 50g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 8g

Nutritional breakdown of a Soft Taco Tortilla (approx 1 oz):

Calories: 75-84 (calculated based on larger tortilla ratio, as official Chipotle data uses 2 tacos per serving)
Total Fat: 2.5g (for 1 taco shell)
Saturated Fat: 0g (for 1 taco shell)
Sodium: 160mg (for 1 taco shell)
Carbohydrates: 13g (for 1 taco shell)
Fiber: 1g (for 1 taco shell)
Protein: 2g (for 1 taco shell)

It is clear from these figures that while cholesterol is absent, the calories and sodium in the large burrito tortilla are considerable. The taco tortilla provides a more moderate base for a meal.

Making Your Chipotle Meal a Healthier Choice

Since the tortilla itself is not the source of cholesterol, focusing on the other components of your burrito, bowl, or taco is crucial for managing your overall intake of less healthy nutrients, especially saturated fat. A diet high in saturated fat can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Smart choices for your fillings:

Choose Lean Proteins: Opt for chicken or sofritas instead of carnitas or steak, which have higher saturated fat content.
Go Light on Dairy: Cheese and sour cream are significant sources of saturated fat. Consider omitting them or asking for half-portions.
Pile on the Veggies: Fajita vegetables, lettuce, and salsas are low-calorie, high-nutrient additions that won't add cholesterol or saturated fat.
Mind the Rice: While the rice itself is not high in saturated fat, it adds substantial carbohydrates and calories. For a healthier option, choose brown rice over white, or go for cauliflower rice to reduce carbs.
Be Careful with Queso: The queso contains saturated fat and adds to the overall calorie count.

Comparison of Chipotle Burrito Tortilla vs. Traditional and Corn Tortillas

Here is a comparison table to illustrate the nutritional differences between Chipotle's tortilla and other common options.


Nutrient	Chipotle Burrito Tortilla (approx. 4oz)	Lard-Based Homemade Tortilla (approx. 12" dia)	Corn Tortilla (Standard Size)
Cholesterol	0 mg	Contains cholesterol due to lard	0 mg
Calories	320	~356 kcal	~75 kcal (per shell)
Total Fat	9g	8.84g	3g
Saturated Fat	0.5g	2.15g	1g
Sodium	600mg	725.04mg	45mg
Carbohydrates	50g	58.54g	45g

This table highlights that while Chipotle's modern tortilla is cholesterol-free, its large size and associated calorie and sodium counts are noteworthy. Corn tortillas offer a significantly lower-calorie, lower-fat alternative for those looking to build a lighter meal.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Chipotle Order for Better Health

To answer the main question, there is zero cholesterol in a Chipotle tortilla. The reason is that it's made with vegetable oils rather than animal-based fats like lard. This makes the tortilla itself a cholesterol-free component of your meal. However, this does not automatically make a Chipotle burrito the healthiest option. The size of the tortilla, along with the generous portions of other ingredients like saturated-fat-heavy cheese and sour cream, can lead to a high-calorie and high-sodium meal.

For those watching their dietary cholesterol, it's a non-issue from the tortilla, but paying close attention to your choice of protein, dairy toppings, and portion sizes is key. Choosing a burrito bowl, a salad, or a simple taco will give you greater control over your overall nutritional intake. Understanding the full picture beyond a single nutrient is essential for making informed and healthy dietary choices when dining out. For more information on understanding food labels, consult a resource like the FDA's Interactive Nutrition Facts Label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the large flour tortilla used for a Chipotle burrito contains 320 calories, which is a substantial portion of the total meal's calorie count.

Based on the ingredients listed by Chipotle, their flour tortillas are vegan, as they are made with fortified wheat flour, water, vegetable oils, and do not contain any animal products.

A large burrito tortilla at Chipotle contains 0.5g of saturated fat, while the smaller taco tortilla has 0g.

No, corn tortillas are also naturally cholesterol-free, as cholesterol is only found in animal-based products.

To reduce calories, consider ordering a burrito bowl or a salad instead of a burrito with a large flour tortilla. You can also opt for lighter toppings and proteins.

Chipotle's flour tortillas are made with fortified wheat flour, water, vegetable oils, wholemeal flour, salt, and raising agents.

Chipotle uses vegetable oils like palm and rapeseed oil, which are plant-based and do not contain cholesterol. This is the reason their tortillas are cholesterol-free.