Your Vegan Foundation: Main Dishes and Proteins
Building a delicious vegan meal at Chipotle begins with your main dish and protein choices. You can create a fully plant-based experience by choosing from the following bases and filling them with exclusively vegan ingredients.
- Burrito: Choose the soft flour or crispy corn tortilla.
- Burrito Bowl: A versatile choice served in a bowl without a tortilla.
- Tacos: Opt for soft flour, crispy corn, or soft corn tortillas.
- Salad: A lighter option with a base of romaine lettuce or the Supergreens mix, which includes baby kale and spinach.
When it comes to the protein, Chipotle's menu offers several robust plant-based options to choose from:
- Sofritas: This is the most well-known vegan protein, made from organic, shredded tofu that is braised in a spicy sauce of chipotle chiles, roasted poblanos, and other spices. It adds a hearty, savory, and slightly spicy kick to any meal.
- Black Beans: A standard protein source, Chipotle’s black beans are cooked without any animal products and are seasoned with garlic and onions.
- Pinto Beans: The pinto beans are also completely vegan, providing a slightly milder flavor and a different texture than the black beans. You can even get half and half of both beans.
- Fajita Veggies: Sautéed bell peppers and red onions provide a sweet and savory addition to any dish.
Building Your Perfect Vegan Bowl or Burrito
Once you have your base and protein selected, you can load up on all the flavorful, vegan toppings. It's easy to create a unique combination every time you visit.
Vegan Rice and Toppings
- Rice: Both the Cilantro-Lime White Rice and Cilantro-Lime Brown Rice are vegan and provide a fragrant, zesty base for your meal. For a low-carb alternative, the Cilantro-Lime Cauliflower Rice is also vegan-friendly.
- Salsas: All of Chipotle's salsas are vegan, with options ranging in spice level.
- Fresh Tomato Salsa (Mild): A classic pico de gallo with tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro.
- Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa (Medium): Adds a smoky-sweet flavor from roasted corn and poblanos.
- Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa (Medium): A tangy, zesty salsa with a manageable amount of heat.
- Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa (Hot): For those who prefer a fiery kick.
- Guacamole: Chipotle’s famously fresh guacamole is made daily with avocados, red onions, cilantro, and jalapeños, and it's free with any veggie entrée.
- Lettuce: Simple shredded romaine lettuce is always a safe and refreshing topping.
Vegan Chips and Sides
For an extra crunchy element, don't forget the sides. The tortilla chips at Chipotle are fried fresh and are seasoned with lime juice and salt, making them a perfect vegan snack. You can pair them with guacamole or any of the vegan salsas. A side of beans or rice can also be ordered for a simple, hearty meal.
Comparison Table: Vegan vs. Non-Vegan Items
To help visualize what's available, this table contrasts popular vegan items with common non-vegan ingredients. When building your meal, simply avoid the non-vegan category.
| Vegan Chipotle Items | Non-Vegan Chipotle Items |
|---|---|
| Sofritas | All Meat (Chicken, Steak, Carnitas, Barbacoa) |
| Black Beans and Pinto Beans | Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese |
| White and Brown Cilantro-Lime Rice | Queso Blanco (dairy-based) |
| Fajita Veggies | Sour Cream |
| All Salsas | Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette |
| Guacamole | Tortilla used for Quesadillas (contains dairy) |
| Tortilla Chips | Carne Asada (premium meat) |
Tips for Ordering and Nutritional Information
To ensure your meal is completely vegan, make sure to specify that you do not want any cheese or sour cream. Cross-contamination can sometimes be a concern at restaurants with shared serving lines. If you are highly sensitive, you can ask for a fresh tray of ingredients from the back. Always be specific with your order to avoid any animal products. Chipotle's website also features a nutrition calculator that allows you to build and track the nutritional content of your custom meal.
For a convenient online or app order, you can select one of the pre-configured vegan Lifestyle Bowls.
- Veggie Full Bowl: Contains white rice, black beans, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, and guacamole.
- Plant-Powered Bowl: Includes a supergreens lettuce blend, white rice, sofritas, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, roasted chili-corn salsa, and guacamole.
By taking advantage of these wide-ranging plant-based options, eating vegan at Chipotle can be a flavorful and satisfying experience, whether you're building a burrito, a bowl, or a set of tacos.
Conclusion
Chipotle is an exceptionally vegan-friendly restaurant, with a menu full of options that can be easily customized to create a satisfying, plant-based meal. By choosing a base like a bowl, burrito, tacos, or salad, and filling it with vegan proteins like Sofritas and beans, along with rice, fajita veggies, and any of the delicious salsas, you can enjoy a fresh and flavorful meal. Just remember to hold the dairy products like cheese, sour cream, and the honey vinaigrette, and you'll have a perfect vegan feast.
