Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (2024)

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If you're craving steak at home, we've got you covered with our copycat Chipotle steak recipe. The marinade is quick and easy, and the steak cooks in 10 minutes; can't get more simple than that!

If you're looking for other beef Chipotle copycat recipes, you'll want to try our Chipotle carne asada and our Chipotle barbacoa. Get other popular copycat recipes by visiting our Chipotle recipes collection in our recipe index.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (1)
Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Store
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Chipotle Copycat Recipes You'll Love
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Why This Recipe Works

  • Our copycat marinade recipe tastes like Chipotle's and we suggest you marinate the steak for 8 to 24 hours.
  • Let the steak warm up to room temperature, by letting it sit on the counter for 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Cook in a hot cast iron skillet for 3 minutes until the steak starts to sweat. Flip the steak only once and don't overcrowd the skillet. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
  • Check the internal temperature with a digital thermometer. 130-135F medium rare, 135-145F for medium. Chipotle cooks their steaks to 145F.
  • When done, tent with foil for 10 minutes for the steak to rest and the juices will redistribute then cut against the grain before serving, rotate and cut into cubes.

Ingredients

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (2)

The ingredients for our copycat Chipotle steak recipe are easy to find at any large grocery store in the U.S. Let's talk about some of the key ingredients.

  • Beef: We used 2 pounds of top sirloin steak.
  • Aromatics: We used yellow onion and garlic.
  • Spices: We used ancho chile powder, cumin, oregano, kosher salt and black pepper.
  • Canned goods: We used Chipotle chili peppers in adobe sauce.
  • Oil: We used classic olive oil because it is easier to find, but Chipotle uses rice bran oil.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Like it spicier? Add red pepper flakes.
  • Can't find rice bran oil? Use classic olive oil.
  • Don't have yellow onion? Try red or white.
  • Can't find dried ancho chile powder? Make your own by grinding dried ancho chiles in a spice grinder.

How to Make

Gather all the ingredients for the marinade for our Chipotle copycat steak recipe. Chop up the chipotle peppers, onion, and garlic, then measure out the spices and oil.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (3)
  1. Dump the marinade ingredients into a food processor or high powered blender. Blitz until the ingredients are broken down and blended, then scrape the sides down with a spatula. Add a bit of water (¼ to ½ cup) to thin the marinade.
  2. Place the top sirloin steaks in a large zip-top bag and pour or spoon the marinade over top, making sure both sides of the meat are covered. Put the steak in the fridge to marinate for 8 to 24 hours.

When ready to cook, take the meat out of the fridge 30 minutes before grilling so the meat can slowly warm up to room temperature.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (4)

3. Cook on a very hot outside grill or heat oil in a cast iron skillet at medium high heat until it shimmers.

4. Cook the steaks roughly 3 to 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle the steak with kosher salt. After two minutes, lower the heat. Flip when the steak starts to sweat and flip only once. Cook the meat in batches if it doesn't all fit in the skillet at the same time.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (5)

5. Check the correct temperature for your desired doneness. 130-135°F is medium rare, and 135-145°F is medium.

6. Place the meat on a grooved wooden cutting board and tent with foil. Let the meat rest for 10 minutes.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (6)

7. Cut against the grain, then rotate the meat and make cuts again so the meat is bite sized.

8. Enjoy while it's still hot.

Recipe FAQs

What kind of steak is used at Chipotle?

According to their ingredient list on their website, the restaurant uses different cuts of grade A beef shipped in from Australia, but for grocery shopping ease it's best to stick to round, loin, or sirloin.

How is Chipotle steak cooked?

Apparently, it is cooked sous vide at one site, then shipped, marinated, and grilled at the restaurant.

Which Chipotle meat is the healthiest?

The leanest options are the chicken and the steak. To have the healthiest meal, choose toppings for your burrito bowl that won't break your diet like lettuce, guac and salsa.

What's the difference between carne asada and Chipotle's steak?

The marinade for the carne asada is made with freshly squeezed lime juice, cilantro, and a better cut of beef (flank or skirt steak). Chipotle's steak recipe uses chipotle and ancho chili peppers with cumin and oregano.

Serve

If you want to keep it authentic, serve it with other Chipotle Mexican Grill dishes. To make their famous burrito bowls start with Chipotle cauliflower rice, then add Chipotle black beans. Next add the steak, then the Chipotle fajita veggies and top it with Chipotle tomatillo-green chili salsa, or Chipotle corn salsa. Round out your meal with a side of crispy, lime-flavored Chipotle tortilla chips.

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (7)

Store

  • Make Ahead: Yes and no. You can make up the marinade for our copycat recipe a few days in advance and store it covered in the fridge. You can also marinade the meat 24 hours in advance, but it is best to cook the meat just before using it on a grill or in a cast iron skillet.
  • Leftovers: Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Yes, you can freeze leftover cooked steak in an airtight freezer container for up to one month. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge.
  • Reheat: Place the leftover steak on a parchment lined baking sheet at 275°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until warmed through.

Expert Tips

  • Marinate the meat in a bag or a covered bowl.
  • Use a meat thermometer to know when it's done.
  • Let the meat rest under a foil tent.
  • Cut against the grain.
  • This marinade can also be used for chicken breasts or thighs.

Other Chipotle Copycat Recipes You'll Love

  • Chipotle Sofritas (Copycat Recipe)
  • Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa (Copycat Recipe)
  • Chipotle Barbacoa (Copycat Recipe with Video)
  • Chipotle Tortilla Chips Copycat

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Recipe

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (12)

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe

Make your own Copycat Chipotle steak recipe at home. The smoky, spicy flavors from the marinade will taste amazing when you build your own steak bowl, burrito, or soft tacos. Learn how to make this Chipotle main course that has just the right amount of seasonings.

4.3 from 7 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 steaks

Calories: 867kcal

Author:

Ingredients

For the Marinade

  • ½ yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 5 tablespoons adobo sauce
  • 3 tablespoons chipotle peppers, roughly chopped
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ancho chile powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼-1/2 cup water, to thin marinade

For the Steaks

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 pounds top sirloin steaks
  • Sprinkle of kosher salt

Instructions

Marinating the Meat

  • Put all the ingredients for the marinade in the food processor and pulse until blended.

  • Scrap down the sides of the processor with a spatula, then add a bit of water to thin the marinade and run the processor again. You should have 1 cup of marinade.

  • Place the top sirloin steaks in a large zip top bag and pour the marinade on top. Mush the liquid around, making sure to get it on both sides of the steaks. Seal the bag and place it in the fridge overnight or up to 24 hours.

  • When ready to cook, take the meat out 30 minutes before cooking so it can warm up to room temperature.

Cooking the Meat

  • In a 10 inch cast iron skillet, heat up ¼ cup of olive oil over medium high heat until it is shimmering. Place two steaks in the pan. Sprinkle with kosher salt, and let them cook for a minute or two before turning the heat down to medium. Cook until the steak starts to sweat, then flip the steaks over and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

  • To check if the meat is done, use a digital thermometer. 130-135°F is medium rare, and 135-145°F is medium. Chipotle cooks their steaks to 145F.

  • Move the steaks to a wooden cutting board with a groove and tent with foil for 10 minutes. The steaks will continue cooking and the juices will redistribute.

  • Slice in bite-sized pieces against the grain, and then slice again in the opposite direction. Serve hot with other Chipotle inspired recipes.

Notes

  • Use a zip-top bag or a bowl to marinade the meat and store in the fridge.
  • To know when it's done, use a meat thermometer.
  • Make a foil tent and let the meat rest for 10 minutes.
  • For the best texture, cut against the grain.
  • This marinade can also be used for chicken breasts or thighs.
  • Can't find dried ancho chile powder? Make your own by grinding dried ancho chiles in a spice grinder.

Nutrition

Calories: 867kcal (43%)Carbohydrates: 23g (8%)Protein: 71g (142%)Fat: 55g (85%)Saturated Fat: 10g (63%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 35gCholesterol: 178mg (59%)Sodium: 7047mg (306%)Potassium: 1301mg (37%)Fiber: 7g (29%)Sugar: 8g (9%)Vitamin A: 1303IU (26%)Vitamin C: 5mg (6%)Calcium: 157mg (16%)Iron: 8mg (44%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary

    Very good I used GoyaMojo chipotle marinade because I couldn’t find a few ingredients but I think it turned out delicious I served it over Basmati rice copped cilantro red peppers sweet onion avocado a dollop of sour cream and queso just my taste not for everyone I’m sure

    Reply

    • Emma

      We're glad you enjoyed the steak, Mary! Thanks for using our recipe!

      Reply

  2. Alex

    Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (13)
    The wonderful flavor and spices make this steak pop! The meat is chewy and delicious.

    Reply

    • Emma

      Glad you enjoyed it, Alex!

      Reply

  3. Beth

    Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (14)
    This steak is not too spicy, mouthwatering, juicy, and chewy. The meat is full of flavour and looks heavenly. Excellent!

    Reply

    • Emma

      Thank you, Beth!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of steak is used at Chipotle? ›

Our steak, meanwhile, comes from all over: bottom rounds, top rounds, eye of rounds, inside round, outside round, sirloin, knuckle, ball tip, and sirloin top. You get the picture. Lots of rounds. These cuts hold up to the heat of the grill, giving each bite a nicely charred outside and a perfect medium-rare inside.

What kind of seasoning does Chipotle use? ›

Our namesake ingredient, the chipotle chili pepper is a dried and smoked jalapeño produced using the age-old craft of smoking them over pecan wood for several days. These intensely smoky, spicy peppers are the foundation for much of the food we serve - from our chicken, steak, and Barbacoa to our beans and vinaigrette.

What cut of steak is Chipotle carne asada? ›

Chipotle's carne asada is always made with skirt steak, ensuring that it's consistently juicy and tender. It's then cut into thin slices rather than cubes.

What does Chipotle cook their meat with? ›

Rice bran oil is our primary cooking oil at Chipotle. Its high smoke point - the temperature at which the oil starts, well, smoking - makes it suitable for high-temperature cooking like grilling, while its mild taste makes it versatile.

Why does Chipotle steak taste different? ›

The classic Chipotle steak additionally features chipotle pepper, which consists of fully ripened jalapeños that are smoked and dried. On the other hand, the carne asada introduces a zestier taste from a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro, and coriander.

How to make Chipotle from scratch? ›

Instructions
  1. Lay the peppers in your smoker in one layer, ideally not touching. ...
  2. Smoke the peppers at least 6 hours, but I prefer all day, like 16 hours. ...
  3. If you want, you can pull the jalapenos at any time after 6 hours and finish them in a dehydrator set on low heat. ...
  4. Store them in a bag at room temperature.
Sep 4, 2023

What is Chipotle seasoning blend made of? ›

What is Chipotle Seasoning? The way that this chipotle seasoning stands out from the rest comes from one key ingredient: ground chipotle peppers. Chipotle peppers are smoke-dried jalapeno peppers that are often used in Mexican and Mexican-inspired recipes.

What is chipotle seasoning made of? ›

Chipotle powder is made from just one ingredient: dried, smoked jalapeno peppers. They are then crushed into powder form, in pure, simplistic flavor glory.

Does Chipotle season their meat? ›

This tender steak is hand-seasoned with our signature blend of spices, finished with fresh lime juice and cilantro, hand-sliced before serving, and grilled fresh every day in small batches. Our steak has high standards—in how it's raised, prepared, and served.

What does Chipotle put on their carne asada? ›

Chipotle's Carne Asada is marinated, then seasoned on the grill with a blend of signature spices like cumin, coriander, and oregano, and finished with fresh squeezed lime, hand-chopped cilantro, for a deeply rich, satisfying flavor.

What cut of meat is Chipotle guajillo steak? ›

Rehydrated, moderately spicy guajillo peppers, 6 whole cloves of zippy garlic, a kick of lime juice, and a handful of fresh cilantro come together in a pureed sauce that serves to marinade tender flank steak for 6 or more hours. The marinated steak is then seared to perfection.

What kind of cheese does Chipotle use? ›

Originally Answered: What cheese does Chipotle use? In most of their dishes, Chipotle Mexican Grill uses a shredded blend of two kinds of cheese: White cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. On their menu, the cheese blend is referred to as "shredded cheese," and it is used in burritos, tacos, and salads.

Does Chipotle pre cook their meat? ›

We use the sous vide process at the commissary level for our steak so that we can prevent raw beef from ever entering our restaurants. Our sous vide process is performed under continuous USDA inspection and monitored using sophisticated data collection, including continuous temperature monitoring.

What type of rice does Chipotle use? ›

Around here, all you need to know is that we use long-grain white rice. We have always been committed to preparing real food made with real ingredients. You know, the kind you can recognize and pronounce.

Does Chipotle cook their meat separately? ›

Does Chipotle cook their meats separately? Generally speaking, they do not cook them on entirely different cooking spaces. Chicken and steak are both some of their grilled items and would share space on the grill. They are marinated using different concentrations of the same spice and would.

What cut of meat is carne asada? ›

In Central and South America, we call pretty much any barbecued or grilled meat asado (or carne asada). The BEST cuts for the Mexican version of the dish we all know and love are either skirt steak or flank steak.

What is Chipotle's beef called? ›

Barbacoa at Chipotle is made from tender and moist seared beef that's been braised in an incredible blend of adobo, lime, cumin, garlic, and oregano. This slow-cooked masterpiece can be added to tacos, salads, bowls, and more! To see us make copycat Chipotle barbacoa from start to finish, watch the video in this post!

Is Chipotle steak 100% grass fed? ›

By telling consumers that the Australian beef is from 100% grass-fed cattle that have never been given antibiotics or hormones, Chipotle is providing more information than most companies do about the origins of its meat.

Does Chipotle cook steak in store? ›

Chris Arnold, a spokesman for Chipotle, said the steak will be cooked "sous vide" at an off-site central kitchen and then marinated and seared on grills in the restaurants. "Sous vide is a cooking technique that cooks at low temperatures over longer periods of time, and is used by a number of great chefs.

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