🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (2024)

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Make the smoky-sweet Chipotle Vinaigrette you love and crave at home (a copycat from the restaurant of the same name). It comes together in minutes with easy pantry ingredients, and it tastes exactly like it should.

🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (1)

I love to order salads at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Loaded with chicken, rice, veggies, beans, and all the toppings, this hearty bowl eats more like a meal than a salad.

“Do you want the vinaigrette on the side?”

They ask this every time, which is fine, I’m all about reducing food waste so it’s good to ask. Little do they know, the Chipotle salad dressing is a primary driver to order a salad in the first place. Otherwise I’d just get a bowl, right?

If you’re a fan of Chipotle, it’s really easy to make your own copycat Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette at home. It’s made with a combination of red wine vinegar, honey, adobo sauce, and spices. Blitz in a blender, then add the oil to emulsify, and you’re done.

Faster than they can say “Chips and guac?” Which is also a yes.

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step-by-step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Chipotle Vinaigrette Recipe

Recipe ingredients

🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (2)

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Adobo sauce:This is the sauce in which chipotle peppers are packed in when canned. To make your own adobo sauce, whisk together 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or ½ teaspoon EACH smoked paprika and cayenne powder), ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and a pinch EACH of oregano, garlic powder, and salt.
  • Oregano:Chipotle uses dried Mexican oregano. It tastes more like marjoram than Italian oregano and can be tricky to track down (I always find it at the Mexican grocery store). You can use either one (and you can choose fresh over dried if you want).
  • Olive oil: Chipotle uses Rice Bran oil in all of their recipes. I always substitute olive oil because that’s what I have on hand (you can use any neutral oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil).

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a food processor or blender, combine red wine vinegar, honey, adobo sauce, water, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano and pulse to combine.
🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (3)
  1. With the motor still running, drizzle in the oil and blend until the salad dressing comes together and emulsifies.
🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (4)
  1. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 tablespoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoon pepper).
🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (5)

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes about 2 cups of Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette, enough for 16 servings, 2 tablespoons each.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: The dressing can be up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator (a mason jar works well) and shake or stir well to recombine before using.
  • Vegan vinaigrette: Chipotle’s vinaigrette contains several tablespoons of honey, so if you want a vegan version, substitute agave syrup or maple syrup for the honey. To extend your bowl even more, add some roasted sweet potatoes.
  • Marinade: This vinaigrette has just the right combination of spice and sweetness to make an excellent marinade. I usually substitute fresh garlic cloves for the garlic powder and add a splash of fresh lime juice for extra flavor. Use it to marinade beef like Carne Asada or your next batch of Grilled Shrimp. It makes for an excellent taco salad!
  • Chipotle Burrito Bowls: Make your own copycat burrito bowls, tacos, and salads at home with my full collection of Chipotle Copycat Recipes:
    • Proteins: Chipotle Chicken, Chipotle Steak, Chipotle Barbacoa, Chipotle Carnitas, Chipotle Sofritas
    • Sides: Chipotle Cilantro-Lime Rice, Chipotle Black Beans, Chipotle Pinto Beans, Chipotle Fajita Veggies
    • Sauces: Chipotle Guacamole, Chipotle Tomato Salsa, Chipotle Corn Salsa, Chipote Tomatillo Salsa, Chipotle Hot Salsa
🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a substitute for adobo sauce?

To make a substitute for adobo sauce, whisk together: 1 tbsp. tomato paste, 1 tbsp. cider vinegar, 1 tsp. chipotle powder (or ½ tsp. each smoked paprika and cayenne powder), ½ tsp. cumin, and 1 pinch EACH oregano, garlic powder, and salt.

More Chipotle recipes

Chipotle Copycat Recipes

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice (Copycat)

Chipotle Copycat Recipes

Chipotle Guacamole (Copycat)

Chipotle Copycat Recipes

Chipotle Corn Salsa (Copycat)

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Chipotle Vinaigrette

By Meggan Hill

Make the smoky-sweet Chipotle Vinaigrette you love and crave at home (a copycat from the restaurant of the same name). It comes together in minutes with easy pantry ingredients, and it tastes exactly like it should.

Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 2 minutes mins

Total Time 3 minutes mins

Servings 16 servings (2 tbsp each)

Course Pantry

Cuisine American, Mexican

Calories 206

4.99 from 261 votes

ReviewPrint

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a food processor or blender, combine red wine vinegar, honey, adobo sauce, water, cumin, garlic powder, and oregano and pulse to combine.

  • With the motor still running, drizzle in the oil until the salad dressing comes together and emulsifies. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 tablespoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoon pepper).

Notes

  1. Adobo sauce:To make your own adobo sauce, whisk together 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or ½ teaspoon EACH smoked paprika and cayenne powder), ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and a pinch EACH of oregano, garlic powder, and salt.
  2. Oregano:Chipotle uses dried Mexican oregano. It tastes more like marjoram than Italian oregano and can be tricky to track down (I always find it at the Mexican grocery store). You can use either one (and you can choose fresh over dried if you want).
  3. Olive oil: Chipotle uses Rice Bran oil in all of their recipes. I always substitute olive oil because that’s what I have on hand (you can use any neutral-flavored oil).
  4. Yield: This recipe makes about 2 cups of Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette, enough for 16 servings, 2 tablespoons each.
  5. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tbspCalories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 195mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill

Meggan Hill

Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

🌯 Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chipotle honey vinaigrette made of? ›

To make this recipe, you'll want to haul out your blender, plus four ingredients, including red-wine vinegar, honey, canned chipotles in adobo, and dried oregano (not counting basics like salt, pepper, oil and water). In Chipotle locations, they use their chipotle marinade in place of the canned chipotles.

How to get the vinaigrette from Chipotle? ›

It comes standard with every salad, but it isn't available in the assembly line in the store, or as an add-on in the app. The vinaigrette has a tangy and smoky flavor that's a simple way to level up anything you order at Chipotle. All you have to do to get your hands on some is to ask for it in-person.

What is the name of the dressing in Chipotle? ›

Chipotle Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

This chipotle dressing recipe might remind you of the famous chipotle honey vinaigrette served at Chipotle Mexican Grill. It's definitely similar, but if you're a fan of Chipotle's salad dressing, don't expect this one to be an exact copycat version.

What does Chipotle's vinaigrette taste like? ›

The Chipotle vinaigrette is smokey with a little bit of heat, a little bit of sweetness, and a little bit of tang. To get this balance of flavors, you'll need: ½ cup red wine vinegar. Heaping ¼ cup honey.

What is the main ingredient in chipotle? ›

A chipotle (/tʃɪˈpoʊtleɪ/, /tʃɪˈpɒtleɪ/, chi-POHT-lay, chi-POT-lay; Spanish: [tʃiˈpotle]), or chilpotle, is a smoke-dried ripe jalapeño chili pepper used for seasoning. It is a chili used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex and Southwestern United States dishes.

What honey does chipotle use? ›

We use Wildflower honey, which means that the nectar that inevitably finds its way to the vinaigrette in your salad mostly comes from Wildflower plants - and if one had four leaves, who knows, maybe it'll give you a little luck.

What oil does Chipotle use in dressing? ›

Olive oil: Chipotle uses Rice Bran oil in all of their recipes. Yield: This recipe makes about 2 cups of Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette, enough for 16 servings, 2 tablespoons each.

Can you ask Chipotle for vinaigrette? ›

You can get salad dressing without getting a salad

Yes, Chipotle sells salads. Their honey vinaigrette is pretty tasty, and can be ordered on the side of any other order.

How much sugar is in the chipotle honey vinaigrette? ›

Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
Nutrition Facts
How much sugar is in Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette? Amount of sugar in Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette: Sugar 3.1g-
How much fiber is in Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette? Amount of fiber in Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette: Fiber 1.4g6%
47 more rows

Is Chipotle honey vinaigrette healthy? ›

Key Takeaways: Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette is a low-calorie, low-fat dressing with a hint of sweetness. It's great for salads, marinades, and dipping sauces, adding flavor without piling on the calories.

What is the fake meat at Chipotle called? ›

The meat-free chorizo, which has been in the works for around a year, is made from pea protein, ancho chili and chipotle, peppers, tomato paste, crushed garlic, olive oil, and smoked paprika, the chain said in a press release.

What salad does Chipotle use? ›

Your choice of meat or sofritas served with our fresh supergreens lettuce blend made of Romaine, Baby Kale, and Baby Spinach.

How long does chipotle vinaigrette last? ›

How Long Does Chipotle Vinaigrette Stay Fresh? When stored airtight in the fridge, this dressing will stay good for a week (or even a couple days longer). Note that it does get spicier as it chills! Heads up: Leftover dressing may separate and solidify a bit (because olive oil solidifies at cold temperatures).

Why is Chipotle mayo so good? ›

Why It Works. Sour cream and lime juice add tang, while the chipotle chiles bring the heat. The combination makes a spicy, cool, earthy, and smoky flavor.

What is the best alternative to chipotle sauce? ›

Smoked Paprika has all the smoky flavor you crave, making it the best substitute for chipotle. Although it is a much milder spice than dried chipotle or even fresh jalapeños, mix in the desired amount of cayenne pepper to dial up the heat.

Is chipotle honey vinaigrette healthy? ›

Key Takeaways: Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette is a low-calorie, low-fat dressing with a hint of sweetness. It's great for salads, marinades, and dipping sauces, adding flavor without piling on the calories.

What is honey chipotle flavor? ›

The chipotle en adobo peppers provides a smoky, savory, and fiery base. Honey provides that much-needed sweet counterbalance.

What is chipotle ranch dressing made of? ›

Made with chipotle peppers, lime juice, herbs, sour cream, and mayonnaise, it has the right amount of zest, herbiness, and tang to dress up a salad or to use as a dip with raw veggies.

Is Chipotle honey vinaigrette vegan? ›

Vegans should avoid our meats, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, queso, sour cream, and chipotle-honey vinaigrette. Our tortillas, vegetables, rice, beans, salsas, chips and guacamole, are vegetarian and vegan.

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