Copycat Chipotle Chicken Recipe
This Copycat Chipotle Chicken recipe delivers tender, smoky, and spicy grilled chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful blend of chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic, and spices. Perfect for replicating the iconic Chipotle flavor at home, it’s great for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, or wraps.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-16 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes (including marinating time)
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce (from chipotle peppers)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the marinade: In a blender or food processor, combine chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a large zip-top bag or bowl. Pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are thoroughly coated. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, though marinating overnight is best for deeper flavor absorption.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, cook the chicken thighs for 6 to 8 minutes on each side until they are nicely charred on the outside and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Rest and chop: Remove the chicken from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Then chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces, similar to Chipotle’s serving style.
- Serve and enjoy: Use the chopped chicken as a filling for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, or wraps for a delicious homemade Chipotle-style meal.
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked to 165°F.
- Adjust the number of chipotle peppers to control the spice level.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you don’t have a grill pan, you can also cook the chicken on an outdoor grill or in a regular skillet.
Keywords: chipotle chicken, grilled chicken, chipotle marinade, copycat chipotle recipe, mexican chicken, chicken thighs, grilled chicken recipe
Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/copycat-chipotle-chicken-recipe/
