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Home » Mexican Recipes

Copycat Chipotle Steak Recipe

Published: May 12, 2023 · Modified: Jun 25, 2023 by Brooke Fajcz · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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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.

forkful of Chipotle steak with a bowl in the background.
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

bowls of ingredients for Chipotle steak.

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.

blending the marinade and marinating the steak in a bag.
  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.

heating the oil and cooking the steaks in a skillet.

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.

checking the temperature of the steak and resting it tented with foil.

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.

cubed steak on a cutting board and served with rice, fajita veggies, salsa, and guac.

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.

bowl of Chipotle steak served with rice, salsa, guac, and fajita veggies.

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

  • glass bowl of Chipotle sofritas with a black spoon and limes
    Chipotle Sofritas (Copycat Recipe)
  • bowl of copycat Chipotle fresh tomato salsa with tortilla chips
    Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa (Copycat Recipe)
  • person holding a spoonful of Chipotle barbacoa
    Chipotle Barbacoa (Copycat Recipe with Video)
  • white bowl of tortilla chips with bowls of salsa and guacamole
    Chipotle Tortilla Chips Copycat

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Recipe

bowl of Chipotle steak with fajita veggies, guac, rice, and salsa.

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
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
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: Brooke & Emma

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

Equipment

  • food processor
  • spatula
  • cast iron skillet
  • digital thermometer

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

    November 06, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    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

      November 07, 2022 at 7:46 am

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

      Reply
  2. Alex

    June 19, 2020 at 8:23 am

    5 stars
    The wonderful flavor and spices make this steak pop! The meat is chewy and delicious.

    Reply
    • Emma

      June 19, 2020 at 8:23 am

      Glad you enjoyed it, Alex!

      Reply
  3. Beth

    June 19, 2020 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    This steak is not too spicy, mouthwatering, juicy, and chewy. The meat is full of flavour and looks heavenly. Excellent!

    Reply
    • Emma

      June 19, 2020 at 8:24 am

      Thank you, Beth!

      Reply

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Welcome to our kitchen! We're Brooke & Emma Fajcz, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts. Our recipes have been featured in Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, Parade, Insider, Delish, and BuzzFeed.

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