What to stay away from at Chipotle?

Asked by: Zena Upton  |  Last update: February 4, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (75 votes)

At Chipotle, you should watch out for high-calorie, high-sodium items like queso, sour cream, large tortillas, chips, sugary drinks (Mexican Coke, lemonade), and excessive portions of rice, cheese, and meat (especially fatty carnitas/barbacoa) to avoid massive calorie/fat/sodium counts, though all items can fit into a balanced diet if ordered mindfully. Focus on bowls/salads, load up on veggies, beans, and sofritas, and skip heavy toppings for a healthier meal.

What's the most unhealthy thing at Chipotle?

The most unhealthy Chipotle order is typically a fully loaded burrito or nachos with double meat, queso, sour cream, cheese, rice, and chips & guac on the side, potentially exceeding 1,000-1,200+ calories, high saturated fat, and extreme sodium, especially with sugary drinks like Mexican Coke adding extra sugar. A classic burrito with standard fillings often hits over 1,000 calories alone, with the tortilla adding around 300 calories, while adding queso and double meat significantly increases saturated fat and calories.
 

What is the $3 Chipotle hack?

The "Chipotle $3 hack" was a viral social media trend where users ordered a single taco with all free toppings on the side (rice, beans, salsa, etc.) and added an extra tortilla to assemble their own inexpensive burrito, but Chipotle cracked down on it by removing the ability to order single tacos online in 2022, making the hack difficult or impossible now, though customers can still get tacos in-person. 

What should I avoid for a healthy Chipotle meal?

Avoid mild salsa, corn, rice (brown has half the salt of white but it's still a lot) and vinaigrette. Don't get grilled meat (steak, chicken, carne asada) before 11:30 (unless it looks really fresh) because the first meat of the morning is salted twice. Also, be sure to drink water with your meal.

What are the 7 food safety rules for Chipotle?

Chipotle's “Food Safety Seven” include: work healthy, work clean, keep produce safe, cook food to correct temperatures, hold hot and cold foods at specified temperatures, maintain sanitary conditions, and call for help when needed.

What Is It Like Working For Chipotle? (My Experience)

40 related questions found

Does Chipotle pay $20 an hour?

Chipotle can pay $20 an hour, but it depends heavily on location, with California fast-food workers mandated to receive at least $20/hour as of April 2024, while crew wages in other states typically range lower, often in the mid-teens to high teens, with higher rates in major cities like Seattle or New York. While some specific California locations and management roles hit or exceed $20, it's not the universal standard across the entire U.S. for entry-level crew. 

How healthy or unhealthy is Chipotle?

Key Takeaways. Chipotle can be a healthy choice because you can customize your meal with a variety of fresh ingredients. While many consider Chipotle bowls healthier than burritos, a bowl made with high-calorie ingredients like cheese, carnitas (meats), and sour cream can have just as many calories as some burritos.

What not to order at Chipotle?

9 Items You Should Avoid Ordering From Chipotle

  • Carnitas. mariaaadebraaa/Instagram. ...
  • Any burrito. Chipotle Mexican Grill/Facebook. ...
  • Beans. Chipotle Mexican Grill/Facebook. ...
  • Guac ... if you're ordering your Chipotle to go. Chipotle Mexican Grill/Facebook. ...
  • Barbacoa. ...
  • A bowl with only one type of meat. ...
  • Sofritas. ...
  • An un-mixed burrito.

Should I skip the rice at Chipotle?

Choose Your Rice

If you did choose the burrito or tacos, you might want to skip the rice (210 calories) altogether since you're getting your grains in your shell. That said, white rice can also be a healthy choice if that's what you prefer.

What is the healthiest order at Chipotle?

The healthiest Chipotle order is typically a burrito bowl or salad with lean protein (chicken, steak, or sofritas), extra fajita veggies, black or pinto beans (light on rice if any), salsa, and guacamole for healthy fats, while skipping cheese, sour cream, and queso to keep calories and fat low. A great starting point is a Chicken or Steak Salad/Bowl with fajita veggies, salsa, and light beans for a high-protein, low-calorie, fiber-rich meal. 

What's the secret to a perfect Chipotle order?

Always get the chipotle bowl. It can hold the way more food than a tortilla or taco shell. And if you're really craving that tortilla, you can get it on the side. You can actually get every item on the side.

How to get a free burrito at Chipotle?

Staying active in the Chipotle Loyalty Program helps you keep earning free food, including free Chipotle, free burritos, and special discount codes.

What are Chipotle's best kept secrets?

The 13 Best Items on the Secret Menu at Chipotle

  • Spicy Queso Sauce. Endorsed by Chipotle itself, this secret menu item tastes just like spicy queso sauce should, with sharp cheese and a kick from the chile peppers. ...
  • Double Decker. ...
  • Dragon Sauce. ...
  • Double-Wrapped Burrito. ...
  • Quesarito. ...
  • Nachos. ...
  • Mix and Match. ...
  • The Three-Pointer.

What is the #1 healthiest fast food?

There's no single "number 1" healthiest fast-food restaurant, but Chipotle, Cava, and Panera Bread consistently rank high due to build-your-own options with fresh ingredients, lean proteins, and veggies, while Taco Bell is surprisingly adaptable with "Fresco Style" or bean swaps, and Chick-fil-A offers grilled chicken, but sodium can be high, making customization key across all chains for truly healthy choices. 

What is the most popular Chipotle order?

The most popular Chipotle order is generally a Burrito Bowl with Chicken, featuring white rice, black beans, mild salsa, corn salsa, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce, often with guacamole on the side or added in. However, a popular "hacker" method involves ordering a bowl with extra free ingredients (like double beans, pico, corn) and getting two tortillas on the side to build a giant burrito, a tactic often using steak or chicken as the protein.
 

Is it healthier to get a bowl or burrito at Chipotle?

A Chipotle bowl is generally healthier than a burrito because you skip the large tortilla, which adds 320 calories and 50g of carbs, making it easier to control overall calorie intake, but a bowl can still become unhealthy with calorie-dense toppings like cheese, sour cream, and queso. To keep a bowl healthy, focus on lean protein, lots of vegetables (fajita veggies, salsa), beans for fiber, and be mindful of portions for rice, cheese, and creamy sauces. 

What are the seven rules of Chipotle?

Chipotle's "Food Safety Seven" are core guidelines for employees to ensure safe food handling, focusing on personal health, cleanliness, proper produce handling, correct cooking and holding temperatures, maintaining sanitation, and knowing when to ask for help, with paid sick leave to prevent illness at work. These rules help reduce risks and are posted in kitchens as visual reminders for the team.
 

What costs extra in a Chipotle bowl?

Some toppings at Chipotle do cost extra. As we all know, guacamole costs extra, as does queso blanco, side tortillas, and extra protein (such as chicken, carnitas, and barbacoa). Of course, Malinowski's so-called hack isn't the first at the chain.

What is the best protein at Chipotle?

Top foods high in protein include Chicken, Steak, Barbacoa, Carnitas and extra protein add-ons. Black Beans and Pinto Beans are also a good way to add protein-rich ingredients to your meal. Ordering a high protein bowl is one of the easiest ways to build a high protein fast food option that fits your goals.

What is Chipotle's best meat?

The "best" meat at Chipotle is subjective, but Carne Asada (when available) is often cited as top-tier for its flavor and tenderness, while Barbacoa is praised for rich beefiness, Carnitas for savory pork flavor, and Chicken for a classic, high-protein choice, with recent limited-time options like Honey Chicken also getting rave reviews for sweet-smoky flavor. Your choice depends on whether you prefer beef, pork, chicken, or a limited-time special, and your desired flavor profile (smoky, rich, sweet, classic).
 

What is the most unhealthy item at Chipotle?

Worst: Cilantro-Lime White or Brown Rice

A regular-sized scoop contains 210 calories and a hefty serving of carbs. These carbs ruin your diet, so if you want to enjoy your meal with real rice, ask the staff to give you a smaller serving.

Is Chipotle brown rice or white rice better for you?

Brown rice contains slightly more fiber than white rice but with less sodium. Pile on the veggies: Ask for fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, and lettuce for more fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Still, be mindful of the fresh tomato salsa, as one four-ounce serving has 550 mg of sodium.

What's the healthiest dish at chipotle?

The healthiest Chipotle order is typically a burrito bowl or salad with lean protein (chicken, steak, or sofritas), extra fajita veggies, black or pinto beans (light on rice if any), salsa, and guacamole for healthy fats, while skipping cheese, sour cream, and queso to keep calories and fat low. A great starting point is a Chicken or Steak Salad/Bowl with fajita veggies, salsa, and light beans for a high-protein, low-calorie, fiber-rich meal. 

What is the #1 healthiest food in the world?

Top 10 Foods for Health

  1. Water. Drink 8 to 12 cups of water daily.
  2. Dark green vegetables. Eat dark green vegetables at least three to four times a week. ...
  3. Whole grains. Eat whole grains sat least two or three times daily. ...
  4. Beans and lentils. Try to eat a bean-based meal at least once a week. ...
  5. Fish. ...
  6. Berries. ...
  7. Winter squash. ...
  8. Soy.