Chipotle Steak (Copycat)

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This copycat Chipotle Steak recipe tastes even better than the real thing. The marinade is quick and easy and full of the smoky, spicy flavors you love!

A bowl of Chipotle steak, pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, and pico de gallo.


 

Chipotle Steak has all the same flavors as Chipotle’s famous Chicken, but here it’s applied to your favorite inexpensive cut of steak like sirloin, round steak, or flat iron steak.

It’s a tasty way to add protein to your burritos, bowls, tostadas, and more. Or serve it like they do in Mexico: Tacos on corn tortillas with just grilled onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Copycat Chipotle Steak.

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: 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.
  • Ancho chile powder: You can buy ancho chile powder online or buy dried ancho chiles and grind them to make your own ancho chile powder or soak them and add straight to the marinade (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through these links).
  • Olive oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil, but olive oil is more widely available (and probably already in your pantry).
  • Oregano: Chipotle uses Mexican oregano, but you can use Italian oregano if that’s all that you have. They have different flavors (Mexican oregano tastes more like marjoram) but both taste great in this recipe.
  • Steak: According to Chipotle’s customer service, the “beef” in their steak could be any number of cuts including part of the loin, ball tip, round steak, flat iron steak, top butt, clod, or knuckle.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. To make the marinade, in the bowl of a food processor or blender, add garlic, adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, olive oil, cumin, dried oregano, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Blend until smooth (add water if needed to fully blend the marinade).
A blender full of the marinade for Chipotle steak.
  1. In a large zipper-top plastic bag or bowl, add steak and marinade, tossing to coat. Let the beef marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Steaks marinaded in Chipotle flavors.
  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering. Add marinated steak to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 120 to 125 degrees F for rare or 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Depending on the size of your skillet, you can cook the steak in batches.
Cooking chipotle copycat steak in a skillet.
  1. Remove to a cutting board and tent with foil for 10 minutes. Chop into small pieces.
Chopping Chipotle copycat steak on a cutting board.
  1. Season to taste with salt. Serve with your favorite burrito toppings such as rice, beans, guacamole, and salsa.
Cooking chipotle copycat steak in a skillet.

Recipe tips and variations

A bowl of Chipotle steak, pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, and pico de gallo.
Chipotle Steak with Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Guacamole, and Tomato Salsa.

Recipe FAQs

What can I do with leftover chipotle chilis and adobo sauce?

Transfer to a bag or glass jar and freeze for future use, or 1-2 tablespoons with ½ cup mayo for a delicious Chipotle Mayonnaise. Or, use in Chipotle ChickenChicken Tinga, or Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers.

What is a substitute for 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.

What is the best doneness temperature for steak?

I swear by my instant-read meat thermometer, and follow these temperature guidelines for any beef preparation:
Rare: 120 to 125 degrees F
Medium Rare: 130 to 135 degrees F
Medium: 140 to 145 degrees F
Medium Well: 150 degrees F
Well: 160 degrees F
While many chefs (and I) prefer a slightly lower temperature for juicer, more tender beef, the USDA has a more conservative minimum safe cooking temperature of 145 degrees F. Cook to your desired doneness level.

Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Tonight, stay in and build your own Chipotle Burrito Bowl with the copycat recipes you know and love. Fluffy rice, black beans, tender chicken, sweet corn salsa, tomato salsa, and lots of guacamole. It’s great…

50 minutes
View Recipe

More Chipotle copycat favorites

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A bowl of Chipotle steak, pinto beans, cilantro-lime rice, and pico de gallo.

Chipotle Steak (Copycat)

This copycat Chipotle Steak recipe tastes even better than the real thing. The marinade is quick and easy and full of the smoky, spicy flavors you love!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 20 servings (about ½ cup each)
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Calories 210
4.99 from 277 votes

Equipment

Ingredients 

For the steak:

Instructions 

  • To make the marinade, in the bowl of a food processor or blender, add garlic, adobo sauce, ancho chile powder, olive oil, cumin, dried oregano, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Blend until smooth (add water if needed to fully blend the marinade).
  • In a large zipper-top plastic bag or bowl, add steak and marinade, tossing to coat. Let the beef marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering. Add marinated steak to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 120 to 125 degrees F for rare or 130 to 135 degrees F for medium-rare. Depending on the size of your skillet, you can cook the steak in batches.
  • Remove to a cutting board and tent with foil for 10 minutes. Chop into small pieces. Season to taste with salt. Serve with your favorite burrito toppings such as rice, beans, guacamole, and salsa.

Recipe Video

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. Ancho chile powder: You can buy ancho chile powder online or buy dried ancho chiles and grind them to make your own ancho chile powder or soak them and add straight to the marinade (Culinary Hill may earn money if you buy through these links).
  3. Olive oil: Chipotle uses rice bran oil, but olive oil is more widely available (and probably already in your pantry).
  4. Oregano: Chipotle uses Mexican oregano, but you can use Italian oregano if that’s all that you have. They have different flavors (Mexican oregano tastes more like marjoram) but both taste great in this recipe.
  5. Steak: According to Chipotle’s customer service, the “beef” in their steak could be any number of cuts including part of the loin, ball tip, round steak, flat iron steak, top butt, clod, or knuckle.
  6. Yield: This recipe makes 20 generous 1/2-cup servings.
  7. Storage: Store leftovers covered for up to 4 days.
  8. Make ahead: The steak can be marinated the day before you need it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 18gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 370mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 261IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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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.

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Comments

    1. Hi Guy, to keep this a true copycat recipe I took the red onion out but feel free to add it! It’s 1/2 red onion. Hope you love this steak! – Meggan

  1. Only problem with this recipe is that you put quantities of ingredients in the written recipe, and those don’t update when you adjust the quantities. If I wasn’t paying attention I would’ve just made the most salty steak I’ve ever eaten haha

    Otherwise this is excellent5 stars

    1. Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to write! I’m so glad you didn’t end up with a salty steak. It’s one of the limitations of the recipe program, unfortunately. (There used to be a time where the recipe’s quantities weren’t able to be adjusted at all. I’m so happy you enjoyed it and sorry for the inconvenience! – Meggan

  2. Is there red onion in this recipe, it’s not listed in the ingredients but is the first thing put into the food processor
    ?

    Also in the video it states that marinade should equal a cup but does not mention an amount in the recipe?

    1. Hi Kirk, it’s 1/2 of a red onion. Chipotle doesn’t use red onion in their recipe but I felt that it tasted better with it. To keep this a true copycat recipe I took the red onion out but feel free to add it! Also, the marinade as written should be about a cup. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions! – Meggan

    1. Hi Wynter, I took the red onion out because Chipotle doesn’t use it in their recipe. (I felt that it tasted better with the red onion, but to keep this a true copycat recipe I took the red onion out.) Feel free to add 1/2 coarsely chopped to the blender or food processor in step 1. Hope this helps, take care! – Meggan

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