Chipotle Bowl Size (Before And Now)

Last updated on September 11th, 2023 at 02:14 pm

You may have noticed a change in the size of your Chipotle meal bowls more recently and have concerns.

Various factors contributed to the change of the bowl size for your Chipotle, and the pandemic greatly contributed to this change.

 Some other factors include the costs of ingredients used and health considerations. 

Chipotle usually offers three sizes for their bowls; small, regular, and large, but recently, only the regular Chipotle size has been available. It was known that restaurants made these changes to simplify the orders and make Chipotle a more consistent portion size. 

In this article, we will provide you with an amazing Chipotle recipe and inform you of some of the unhealthy ingredients you can avoid in your Chipotle recipe; please stick with me!

Did Chipotle Lower Its Bowl Size?

Yes, Chipotle did lower its bowl size. Several chains have changed their serving style and pricing in recent years due to several factors. 

This action started in 2020 due to the pandemic occurrence. During this period, digital ordering rose, and the workers took that to their advantage. 

Sometimes, workers face social awkwardness when they do not serve more portions to persistent customers. 

It is no surprise that when it comes to fast food chains, Chipotle is one of the best. 

The somewhat healthy Mexican-inspired dish is made with various other individual dishes making it very hard to keep track of a favorite taste. 

Although this dish is generally amazing, customers have rated some of these varieties of Chipotle from worse to better. 

Below is a list of some amazing Chipotle recipes just in case you need to have Chipotle anytime soon; 

1. Carnitas Burrito 

Order a Carnitas burrito if you want the best off of Chipotle. This recipe is one of the best and a very popular burrito choice. 

The burritos usually used for this recipe are huge, and the tortillas are usually fresh and warm. The most interesting part of this recipe is the fillings. 

For the fillings, you mix some sour cream, salsa, cheese, vegetables, and rice to make your perfect creamy dish. 

If you have not had a Carnitas burrito, try it. 

2. Burrito Bowl with Chicken 

Chipotle’s most popular recipe is the burrito bowl with Chicken.

This is an amazing choice of dish, not just because it is filling but also because it is very tasty, simple, and healthy. 

You can request whatever kind of rice and beans you want, or if you want more or fewer vegetables, it’s up to you. 

Where it all gets unbelievable and more interesting is with the toppings. With this dish, you do not have to stuff a large burrito into your mouth. 

Instead, you can scoop whatever amount of rice, Chicken, and beans you want and have it without stressing yourself. 

3. Barbacoa Taco 

If you are familiar with tacos in several Chipotle recipes, you should be able to know that they are not all that,

but with the Barbacoa, you can order tacos and have them with a lot of protein, making this recipe a very healthy choice, 

Why Are Chipotle Bowls So Small Now? 

Several factors may have reduced the size of the Chipotle bowls you have been getting. 

Below are some reasons why the portions of Chipotle you have been getting now are smaller compared to previously; 

1. Cost of Ingredients 

An increase in the cost of certain ingredients can lead to a reduction in portion size. 

If the prices of certain ingredients increase, the restaurant might reduce the amount of Chipotle in bowls to reduce costs. 

2. Menu Pricing

To keep the menu prices competitive, restaurants might adjust the sizes of Chipotle to maintain the value between cost and value for its customers. 

3. Health Consideration

There could be a shift towards promoting healthier habits involving smaller sizes to encourage moderation. 

4. Impact on the Environment 

Smaller portions of Chipotle might be a sustainable medium to reduce food waste and improve the environment in general. 

5. Profit Margin

Adjusting the portion sizes can have an overall impact on the restaurant’s profitability. 

Smaller portions can lead to higher profit margins if the cost savings outweigh any potential decrease in customer dissatisfaction. 

The Chipotle bowls you get are smaller because of one of these factors or a combination of more than one of these factors. 

If you feel the size reduction was too much for the same amount, you can contact customer service at your branch. 

What Is the Size Of Chipotle Bowl?

There are various sizes of the chipotle bowl, but the regular-sized chipotle bowl measures around 9.7″ by 6.25″ by 1.57″ (32oz) for an oval bowl. 

These Chipotle bowls are usually disposable and plant-based to enhance a more eco-friendly society. 

These are commonly used in many restaurants because they are cheaper and safer than their plastic and aluminum counterparts. 

Apart from 32oz, these bowls come in other smaller sizes like 24oz (8” by 5.35” by 1.57”). They are also smaller sizes, like 20 oz bowls. 

These bowls do not just come in different sizes; they also come in different forms, shapes, and colors. 

Is Finishing an Entire Bowl of Chipotle Possible? 

Yes, you can finish an entire bowl of Chipotle; it all solely depends on your appetite, the contents, and the size of the Chipotle bowl. 

If between your Chipotle meals, you feel full, then do not worry because you can save half for later. 

Since most of the ingredients in these bowls are fresh, you would want to have your meal no longer than six hours from when you had the other portion so it does not get spoiled.

Most importantly, you should know that all foods, including healthy options, can become unhealthy if eaten in excess. 

What Is Usually In a Chipotle Bowl? 

Although the ingredients in a Chipotle bowl vary from person to person, certain ingredients should be in a Chipotle bowl. 

A Chipotle bowl’s major constituents include; 

• A base of white or brown rice. 
• Guacamole. 
• Protein sources like grilled Chicken or salsa. 
• Sour cream. 
• Cheese and corn. 
• Tomato salsa 
• Beans ( black beans or pinto beans). 

Making your bowl of Chipotle is easy and can be done by anyone once you get the base ingredients, some chili source, and salt to taste. 

Below is a recipe you can use to make your bowl of chipotle burritos; 

For this recipe, you would need certain ingredients for the marinade and some other ingredients for the chipotle bowl.

For the marinade, you would need the following; 

• Onion (medium-sized yellow onion preferably)
• Adobe pepper and Adobe sauce 
• Three cloves of garlic. 
• Chicken broth. 
• Lime juice (preferably freshly squeezed) 
• Olive oil. 
• Chili powder 
• Ground cumin, dried oregano, and black pepper. 
• Salt (to taste) 

Next, the ingredients for the burrito bowl include; 

• Boneless chicken thighs and chicken breasts. 
• White or brown rice. 
• Iceberg lettuce. 
• Cooked black beans. 
• Shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey jack. 
• Guacamole. 
• Salsa. 
• Sour cream. 

Ensure that you get an adequate amount of each of these quantities; it all depends on the number of people enjoying the Chipotle burrito bowl. 

Now for the procedure; 

• In a food processor or blender, combine your onion, peppers, sauce, garlic, lime, olive oil, oregano, salt, cumin, and chicken broth, and process or blend everything until completely smooth. 
  
• Add your Chicken to your already set marinade and refrigerate this for at least an hour and at most four hours.
  
  Do not refrigerate for longer than that time so the lime doesn’t start to cook the Chicken. 
  
• Place your frying pan over medium heat and put your marinated Chicken on it. Sear your Chicken on both sides until the juices run clear or the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  
• Once you have done this, you should chop the Chicken to your desired sizes and serve it on top of your rice bowl. 
  
• Place other ingredients like your guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and beans on your plate of rice, and enjoy also!

This is just one recipe you can use to make your bowl of Chipotle healthy and, at the same time, filling. 

Below is a table that shows the number of calories some of these ingredients contain; 

Ingredients	Calories Content
Guacamole	230 calories
Cheese	100 calories
Chicken	180 calories
Brown or white rice	210 calories
Black beans	120 calories
Pinto beans	115 calories
Chorizo	300 calories

Tips on How to Make a Healthier Bowl of Chipotle? 

Although Chipotle can be considered a healthy dish, certain ingredients are present in so many recipes that go against this. 

If you want a healthier bowl of Chipotle, some of the ingredients you would need to make your dish healthier include; 

#1. Olive Oil 

Instead of using butter for this, you can use olive oil as a healthier substitute to cook your Chicken; this would ensure lower calories. 

#2. Cauliflower Rice 

Instead of regular brown or white rice, you can use a healthier substitute like cauliflower rice as a base for your Chipotle. 

Cauliflower rice is very delicious and is known to contain very few calories and no carbs. 

#3. Guacamole

Even if avocados contain high amounts of calories, you shouldn’t worry because when adding guacamoles to your Chipotle, you would not need to include sour cream and cheese. 

This does not eliminate the high amount of calories in the bowl, but it would ensure a reduced amount of calories instead. 

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