The 5 Healthiest Things You Can Order at Chipotle (2024)

You might've heard that the typical Chipotle order tops out at 1,000 calories, but if you're wondering if there's a way to still justify your love for the fast food chain, the short answer is yes.

Just like other chain choices, the fast casual restaurant offers some great and not-so-great options. If you're trying to eat healthier, the main issue with ordering at Chipotle is that the portions of the less nutritious stuff are enormous, while the good-for-you items come in scarcer quantities. But that’s A-ok if you’re willing to shell out just a little bit extra for a better lunch. Double or triple helpings of fajita veggies, extra romaine lettuce, and all of the salsas add flavor that’s high in nutritional value but relatively low in calories.

As a rule of thumb, I always recommend that you skip the rice at Chipotle and the ilk, mostly because it’s the least flavorful item that can rack up calories quickly without providing any real nutrient-dense goodness found in the other toppings. Using beans as a base instead adds plant-based protein and fiber, plus minerals and antioxidants that help to boost immunity.

The other thing to watch out for: guac. It’s amazing, and I’m not here to rain on anyone’s Chipotle parade. But the key to ordering well is to either go all in on the guacamole (one serving is 4 ounces and about 230 cals) and skip cheese and sour cream, or to halve the guac and pick either cheese or sour cream.

The final thing to reconsider, sadly, is the burrito itself. The tortilla alone contains 320 calories, and they're all from refined carbs. That'll make you feel super full and sleepy rather than energized after lunch and throughout the day.

Your best bets are the salads, burrito bowls, and tacos — plus my favorite new discovery at Chipotle: the kid's menu. All items on the kid's menu halve the portion size, which sounds small at first but you can actually add so much extra. Triple the fajita veggies, add extra romaine, corn salsa, guac, and cheese, and you’ve got an amazingly satisfying lunch for just under 600 calories. (Although, again, you may have to pay more.) Plus, you’ll get ready-to-eat dessert in the form of oranges or blueberries.

Another great surprise at Chipotle: steak, one of the most nutritious options on the protein menu. It's just 150 calories for a filling 4-ounce serving — the same amount as the vegetarian sofritas!

So next time you get a hankering for Mexican, try one of these five orders to avoid overdoing it. They're are all around 650 calories or less and make for filling, delicious meals in a hurry:

1. A burrito bowl with any protein, plus beans, double fajita veggies, and extra salsa; skip the rice.

2. A steak salad with beans, guac, and extra salsa; skip the dressing and cheese.

3. Any vegetarian burrito bowl or salad (no meat or sofritas) with beans, double or triple fajita veggies, all of the salsas, guacamole, and cheese; skip the rice and extra dressing.

4. Corn tacos with either beans or meat; add all the veggies, salsas, and a half serving of guac and cheese. Again, pass on the rice.

5. Kid's menu corn tacos with extra veggies, steak, guac, salsas, and cheese; skip the juice and order water or anything unsweetened and add a piece of fruit.