When trying to make healthier fast food choices, many people opt for burrito bowls from Chipotle as a lower calorie alternative to burritos or tacos. But exactly how many calories are in a Chipotle bowl with tortillas? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the calorie counts for every ingredient and look at nutrition totals for different bowl combinations to help you determine the healthiest options.
Calories in Chipotle tortillas
Chipotle offers two tortilla options that can be added to burrito bowls:
- Flour tortilla: 300 calories
- Corn tortilla: 200 calories
So a single flour tortilla adds a significant 300 calories to your bowl, while the corn tortilla is a slightly lower calorie option at 200 calories. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to add tortillas to your bowl.
Calories in Chipotle bowl ingredients
In addition to tortillas, the specific ingredients you choose for your burrito bowl will determine its total calorie count. Here’s an overview of the calories found in each standard Chipotle bowl ingredient per serving:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| White rice | 210 |
| Brown rice | 180 |
| Pinto beans | 120 |
| Black beans | 120 |
| Chicken (barbacoa, carnitas) | 180 |
| Steak | 140 |
| Barbacoa | 170 |
| Carnitas | 210 |
| Sofritas (tofu) | 140 |
| Fajita veggies | 20 |
| Tomato salsa | 20 |
| Corn salsa | 60 |
| Guacamole | 230 |
| Cheese | 110 |
| Sour cream | 120 |
| Lettuce | 10 |
As you can see, ingredients like rice, beans, salsas, lettuce and fajita veggies provide fewer calories, while high-fat ingredients like guacamole, cheese, sour cream and meat choices result in higher calorie counts.
Calories in Chipotle burrito bowl combinations
Now let’s look at the total calories you would get in some common Chipotle burrito bowl combinations:
Veggie bowl
- White rice: 210 calories
- Black beans: 120 calories
- Fajita veggies: 20 calories
- Tomato salsa: 20 calories
- Lettuce: 10 calories
Total calories: 380
Chicken bowl
- Brown rice: 180 calories
- Black beans: 120 calories
- Chicken: 180 calories
- Corn salsa: 60 calories
- Cheese: 110 calories
- Lettuce: 10 calories
Total calories: 660
Steak bowl
- White rice: 210 calories
- Pinto beans: 120 calories
- Steak: 140 calories
- Guacamole: 230 calories
- Sour cream: 120 calories
- Lettuce: 10 calories
Total calories: 830
As you can see, adding higher calorie ingredients like meat, cheese, guacamole and sour cream can quickly boost the calories in your bowl. Going veggie or skipping the tortilla are some of the best ways to cut calories when ordering a burrito bowl.
Lowest calorie Chipotle bowl options
To maximize nutrition and minimize calories, here are some of the lowest calorie Chipotle bowl combinations you can order:
Veggie bowl
Select:
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Fajita veggies
- Tomato salsa
- Lettuce
Calories: 360
Chicken bowl
Select:
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Chicken
- Tomato salsa
- Lettuce
Calories: 530
Steak bowl
Select:
- Brown rice
- Pinto beans
- Steak
- Tomato salsa
- Lettuce
Calories: 590
Going light on the high-fat extras like cheese, sour cream and guacamole can make a significant dent in the total calories. And sticking to brown rice cuts more calories compared to white rice.
Making your Chipotle bowl lower calorie
Here are some tips to reduce calories and increase nutrition when ordering a Chipotle bowl:
- Choose brown rice over white rice
- Skip the tortilla
- Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and fajita veggies
- Pick black or pinto beans for fiber and protein
- Order a lean meat like chicken or steak in smaller portions
- Use salsa instead of sour cream or cheese for flavor
- Avoid or minimize ingredients like guacamole, sour cream and cheese
- Ask for any dressings or sauces on the side
- Opt for tomatillo-red chili or tomatillo-green chili salsas over the higher calorie corn salsa
- Drink water instead of soda
With the right customizations and smart ingredient swaps, it’s easy to enjoy a burrito bowl from Chipotle that’s under 500 or 600 calories. Just be mindful of your choices, stick to reasonable portions and avoid overdoing it on the higher calorie extras.
Conclusion
When you order a burrito bowl from Chipotle, the specific ingredients you choose will determine the total calorie count. Going heavy on ingredients like rice, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and meat can add significant calories. Choosing lighter options like brown rice, beans, vegetables, salsa and lean proteins like chicken or steak can help minimize the calories in your bowl. Skipping the tortilla and avoiding high-fat extras can also help lower the calories. With smart customizations focused on fresh, nutritious fixings, it’s easy to keep your burrito bowl under 600 or 700 calories while still enjoying all the tasty flavors you’d expect.