A Chipotle steak burrito can pack a lot of calories. The exact calorie count depends on the size of the burrito and ingredients added, but a typical Chipotle steak burrito contains around 1000-1200 calories. While burritos can certainly be part of a balanced diet, it’s important to be mindful of portion sizes to avoid consuming excess calories.
Calories in Chipotle burrito ingredients
Chipotle burritos are customizable, allowing customers to choose exactly which ingredients they want included. The calorie count of a Chipotle burrito starts with the tortilla, then increases depending on what fillings you select. Here is a breakdown of the calories found in standard Chipotle burrito ingredients:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Flour tortilla (standard) | 300 |
| Flour tortilla (large) | 350 |
| White rice | 210 |
| Brown rice | 200 |
| Black beans | 120 |
| Pinto beans | 115 |
| Chicken (4 oz) | 180 |
| Steak (4 oz) | 170 |
| Barbacoa (4 oz) | 170 |
| Sofritas (4 oz) | 130 |
| Cheese | 110 |
| Sour cream (2 oz) | 110 |
| Guacamole (4 oz) | 230 |
| Lettuce | 20 |
| Salsa | 20 |
As you can see, the tortilla provides a significant number of calories before any fillings are added. Meat, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream bump up the calories quickly. Vegetables like lettuce, salsa, and beans provide fewer calories in comparison.
Calories in a Chipotle steak burrito
Now that we know the calorie counts for individual ingredients, we can estimate the total calories in a Chipotle steak burrito. Here are some common ingredient combinations and calorie counts:
- Steak burrito with rice, beans, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream: Around 1,000 calories
- Steak burrito with rice, beans, salsa, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole: Around 1,200 calories
- Steak burrito with just rice, beans, salsa, lettuce: Around 800 calories
- Steak burrito with just steak, cheese, guacamole, sour cream: Around 900 calories
As you can see, adding extras like cheese, sour cream, and guacamole increases the calorie count significantly compared to a simpler burrito with just rice, beans, salsa, and lettuce. Choosing a large tortilla over a standard tortilla also boosts the calories by around 50.
Ways to reduce calories in a Chipotle burrito
If you want to enjoy a Chipotle burrito but avoid excess calories, here are some tips:
- Stick to a standard size tortilla rather than large
- Choose brown rice or black beans for slightly fewer calories than white rice or pinto beans
- Load up on veggies like lettuce, salsa, and corn salsa
- Go easy on high-calorie cheeses, sour cream, and guacamole
- Ask for half portions of meat, rice, and beans
- Skip the chips and drink water instead of ordering soda
Using these simple modifications can help reduce the calorie count of your burrito by 200-400 calories easily. You can still enjoy the flavors you love while keeping portions and calories in check.
Nutritional value of Chipotle burritos
Despite their high calorie count, Chipotle burritos can also provide important nutrients, especially when you load up on veggie toppings. Here is the nutritional breakdown for a 1,200 calorie steak burrito with common toppings:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | 59g | 91% |
| Saturated Fat | 22g | 110% |
| Cholesterol | 105mg | 35% |
| Sodium | 3280mg | 140% |
| Carbohydrates | 123g | 41% |
| Fiber | 12g | 48% |
| Sugars | 6g | |
| Protein | 58g | |
| Vitamin A | 15% | |
| Vitamin C | 45% | |
| Calcium | 25% | |
| Iron | 30% |
As you can see, the burrito provides substantial amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. However, it is also high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Overall, enjoying Chipotle burritos in moderation as part of an otherwise balanced diet is perfectly healthy for most people.
Comparing Chipotle burrito calories to other Mexican fast food
How does the calorie count of a Chipotle burrito compare to other popular Mexican fast food options? Here is a quick calorie comparison (based on average or typical menu items):
| Menu Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| Chipotle steak burrito | 1000-1200 |
| Taco Bell Big Bell Box (taco, burrito, nachos, chalupa) | 1350 |
| Qdoba steak burrito | 950-1150 |
| Moe’s steak burrito | 1300-1600 |
| Baja Fresh steak burrito | 870 |
| El Pollo Loco chicken burrito | 500-850 |
As you can see, Chipotle burritos are fairly comparable to other popular Mexican chains. Qdoba burritos are nearly the same, while Taco Bell and Moe’s burritos tend to be higher in calories. Baja Fresh and El Pollo Loco burritos tend to be lower in calories compared to Chipotle. Again, ingredients and portion sizes impact calorie counts substantially within each restaurant.
Health impact of frequent burrito consumption
What happens if you eat burritos on a very regular basis? Here are some potential health considerations with frequently eating burritos:
- Weight gain – Burritos are high in calories, so eating them too often could lead to excess calorie intake and weight gain over time.
- High sodium – Burritos from restaurants tend to be very high in sodium, which could lead to high blood pressure issues.
- GI issues – Some people find that a diet high in beans leads to digestive discomfort like gas or bloating.
- Nutrient deficiencies – If burritos make up too much of your diet, you may not get a balanced intake of all important nutrients.
- Lack of variety – Eating any one food too often can lead to boredom and lack of variety in your diet.
On the positive side, burritos can provide protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, balance and moderation are key. Nutrition experts recommend limiting fast food Mexican to no more than once or twice per week as part of an overall healthy diet.
Tips for making healthy burritos
You can make burritos healthier at home by controlling the ingredients:
- Use whole wheat or low-carb tortillas
- Choose lean proteins like chicken or shrimp
- Load up on veggies like spinach, bell peppers, and onions
- Use black beans or pinto beans for fiber
- Use just a small amount of cheese
- Add healthy fats like avocado or olive oil instead of sour cream
- Flavor with salsa, cilantro, lime instead of heavy sauces
- Grill or bake the burritos instead of frying
Making burritos at home allows you to create a balanced meal full of veggies, fiber, and lean protein. You control exactly what goes into your burrito. Portion control is also easier at home compared to giant restaurant burritos.
Healthy burrito recipe ideas
Here are some ideas for delicious healthy burrito recipes to try at home:
Southwest Burrito
- Chicken breast, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, avocado, lettuce, cilantro
- Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic
Santa Fe Burrito
- Shrimp, brown rice, spinach, red onions, salsa
- Season with cumin, oregano, lime
Veggie Burrito
- Refried beans, brown rice, carrots, zucchini, red cabbage, salsa
- Season with garlic, paprika, onion powder
Hawaiian Burrito
- Chicken, brown rice, pineapple salsa, lettuce, red pepper
- Season with ginger, garlic, honey
Let your imagination run wild creating flavorful veggie-based burritos at home. Use lots of fresh ingredients and seasonings for maximum flavor and nutrition in every bite. Just be mindful of portions to keep calories in check.
Should you eat the whole burrito in one sitting?
Chipotle burritos are quite large, so should you try to eat the whole thing in one sitting? Here are some things to consider:
- Calorie content – Large burritos can contain 1,000 calories or more. Eating the whole thing at once delivers a big calorie load.
- Satiety cues – It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register fullness. Eating slowly allows satiety cues to kick in.
- Leftover potential – A burrito keeps well as leftovers. You may prefer eating half now, half later.
- Self control – If you know you struggle with overeating, it may be safer to portion half the burrito to go.
- Activity level – If you burn a lot of calories through intense exercise, you may be able to eat more in one sitting.
In general, it is probably best to avoid eating an entire 1,000+ calorie burrito in one sitting, especially if you are fairly sedentary. Splitting it into two portions or taking half home allows you to better control calories and gives you something to look forward to later!
Conclusion
A Chipotle steak burrito can contain anywhere from 800-1200 calories or more depending on size and ingredients. While burritos make a tasty and convenient meal, be mindful of portions and high calorie add-ons like cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Splitting the burrito into two portions or assembling your own healthier burrito at home are great ways enjoy to this Mexican favorite while maintaining balanced nutrition.
