Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Name: Copycat Chipotle Chicken
Prep time: 4 h 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 4 h 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: ½ cup beer; ½ onion; 2 cloves garlic; 1 chipotle chili pepper in adobo sauce; 3 tablespoons canola oil; 2 tablespoons lime juice; 1 tablespoon adobo sauce; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 ½ teaspoons cumin; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 2 pounds chicken thighs

User Reviews

4.9

99 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
4 hrs 30 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 45 mins
Servings
6 servings
Course
Main Course

Copycat Chipotle Chicken

Iris Warren

Report

This recipe recreates Chipotle's chicken using a marinade of beer, adobo spices, and lime juice which tenderizes and flavors boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The chicken is grilled to achieve a smoky char and juicy interior, then diced for serving. The marinade's blend of chipotle chili, garlic, cumin, oregano, and chili powder imparts a smoky, slightly spicy taste, characteristic of the restaurant-style chicken. This dish can be served warm as a main protein in bowls, tacos, or salads.

Description

Copycat Chipotle Chicken begins with a marinade made by blending beer, onion, garlic, a chipotle chili in adobo sauce, lime juice, and spices including cumin, chili powder, and oregano. This combination infuses the chicken thighs with a smoky, tangy flavor while tenderizing the meat. After marinating for a minimum of four hours up to overnight, the chicken is drained and grilled over medium heat.

During grilling, the chicken develops a slight char that complements the smoky marinade. Cooking continues until an internal temperature of 165°F is reached, ensuring the chicken is juicy and safely cooked. After resting, the chicken is diced into bite-sized pieces suitable for use in burritos, tacos, or salads.

The recipe delivers a flavorful grilled chicken with a good balance of spice, acidity, and smokiness. Preparing the marinade ahead and grilling the chicken fresh allows convenient meal prep or quick gathering meals. The use of boneless, skinless thighs keeps the meat tender and moist throughout.

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Ingredients

Servings

½ cup beer
½ onion chopped, medium sweet
2 cloves garlic
1 chipotle chili pepper in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons canola oil divided
2 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon adobo sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons cumin ground
1 teaspoon oregano dried
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
2 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless

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Instructions

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Combine beer, onion, garlic, chili pepper, 2 tablespoons canola oil, lime juice, adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper in blender until smooth.
In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken thighs and beer mixture; marinate for at least 4 hours to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.
Preheat grill to medium heat.
Brush chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken to grill, and cook, turning occasionally, until chicken is completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes. Let cool before dicing into bite-size pieces.
Serve warm.